Scandal Sheet (TV 1985)

The publisher of a celebrity gossip tabloid sets out to destroy an aging actor, whose career is foundering and who is also facing a battle with alcoholism.

Director:

David Lowell Rich

Writer:

Howard Rodman

Stars:

Burt Lancaster, Lauren Hutton, Pamela Reed

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Burt Lancaster	...	Harold Fallen
Lauren Hutton	...	Meg North
Pamela Reed	...	Helen Grant
Robert Urich	...	Ben Rowan
Peter Jurasik	...	Simon McKey
Bobby Di Cicco	...	Platte (as Bobby DiCicco)
Trey Wilson	...	Paul Brown
Susan Peretz	...	Missus Hart
Penelope Windust
Douglas Rowe	...	(as Doug Rowe)
Belita Moreno
Jim Baker	...	(as Jim B. Baker)
Lois De Banzie	...	Mrs. Skye (as Lois de Banzie)
Frances McDormand
Rance Howard	...	Mr. Bell

Storyline

The publisher of a celebrity gossip tabloid sets out to destroy an aging actor, whose career is foundering and who is also facing a battle with alcoholism.

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Plot Keywords:

gossip | actor | publisher | alcoholism | tabloid | 

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Genres:

Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for thematic elements, brief sensuality and mild language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 January 1985 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Devil's Bed

Filming Locations:

Agua Dulce Air Park - 33638 Agua Dulce Canyon Road, Agua Dulce, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Fair Dinkum Productions

Technical Specs

Runtime:

101 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

Reflected in the payphone along with the crew member holding it, when Helen calls Stan in New York.

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Connections

Remake of The Dark Page (1952)

User Reviews

A Mouth No More to be Devoutly Wished

The review process is not always such a simple task as would be in watching a film like "Scandal Sheet".Scandal Sheet which by its very nature will most definitely keep you watching as to the outrage and sheer perversion of the tabloid headline industry.It is as well very near a real crime in the bait tactics it attempts to employ as the lure to Helen Grant with a hidden and unscrupulous motive in her hire to get a story about Ben Rowan.This is not only a shameful illusion but has the ultimate underpinning of killing two birds with one stone.It further provides the real conceit of an attempted murder and the parading a right to know or some sort of free speech argument to masquerade this treachery as the getting of a story.This was,historically speaking a film like this,a story about yellow journalism however it is more than mere yellow,it is red.What this film is claiming is unjust but it is not on the surface what it is measuring,it is more than mere hysteria the film is measuring your coffin.The film much to perhaps no ones surprise is soliciting for purposes of committing a crime and even more so its undersirable underpinning allows nothing and no one to be above such consideration.The dead are ridiculed and there passing are shamefully paraded as if there be but no one here to claim otherwise. The film Scandal Sheet requires participation so that it may gain circulation and so it is in circulation that it has gained the measure of contempt that needs to be addressed.Reality,like this film has become something of a cultural vampire literally stealing the life from civilization.The issue of a false witness is what this tabloid is in fact and even more so it requires that we participate merely by unwittingly approving if in spirit only but agreeing nonetheless in its supposition that this world is as disgraceful as any Sodom and Gomorrah story that the Holy Bible provides for.This mix-up of idealogical thinking is a warning to any serious theological consideration because what this boldness has done is open the door.The mouth that roared is going to be silenced because of this film and whatever freedoms it will attempt to use as its right to do what this film claims it does will be struck down with its being put out of business.The mouth and its influence will be no more thanks to this great film.Its claims upon the souls of humanity will need to take a step back before I shoot and that shot will in fact be from the barrel of a gun and forever end the real misbelief that there is anywhere that would allow for a house of prostitution to be the equal to a house of worship.This film is a celebration of the end time though not exactly as forecast however there will be a mouth no more with accompanying influence going the way of the world.I found this film in a bin in a supermarket for $2.95.It is what it is.So be it!