Good Night, and Good Luck. (2005)

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

Director:

George Clooney

Writers:

George Clooney, Grant Heslov

Stars:

David Strathairn, George Clooney, Patricia Clarkson

Nominated for 6 Oscars. Another 39 wins & 122 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jeff Daniels	...	Sig Mickelson
David Strathairn	...	Edward R. Murrow
Alex Borstein	...	Natalie
Rose Abdoo	...	Mili Lerner
Dianne Reeves	...	Jazz Singer
Peter Martin	...	Pianist
Christoph Luty	...	Bassist
Jeff Hamilton	...	Drummer
Matt Catingub	...	Saxophonist
Tate Donovan	...	Jesse Zousmer
Reed Diamond	...	John Aaron
Matt Ross	...	Eddie Scott
Patricia Clarkson	...	Shirley Wershba
Robert Downey Jr.	...	Joe Wershba
George Clooney	...	Fred Friendly

Storyline

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.

---

Plot Keywords:

reporter | journalist | 1950s | radio | politician | 

---

Taglines:

In A Nation Terrorized By Its Own Government, One Man Dared to Tell The Truth

---

Genres:

Biography | Drama | History

---

Motion Picture Rating (MPAA)

Rated PG for mild thematic elements and brief language

Did You Know?

Trivia

George Clooney was paid one dollar each for writing, directing, and starring in the film. This helped keep the film's costs low, coming in at a budget of just $7.5 million.

---

Goofs

In several of the scenes with telephone conversations the phones being used were models not introduced until years later and at least twice the handsets use the detachable cord with the RJ-11 plug which was introduced by Bell in the 1970s.

---

Quotes

[first lines]
Sig Mickelson: In 1935, Ed Murrow began his career with CBS. When World War II broke out, it was his voice that brought the Battle of Britain home to us, through his "This Is London" radio series. He started with us all, many of us here tonight, when television was in its infancy, with the news documentary show, "See It Now." He threw stones at giants. Segregation, exploitation of migrant workers, apartheid, J. Edgar Hoover, not the least of which, his historical fight with Senator McCarthy. He ...

---

Crazy Credits

Even the rating band at the tail of the film is in black and white.

---

Connections

References Fail Safe (1964)

---

Soundtracks

Who's Minding The Store?
Written by Alana Biden, Allen Sviridoff, Earl Brown, Matt Catingub
Performed by Dianne Reeves

User Reviews

One of the very best films of the year.

"Good Night, And Good Luck" is one of the best films of the year. Beautifully directed by George Clooney (who also co-stars), this is a film that exercises a powerful message and social commentary that remains relevant today. Filmed in tight frames of black and white, "Good Night, And Good Luck" also brings back the smoke-filled atmosphere of broadcast journalism and television in the 1950s. The film focuses around CBS journalist Edward Murrow and his attempts to take down Senator Joseph McCarthy through his news program, "See it Now." David Strathairn, playing Edward Murrow, gives one of the best performances of the year and is surely swimming in Oscar territory. Clooney makes his biggest leap in the film industry yet. He, too, may join Strathairn for an Oscar nomination, but in the Best Director category. Filming in black and white, and interspersing news conferences with actual footage of McCarthy, Clooney is an emerging talent worth watching. The ending and the very last frame lets "Good Night, And Good Luck" stay with those who watch it. It ends very abruptly, as if Clooney wants to show the failing, yet lasting effort Murrow had--how he stands as a symbol for the continuation of truth and who is willing to bring it out to the public. The end has a very honest bleak tone to it--we want to see Murrow continue to let the public know what's actually going on in the country, but one man's fight isn't good enough. Clooney chooses a perfect and powerful ending. He makes a bold statement on how public interest in television has contributed to the decay of society, whether it is 1950 or 2005.

Details

Official Sites:

Kinowelt [Germany]

Country:

USA France UK Japan

Language:

English

Release Date:

4 November 2005 (USA)

Also Known As:

Good Night, and Good Luck.

Filming Locations:

California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$7,000,000 (estimated)

Opening Weekend USA:

$421,446, 9 October 2005

Gross USA:

$31,558,003

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$54,641,191

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Independent Pictures (WIP), 2929 Productions, Participant

Technical Specs

Runtime:

93 min

Sound Mix:

DTS Dolby Digital SDDS

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1