The Paper (1994)

New York City tabloid editor Henry's faced with tough decisions while he faces several serious life challenges, and a tempting job offer.

Director:

Ron Howard

Writers:

David Koepp, Stephen Koepp

Stars:

Michael Keaton, Glenn Close, Robert Duvall

Nominated for 1 Oscar.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Michael Keaton	...	Henry Hackett
Robert Duvall	...	Bernie White
Glenn Close	...	Alicia Clark
Marisa Tomei	...	Martha Hackett
Randy Quaid	...	Michael McDougal
Jason Robards	...	Graham Keighley
Jason Alexander	...	Marion Sandusky
Spalding Gray	...	Paul Bladden
Catherine O'Hara	...	Susan
Lynne Thigpen	...	Janet
Jack Kehoe	...	Phil
Roma Maffia	...	Carmen
Clint Howard	...	Ray Blaisch
Geoffrey Owens	...	Lou
Amelia Campbell	...	Robin

Storyline

Henry Hackett is the editor of a New York City tabloid. He is a workaholic who loves his job, but the long hours and low pay are leading to discontent. Also, publisher Bernie White faces financial straits, and has hatchetman Alicia Clark, Henry's nemesis, impose unpopular cutbacks. Henry's wife Martha, a hugely pregnant former reporter of his, is fed up because he has so little time for his family. He is therefore considering an offer from Paul Bladden to edit a paper like the New York Times, which would mean more money, shorter hours, more respectability...but might also be a bit boring for his tastes. But a hot story soon confronts Henry with tough decisions.

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Plot Keywords:

newspaper reporter | pregnancy | one day | journalist | newspaper editor | 

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Taglines:

A behind the lines look at work, marriage and other forms of combat...

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for strong language

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

25 March 1994 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Paper

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$6,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$175,507, 20 March 1994

Gross USA:

$38,824,341

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$48,424,341

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures, Imagine Entertainment

Technical Specs

Runtime:

112 min

Sound Mix:

DTS

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The second film where Ron Howard collaborated with Randy Newman. Their first film was Parenthood (1989), where Newman received an Oscar nomination for the song, "I Love To See You Smile".

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Goofs

One of the boys is 19, the other 17, a minor. They would not have been placed in the same detention cell together overnight, in fact its unlikely they would have even been arraigned in the same court. Nor would the minor have likely been perp-walked in front of the press.

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Quotes

Henry: What do you think I'm trying to do?. Look, I got news for you. I'm not locked up in the men's room with a cop because it's a good time. Frankly, I've had better times, okay? I'm here because I think the story is wrong. Is it? Is it? If you have something, give it to me now, but don't stand there and act coy and say "Fuck you", because, quite frankly, it's a waste of all of our time. And you know what? I don't have any more time. I have no more fucking time. I need it fucking today, I need it ...

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Connections

Featured in At the Movies: Guarding Tess/Lightning Jack/The Hudsucker Proxy/The Ref/Belle Epoque/Germinal (1994)

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Soundtracks

LESSONS IN CHA CHA
Written by Carillo Roman Marquez and Sergio Marmeolejo
Performed by Lester Lanin
Courtesy of Epic Records
By Arrangement with Sony Music Licensing

User Reviews

" We Never Knowingly got a Story Wrong, until tonight, that's what Henry Meant "

There are not too many solid Newspaper stories which ever make it to the silver Screen. Occasionally one does comes along and if it's message is important with respect towards the audience, it deserves attention. Such a movie is, " The Paper ". The star of the movie is Michael Keaton who plays Henry Hackett a city editor who's boss is Bernie White played by noted actor Robert Duvall. Jason Robards is the Publisher, Graham Keighley. Their newspaper is about to print a story about a local derailment, when a small item arrest in Williamsburg NY, inspires Hackett to risk his position and a promotion with 'The Sentinal'' a prestigious uptown Newspaper. There are a number of hurtles to following up on the Williamsburg murder of three prominent bankers who lost several million dollars of the Mafia's money, primary of which is Alicia Clark (Glenn Close) an envious supervisor who is more interested in saving money than the reputations of two black youths. She explains that without more information on the dead men, additional corroboration or a quote by the tight-lipped police, she is running the subway derailment story. Confident he is right, Hackett pulls out all the stops to beat a four hour deadline, attend his wife's (Marisa Tomei) social life, protect his top reporter (Randy Quaid) from a gun-toting parking official (Jason Alexander) and file the story by press time. The movie possess all the exciting impetus of a modern front page story including the daily problems confronting the staff and the personal lives of all concern. The film is powerful in it's direction and will in time be seen as a Journalistic Classic. Easilly recommended for all. ****