-30- (1959)

A managing editor of a LA newspaper must put together headlines for the next day in a way that'll attract the potential readers, deal with hectic going-ons at the workplace and have a serious talk with his wife about her wish to adopt.

Director:

Jack Webb

Writer:

William Bowers

Stars:

Jack Webb, William Conrad, David Nelson

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jack Webb	...	Sam Gatlin
William Conrad	...	Jim Bathgate
David Nelson	...	Earl Collins
Whitney Blake	...	Peggy Gatlin
Louise Lorimer	...	Lady Wilson
James Bell	...	Ben Quinn
Nancy Valentine	...	Jan Price
Joe Flynn	...	Hymie Shapiro
Richard Bakalyan	...	Carl Thompson
Dick Whittinghill	...	Fred Kendall
John Nolan	...	Ron Danton
Howard McNear	...	Editor
Jonathan Hole	...	Pettifog
Richard Deacon	...	Chapman
Ronnie Dapo	...	Billy

Storyline

Managing Editor Sam Gatlin arrives in the afternoon and departs early the next morning, having assembled a morning newspaper for Los Angeles. During this implausibly active day in the life of a metropolitan newspaper, Sam and his wife Peggy argue about adopting a child. The reporter's grandson pilots a military plane from Honolulu to New York. A child is lost in the LA sewers (Gatlin composes a warning headline with picture: "Children Stay Out of These"). And copy boy Earl Collins considers quitting after failing to properly deliver a bet by city editor Jim Bathgate on the sex of children being born to a famous actress.

---

Plot Keywords:

newspaper | editor | managing editor | sewer | pilot | 

---

Taglines:

A New High in Screen Suspense!

---

Genres:

Drama

---

Certificate:

Not Rated

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

19 December 1963 (Mexico)

Also Known As:

Deadline Midnight

Filming Locations:

Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mark VII Ltd.

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

"-30-" is used to signify "the end" or "over and out"; it originates from several code tables for telegraph operators. It is traditional in the journalism field and is still used to indicate the end of transmitted news stories and press releases and can frequently be found in formal corporate documents posted on websites and delivered electronically or via print.

---

Goofs

After a fledgling writer turns in a news story on her first night as a reporter, the editor sends it to be typeset without even reading it.

---

Quotes

Carl Thompson: Now this is our art department. And this is Mr. Chapman, one of our staff artists. Mr. Chapman, this is Mr. and Mrs. Jason.
Bentley Jason: [along with his wife] How do you do, Mr. Chapman!
Carl Thompson: Would you draw something for us please, Mr. Chapman?
Chapman: [stares at Thompsons] Draw? Draw? What would you like? A dog? A cat? Or a pig with a squiggly tail? Or how about a house? I was always real big in the house department! Especially on those chimneys with the smoke cork-screwing out!

---

Connections

Referenced in Law & Order: Criminal Intent: 30 (2007)

---

Soundtracks

Boy
Written by Don Ralke and William Bowers
Sung by David Nelson

User Reviews

Newspaper drama - Jack Webb style

I have always enjoyed this movie, which is admittedly corny at times and overly sentimental. However, "-30-", is a movie that is not dull and has a lot of subplots going on to hold your interest. Jack Webb, who also directed, stars as Sam Gatlin, the editor of a Los Angeles newspaper. He's had tragedy in his life and has closed himself off. He's outwardly gruff but has a soft heart. The action in the film takes place during one night, with a heavy rain storm, a missing child and several other stories competing for the front page before the deadline arrives. William Conrad attempts to steal every scene he is in but adds a lot of humor to the story as the city editor who is outwardly gruff but has a soft heart (there's definitely a lot of that in this movie). This movie and the "D.I." are my favorite movies starring Jack Webb.