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Good Night, and Good Luck.

  • 20052005
  • PGPG
  • 1h 33min
IMDb RATING
7.4/10
96K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005)
Theatrical Trailer from Warner Independent Pictures
Play trailer2:31
1 Video
99+ Photos
BiographyDramaHistory

Broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow looks to bring down Senator Joseph McCarthy.Broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow looks to bring down Senator Joseph McCarthy.Broadcast journalist Edward R. Murrow looks to bring down Senator Joseph McCarthy.

IMDb RATING
7.4/10
96K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • George Clooney
  • Writers
    • George Clooney
    • Grant Heslov
  • Stars
    • David Strathairn
    • George Clooney
    • Patricia Clarkson
Top credits
  • Director
    • George Clooney
  • Writers
    • George Clooney
    • Grant Heslov
  • Stars
    • David Strathairn
    • George Clooney
    • Patricia Clarkson
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 547User reviews
    • 356Critic reviews
    • 80Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
    • Nominated for 6 Oscars
      • 38 wins & 129 nominations total

    Videos1

    Good Night, and Good Luck
    Trailer 2:31
    Good Night, and Good Luck

    Photos116

    Robert Downey Jr. in Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005)
    George Clooney in Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005)
    George Clooney and David Strathairn in Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005)
    David Strathairn in Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005)
    David Strathairn and Ray Wise in Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005)
    Patricia Clarkson in Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005)
    Robert Downey Jr. and Patricia Clarkson in Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005)
    Frank Langella in Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005)
    George Clooney and Matt Ross in Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005)
    Ray Wise in Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005)
    Jeff Daniels in Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005)
    Robert Downey Jr. and Patricia Clarkson in Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005)

    Top cast

    Edit
    David Strathairn
    David Strathairn
    • Edward R. Murrowas Edward R. Murrow
    George Clooney
    George Clooney
    • Fred Friendlyas Fred Friendly
    Patricia Clarkson
    Patricia Clarkson
    • Shirley Wershbaas Shirley Wershba
    Jeff Daniels
    Jeff Daniels
    • Sig Mickelsonas Sig Mickelson
    Alex Borstein
    Alex Borstein
    • Natalieas Natalie
    Rose Abdoo
    Rose Abdoo
    • Mili Lerneras Mili Lerner
    Dianne Reeves
    Dianne Reeves
    • Jazz Singeras Jazz Singer
    Peter Martin
    • Pianistas Pianist
    Christoph Luty
    • Bassistas Bassist
    Jeff Hamilton
    • Drummeras Drummer
    Matt Catingub
    • Saxophonistas Saxophonist
    Tate Donovan
    Tate Donovan
    • Jesse Zousmeras Jesse Zousmer
    Reed Diamond
    Reed Diamond
    • John Aaronas John Aaron
    Matt Ross
    Matt Ross
    • Eddie Scottas Eddie Scott
    Robert Downey Jr.
    Robert Downey Jr.
    • Joe Wershbaas Joe Wershba
    Tom McCarthy
    Tom McCarthy
    • Palmer Williamsas Palmer Williams
    Glenn Morshower
    Glenn Morshower
    • Colonel Andersonas Colonel Anderson
    Don Creech
    Don Creech
    • Colonel Jenkinsas Colonel Jenkins
    • Director
      • George Clooney
    • Writers
      • George Clooney
      • Grant Heslov
    • All cast & crew
    See production, box office, & company info

    Storyline

    Edit
    In the early 1950's, the threat of Communism created an air of paranoia in the United States and exploiting those fears was Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin. However, CBS reporter Edward R. Murrow and his producer Fred W. Friendly decided to take a stand and challenge McCarthy and expose him for the fear monger he was. However, their actions took a great personal toll on both men, but they stood by their convictions and helped to bring down one of the most controversial senators in American history. —Brian Washington <Sargebri@att.net>
    reporterjournalist1950sradiopolitician268 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • We will not walk in fear of one another.
    • Genres
      • Biography
      • Drama
      • History
    • Certificate
      • PG
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Each morning, George Clooney would gather his cast members together and give them copies of the newspapers from that day in 1953. He'd then give them an hour and a half, working on old manual typewriters, to copy out the stories from the paper. He would then hold an improvised news conference with hidden cameras, in which the cast members would then pitch their stories to the editor, just like a real newsroom.
    • Goofs
      Bill Paley says to Murrow: "I'm taking your program from a half an hour to an hour." In fact, the program went from an hour to a half hour.
    • Quotes

      Edward R. Murrow: We'll split the advertising, Fred and I. He just won't have any presents for his kids at Christmas.

      Sig Mickelson: He's a Jew.

      Edward R. Murrow: Well don't tell him that. He loves Christmas.

    • Crazy credits
      Even the rating band at the tail of the film is in black and white.
    • Connections
      Featured in The 63rd Annual Golden Globe Awards 2006 (2006)
    • Soundtracks
      When I Fall in Love
      (1952)

      Music by Victor Young

      Lyrics by Edward Heyman

      Performed by Matt Catingub

      Produced by Allen Sviridoff

      Matt Catingub appears courtesy of Concord Records, Inc.

    User reviews547

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    When Things Were Black and White
    I've had the "Edward R. Murrow" Collection from CBS for years and have enjoyed watching it's biography of Murrow, the complete Milo Radulovich, McCarthy and Annie Lee Moss shows many times. I'm sure George Clooney must have these as well as he used the actual footage extensively in his fine drama "Good Night and Good Luck". As a previous poster said, by concentrating on what was actually presented, Clooney is able to focus on the ethical issues that were the real substance of the broadcasts, rather than the tragicomic personalities involved. He wants us to see that the same issues are in our lives today, (Clooney has had his own battles with would-be modern McCarthys like Bill O'Reilly), but he isn't going to force the issue. He's doing exactly what Murrow and Friendly did with the McCarthy broadcast: using the actual record to tell the story.

    There are minor, but significant embellishments, mostly an impressive cast of actors who can tell us more with one look than an entire speech. Leading the way is David Straithairn as Murrow. Except for possessing a higher pitched voice than the original, he's got his man down cold. I would pick Frank Langella as William Paley, here presented as a man with ideals but who is rooted in the realities of business, the sort of guy who has to make the tough decisions the idealists like Murrow don't have to or want to deal with. Then there is Ray Wise as the vulnerable Don Hollenbeck, who was one of the co-creators of "You Are There", a program this film somewhat resembles. He wound up being "there" when he didn't really want to be.

    What really enhances the show is the black and white photography, (actually, according to the notes, it was "The film was shot on color film on a grayscale set, then color-corrected in post" – whatever that means). Not only does it heighten the drama, (magazine photographers, in the days when they had a choice, said "black and white for drama, color for excitement"), but the tremendous resolution seems to bring out each furrow and poor on each person's face, allowing the viewer to see into their souls.
    helpful•92
    24
    • schappe1
    • Nov 13, 2005

    FAQ2

    • Did George Clooney really get paid only $3?
    • What's the "overacting" rumor?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 28, 2005 (Canada)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • France
      • United Kingdom
      • Japan
    • Official site
      • Kinowelt (Germany)
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Bonsoir, et bonne chance
    • Filming locations
      • CBS Television City - 7800 Beverly Boulevard, Fairfax, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production companies
      • Warner Independent Pictures (WIP)
      • 2929 Productions
      • Participant
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $7,000,000 (estimated)
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $31,558,003
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $421,446
      • Oct 9, 2005
    • Gross worldwide
      • $54,641,191
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 33min
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • DTS
      • Dolby Digital
      • SDDS
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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