Ace in the Hole [Criterion Collection] [2 Discs]

MOVIE DESCRIPTION:

For years, Ace In The Hole was the phantom item in Billy Wilder's filmography; it was made when the director was at the height of his talents and was a favorite with critics, but after it landed with a thud at the box office in 1951 (when audiences were doubtless not ready for a movie quite this cynical), Paramount Pictures seemed to wash their hands of it, and it was rarely shown on television and never released on home video. Thankfully, the Criterion Collection have finally made Ace In The Hole available on DVD, and they've taken care to give this long-overdue release the quality presentation it deserves. Disc one of Criterion's Ace In The Hole set features the movie in a superb, pin-sharp digital transfer that captures all the nooks and crannies of Charles B. Lang Jr.'s black and white cinematography, and it's far superior to the versions that have occasionally appeared on cable TV over the years. The picture has been transferred in its original full-frame aspect ratio of 1.33:1, and the audio has been mastered in Dolby Digital Mono, capturing the sound track with admirable clarity and detail. The dialogue is in English, with optional English subtitles but no multiple language options. An optional audio commentary accompanies the film, with Neil Sinyard discussing the making of the film and Wilder's style and technique. Disc Two is devoted to supplementary material, including a fine documentary on Billy Wilder, Portrait of a "60% Perfect Man", and highlights from a 1986 appearance by Wilder at the American Film Institute. Also featured is an appreciation of Ace In The Hole from filmmaker Spike Lee (who shows off his autographed lobby card from the movie), a interview with Kirk Douglas shot in 1984 in which he discusses working with Wilder, an audio-only interview with Walter Newman (who co-wrote the screenplay), and a gallery of stills from the picture (including some behind-the-scenes production shots). And the accompanying booklet, mocked-up to look like an edition of the Albuquerque Sun-Bulletin, includes fine original essays on Ace In The Hole from critic Molly Haskell and filmmaker Guy Maddin. One could hardly ask for a better or more thorough video release of Ace In The Hole, and if Criterion's definitive edition was a long time in coming, the results amply reward the patience of film buffs everywhere. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide

DVD FEATURES:

• Region: 1
• Number of Discs: 2
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1 (Pre-1954 Standard)
• Audio: Dolby Digital Mono
• Encoding: NTSC
• Screen: Black and White
• Features:
  • New, restored high-definition digital transfer
  • Audio commentary by film scholar Neil Sinyard
  • Theatrical trailer
  • Portrait of a "60% Perfect Man": Bill Wilder, a 1980 documentary featuring in-depth interviews with Wilder by film critic Michel Ciment
  • A 1984 interview with Kirk Douglas
  • Excerpts from a 1986 appearance by Wilder at the American Film Institute
  • Excerpts from an audio interview with coscreenwriter Walter Newman
  • New video afterword by filmmaker Spike Lee
  • Stills gallery
  • New essays by film critic Molly Haskell and filmmaker Guy Maddin

AWARDS

• Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

•     Nominated Best Story and Screenplay - 1951 (Lesser Samuels, Walter Newman)

• National Board of Review

•     Won Best Actress - 1951 (Jan Sterling)

• Venice International Film Festival

•     Won International Prize - 1951 (Billy Wilder)

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• Cast:

  
       Kirk Douglas - Charles Tatum
       Jan Sterling - Lorraine
       Robert Arthur - Herbie Cook
       Porter Hall - Jacob Q. Boot
       Frank Cady - Mr. Federber

• Director:

  Billy Wilder

• Producer:

  Billy Wilder

• Screenwriter:

  Walter Newman, Lesser Samuels, Billy Wilder

• Cinematographer:

  Charles B. Lang

• Composer (Music Score):

  Hugo W. Friedhofer

• Songwriter:

  Ray Evans, Jay Livingston

• Editor:

  Doane Harrison, Arthur P. Schmidt

• Art Director:

  Earl Hedrick, Hal Pereira

REVIEWS:

• A movie truly ahead of its time, {#Ace in the Hole} (also known as {#The Big Carnival}) turned out to be too bitter and cynical for moviegoers in 1951. An unrelenting portrait of media sensationalism and the human obsession with tragedy that propels it, the film is based on a true story that also spawned {$Robert Penn Warren}'s novel {-The Cave}. Director, screenwriter, and producer {$Billy Wilder} suffered perhaps the biggest commercial and critical failure of his career with Ace, losing much of his standing at {@Paramount}, even though the movie was released between two of his most enduring and popular triumphs, {#Sunset Boulevard} (1950) and {#Stalag 17} (1953). Ace was perhaps not up to the standard of those works, but it clearly stands as one of {$Wilder}'s many fine achievements. It's hardly surprising that this film failed to find a mainstream audience, despite the added attraction of emerging star {$Kirk Douglas} in the lead. American culture wouldn't be ready for such a large dose of pessimism until the 1970s; even then, a film such as 1976's {#Network}, which clearly paralleled the tone of {$Wilder}'s effort, was dismissed by many viewers as too hysterical. ~ Brendon Hanley, All Movie Guide
• A movie truly ahead of its time, Ace in the Hole (also known as The Big Carnival) turned out to be too bitter and cynical for moviegoers in 1951. An unrelenting portrait of media sensationalism and the human obsession with tragedy that propels it, the film is based on a true story that also spawned Robert Penn Warren's novel The Cave. Director, screenwriter, and producer Billy Wilder suffered perhaps the biggest commercial and critical failure of his career with Ace, losing much of his standing at Paramount, even though the movie was released between two of his most enduring and popular triumphs, Sunset Boulevard (1950) and Stalag 17 (1953). Ace was perhaps not up to the standard of those works, but it clearly stands as one of Wilder's many fine achievements. It's hardly surprising that this film failed to find a mainstream audience, despite the added attraction of emerging star Kirk Douglas in the lead. American culture wouldn't be ready for such a large dose of pessimism until the 1970s; even then, a film such as 1976's Network, which clearly paralleled the tone of Wilder's effort, was dismissed by many viewers as too hysterical. ~ Brendon Hanley, All Movie Guide

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