Last night I saw Good Night, and Good Luck, a black and white drama directed and written by George Clooney set in the 1950’s and examining the communist scare, McCarthyism, truth, politics, and power. Ed Murrow, the lead newsdesk reporter on CBS’s “See It Now” program, and his editorial team were some of the few who braved to report on the misuse of government power, fear and ignoring civil liberties during the red scare. There are several poignant quotes and scenes in the film that point to the need to listen and associate with people who are different then ourselves, that dissent does not make one disloyal, and that power and fear – even from our own government – are harmful.
Much of how this movie, and Murrow himself, have credibility is by trying to start from a patriotic position and use legitimate sources, remain open for critique anad comment, and to not be afraid to speak truth to power. (Murrow first gained noteriety for covering WWII on the radio from atop building in the middle of the raids and doing reports from high-flying allied bomber planes; he was well respected in both radio and television from most sources, even those who disagreed with him.) Even though the shows eventually cost Murrow his career at CBS, and resulted in the program losing its sponsorship, Murrow and these shows are credited with instigating the defeat of McCarthy.
Murrow also makes some great remarks that apply to our current time about television being used only to entertain instead of to inform; one of my favorite quotes from Murrow about TV:
“This instrument can teach, it can illuminate; yes, and it can even inspire, but it can do so only to the extent that humans are determined to use it to those ends. Otherwise it is merely wires and lights in a box.”
This film is PG, it’s smart, it’s historically accurate and uses actual footage from the time, and it is a great conversation opener to learn about politics of that time, and to discuss our current political climate and how fear, power, and dissent vs. disloyalty are alive and active today. It’s also shot at an interesting pace, in a newsroom, with an amazing live jazz score that sets the mood, and is entirely in black and white. I highly recommend it!
Saw it Sunday myself – couldn’t agree more! I actually felt like I was watching a documentary half the time…and not just because of all the archival footage. It might be the glorious black and white it’s shot in, but the acting is mesmerizing and as you point out, the subject matter is crucially relevant, which made it seem like something I was studying.
Patriot Act = Present-Day HUAC Committee?!?
Thanks for the recommendation – it sounds like something I’d really enjoy.
I’ve been meaning to see it for a while, but can’t find anyone who hasn’t already seen it! I think in regard to entertainment and the news, I see the point about needing to have a base of people who want to be informed rather than entertained. However, there seems to be a good base of people who want to be informed in America, but the problem is not with a lack of news agencies willing to disseminate info, it’s with the economic system within which their medium rests. News corporations exist in a capitalist milieu, which, in my opinion, means the best they will ever be able to do is entertain AND inform.
I’m going to see it tonight. Can’t wait.
Glad that this film is getting a fair amount of attention, even though it’s independent and getting smaller press. And Chris, I think the issue of economic interests determining programming – and so much more – is of course our first problem if we are people trying to resist the lie that economics first and last forms us. True dat.