Winchell (1998)

The true story of the influential and controversial columnist, Walter Winchell.

Director:

Paul Mazursky

Writers:

Herman Klurfeld (book), Scott Abbott (teleplay)

Stars:

Stanley Tucci, Glenne Headly, Paul Giamatti

Won 1 Golden Globe. Another 6 wins & 15 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Stanley Tucci	...	Walter Winchell
Glenne Headly	...	Dallas Wayne
Paul Giamatti	...	Herman Klurfeld
Christopher Plummer	...	Franklin D. Roosevelt
Xander Berkeley	...	Gavreau
Kevin Tighe	...	William Randolph Hearst
Frank Medrano	...	Melvin Diamond
Vic Polizos	...	Sam Hague
John F. O'Donohue	...	Harry the Doorman (as John O'Donohue)
Michael Greene	...	Bellamy
Rod McCary	...	Emcee
Victoria Gabrielle Platt	...	Josephine Baker
Jonathan Aaron	...	Rabbi (as Rabbi Jonathan Aaron)
Pat Asanti	...	Vaudeville Magician
Sean Michael Allen	...	Mirror Reporter (as Sean Barnes)

Storyline

Biopic of the controversial muckraking journalist Walter Winchell. After spending 12 years in vaudeville, Winchell began writing a column in the New York Mirror. Part gossip, part half-truths, the reporting focused on well-known or prominent individuals and their dalliances. Winchell grew in popularity, particularly when he started his weekly Sunday night radio show. His reporting became more political in the late 1930s when he railed against Hitler. His star began to fall in the 1950s when Josephine Baker was refused service at the Stork Club and Winchell allegedly refused to do anything about it. The end came with his support of Sen. Joseph McCarthy and his own rabid anti-communism. Following McCarthy's style, Winchell accused anyone who stood in his way of being a communist. Soon, he found himself facing lawsuits, a failed attempt at a television show and eventually, the cancellation of his radio show.

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Plot Keywords:

columnist | radio | writing | career | 1950s | 

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Taglines:

He didn't shape public opinion. He made it.

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | Romance

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Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated R for language and a scene of strong sexuality

Did You Know?

Trivia

One of two tele-movie features directed by filmmaker Paul Mazursky. The films are [in order]; 'Winchell' (1998) (TV) and 'Coast to Coast' (2003) (TV). Both tele-films were late career productions directed by Mazursky who did not perform writing or producing duties on either unlike with his earlier theatrical feature film work.

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Goofs

When Winchell does a Las Vegas nightclub act in 1958, a sign can be seen advertising a show starring Seigfried and Roy - who didn't become headliners until years after Winchell's death.

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Quotes

Franklin D. Roosevelt: The face of fear is coming. And when it comes, Walter, you'll answer to no one, not even me.

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Crazy Credits

Richard Kent Green was Stanley Tucci's stand-in for both the Central Park scenes in New York and the photo shoot for the poster.

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Connections

Referenced in Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy: Rome (2021)

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Soundtracks

Stardust
Written by Hoagy Carmichael and Mitchell Parish
Performed by Glenn Miller
Courtesy of Rainwood Records
By Arrangement with Warner Special Products

User Reviews

The best movies are sleepers

This is a great movie. Cinematography and scripting are excellent. The fact that it wasn't a summer blockbuster in the vein of "Independence Day" and "Mission: Impossible" speaks well for it. Stanley Tucci's performance is riveting. He portrays the complexity of character of a highly controversial figure, hated by some and loved by others, and both for good reason. He was a crony of J. Edgar Hoover, but also had a social conscience. One minute we see Winchell shamelessly using blackmail in order to be the first to scoop a story; the next we see him being beaten to within an inch of his life by Hitler sympathizer thugs because he refused to be silent on the threat of the rise of Naziism.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

21 November 1998 (USA)

Also Known As:

O Poder da Notícia

Filming Locations:

Mount St. Mary's College, Doheny Mansion - 10 Chester Pl, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

HBO Films, Fried Films

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Dolby SR

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1