-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.

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Plot Keywords:

newspaper | editor | managing editor | sewer | pilot | 

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Taglines:

A New High in Screen Suspense!

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Genres:

Drama

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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

The story of the girl trapped in the Los Angeles sewer was loosely based on the real life tragedy of Kathy Fiscus of San Marino, California. On 9 April 1949, the three-year-old fell down a 90-foot deep, 14-inch wide uncapped well. After 50 hours, rescuers finally reached her, but she had already died. It was one of the first televised "media events," with more than 27 hours of the rescue recorded by television cameras. History repeated itself in 1987 when Jessica McClure fell down a well in Texas, though she was brought up alive after 58 hours.

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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.

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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!

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Connections

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

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Soundtracks

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

User Reviews

Yes, Jack Webb can act.....but he is still Jack Webb.

Jack Webb delivers as a newspaper editor on a cliffhanger of a front page story. A little girl, a storm drain, and a heavy rainstorm set the pace. Subplots include a young woman trying to break into the newspaper reporter business (in 1959 - this predated women's lib and did it very well) and a fear of being a parent again after losing a child. Acting chemistry is very successful. An excellent movie. Have VHS, want DVD.