A rookie reporter receives bribes from gangsters to suspend negative press.A rookie reporter receives bribes from gangsters to suspend negative press.A rookie reporter receives bribes from gangsters to suspend negative press.
- Awards
- 1 win total
- Larry Hayes
- (scenes deleted)
- Arthur--Office Boy
- (uncredited)
- Cop
- (uncredited)
- Blanco's Bodyguard
- (uncredited)
- Henchman in Office of 'Number One'
- (uncredited)
- Breck's Tailor
- (uncredited)
- Guard in Office of 'Number One'
- (uncredited)
- Casino Patron
- (uncredited)
- Threatening Phone Caller
- (voice)
- (uncredited)
- Casino Patron
- (uncredited)
- Henchman in Hayes' House
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe film is loosely based on Chicago Tribune reporter Jake Lingle, who was shot and killed the day before he was to meet with federal agents in connection with Al Capone's finances. There was public outrage at first over the killing of a reporter, but over the next few weeks it was discovered that Lingle was living way beyond his reporter's salary, and finally that he was on Capone's payroll.
- GoofsWhen the front page of The Press is shown with the heading "Gang War Rages," one of the stories is entitled "Star Received with Great Ovation" and "received" is incorrectly spelled "recieved."
- Quotes
Managing Editor Ellis Wheeler: This community is in bad shape indeed, when gangsters can perpetrate murder in broad daylight and get away with it. But there's one power in this town with sufficient courage to do what is right. And that power is The Press. The Press is going to break up the criminal gangs that infest this city and drive them out. The Press is going to expose every corrupt official preying on the community. The Press cannot be bought, intimidated or silenced. It's going to be war; a crusade, if you like. A crusade to destroy gang rule. From now on, you are more than reporters, you're crusaders and you're going to bear down on the underworld with all the power of The Press. We're going to make a fight of it. You can get your assignments from the City Editor.
- ConnectionsReferenced in Public Enemies: The Golden Age of the Gangster Film (2008)
- SoundtracksFuneral March (Marche Funèbre)
(uncredited)
from "Sonata in Bb-, Op.35 No.2"
Music by Frédéric Chopin
Played after Lee's death
Normally Barthelmess played thoughtful guys put into tight circumstances, and this was probably supposed to be one of those roles, but it doesn't' quite come across right. Breckenridge Lee (Richard Barthelmess) starts out as a totally green and conscientious reporter up from a Savannah paper into a press room of the big city. When the editor announces a campaign against the mob, Lee is the only reporter that takes his assignment seriously. He even walks right up to a speakeasy and asks probing questions to the mobster in charge. Unable to be bribed he writes an expose on the place and it is thus raided by the police. The mob then beats him up one night in retaliation, badly enough that he needs hospitalization and his medical bills pile up. He is surprised when the city editor balks at helping him financially, as he denies that Lee's beating had anything to do with the paper at all and hints that Lee's injuries probably had something to do with him drinking and hanging around unsavory people after work.
Now this is where things get a bit unrealistic. Lee instantly turns from green honest reporter to money hungry and corrupt. He figures if you can't beat them, join them. He takes money from the mob and in return agrees to keep the paper and thus the cops off of their backs. He justifies this by saying that the only way that the mob will ever pay is with money to him - but he's not exactly giving the loot away to charity.
Fay Wray plays Lee's love interest as fellow reporter Marcia who at first suspects then knows the truth and loves him just the same. Regis Toomey plays a supporting role as someone who would like to win Marcia's heart but knows when he's beat. Robert Elliot is the gruff tough city editor who often played a cop in the early talkies. Of course, most notable here is Clark Gable, sitting in the palm of Jack Warner's hand, and not being recognized by him as a star in the making. Gable is impressive here as a spats-wearing charming sinner, the gangster who sees Lee as a useful idiot - for awhile anyways.
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Language
- Also known as
- Mannen som visste för mycket
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
- Runtime1 hour 30 minutes
- Color
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