The Big Story (1994)

User Rating:

6.9/10   

Directors:

David Stoten
Tim Watts

Genre:

Animation | Short | Comedy

Plot:

In a witty homage to Kirk Douglas's films, all three characters ARE Kirk Douglas at various stages of his career...

Plot Keywords:

Editor | Reporter | Stop Motion | Globe | Newspaper

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 2 wins

Cast

Frank Gorshin

...

Cub Reporter / Editor / Older Reporter (voice)

Directed by
David Stoten
Tim Watts

Produced by
David Stoten	....	producer
Tim Watts	....	producer

Cinematography by
Tristan Oliver

Costume Design by
Jane Whittaker

Makeup Department
Joyce Beagarie	....	hair stylist
Darlene Forester	....	hair stylist

Art Department
Robin Jackson-Moore	....	set and props
Tony Kinman	....	set and props

Sound Department
Graeme Stoten	....	sound

Visual Effects by
Pete Hanson	....	studio manager: CFC (uncredited)

Animation Department
David Stoten	....	animator
Tim Watts	....	animator

Other crew
Ian Mackinnon	....	armatures
Andrew Robey	....	eyes
Peter Saunders	....	armatures

Production Companies

• Screwball Films
• Splitting Image

Special Effects

• Computer Film Company, The (CFC) (compositing)

Runtime:

2 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Argentina:Unrated

Company:

Screwball Films

Quotes:

[last lines]
Cub Reporter: You guys are all the same!

Movie Connections:

Spoofs Ace in the Hole (1951)

Way too short...

This is a very frustrating film. While it this film has been nominated for some big awards for animated films, I couldn't get so excited about it or give it a higher score because it was so short. At just a little under two minutes, it not only seemed too short for the nominations but also made me want so much more. What I saw, I really liked...but the film sure would have been better if hashed out more.

The film begins with an animated Kirk Douglas as a newspaper reporter--complaining that he never gets to cover the big stories. Then, another Kirk Douglas enters and they start arguing. Then, as the film ends, a third Kirk enters the scene.

Frank Gorshin's impersonation of Douglas was about as good as you can find--maybe even better than Kirk himself! Plus, combined with the animation, it was amazing.

By the way, the title THE BIG STORY and the setting are highly reminiscent of a Douglas film where he plays a reporter wanting a big scoop in THE BIG CARNIVAL (also called ACE IN THE HOLE).