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"The man who is hated by everyone knows who his friends are. And the man who is loved by everyone has more enemies than most."
American’s insatiable appetite for scandal and dirt isn’t a new thing. From the 1930s into 1970s, columnist/radio personality Walter Winchell (Stanley Tucci) dished more dirt than nearly any other gossip monger. With the aid of his sidekick/ghostwriter Herman Klurfeld (Paul Giamatti), they got the scoops the country craved.
Based on Klurfeld’s book Walter Winchell: His Life and Times, the story begins with a brief view of Winchell as a child who loved the newspaper reports of his own nearly fatal accident, his efforts to promote gossip during his time in the Army, and the beginnings of his scurrilous efforts to affect a story.
But he spoke loudly about more than celebrity stews. Winchell stood up to his publisher, William Randolph Hearst (Kevin Tighe) by refusing to cease writing and talking about the scourge of Hitler in the ‘30s; faced up to the McCarthy Red Hunt; and generally fought for the common man all his life.
Also appearing are Glenne Headly as Winchell’s mistress Dallas Wayne; Megan Mullally as Winchell’s wife June; Xander Berkeley as Winchell’s editor; Christopher Plummer as FDR; Paula Cale as Klurfeld’s wife; Jason Huber as Winchell’s nemesis Ed Sullivan; Paul Mazursky (who also directed) as Winchell’s father; and Victoria Platt as Josephine Baker.
Wonderful music of the era.
Run time: 1 hour, 48 minutes
Rated R for language and one strong sexual scene.
My personal rating: B
American’s insatiable appetite for scandal and dirt isn’t a new thing. From the 1930s into 1970s, columnist/radio personality Walter Winchell (Stanley Tucci) dished more dirt than nearly any other gossip monger. With the aid of his sidekick/ghostwriter Herman Klurfeld (Paul Giamatti), they got the scoops the country craved.
Based on Klurfeld’s book Walter Winchell: His Life and Times, the story begins with a brief view of Winchell as a child who loved the newspaper reports of his own nearly fatal accident, his efforts to promote gossip during his time in the Army, and the beginnings of his scurrilous efforts to affect a story.
But he spoke loudly about more than celebrity stews. Winchell stood up to his publisher, William Randolph Hearst (Kevin Tighe) by refusing to cease writing and talking about the scourge of Hitler in the ‘30s; faced up to the McCarthy Red Hunt; and generally fought for the common man all his life.
Also appearing are Glenne Headly as Winchell’s mistress Dallas Wayne; Megan Mullally as Winchell’s wife June; Xander Berkeley as Winchell’s editor; Christopher Plummer as FDR; Paula Cale as Klurfeld’s wife; Jason Huber as Winchell’s nemesis Ed Sullivan; Paul Mazursky (who also directed) as Winchell’s father; and Victoria Platt as Josephine Baker.
Wonderful music of the era.
Run time: 1 hour, 48 minutes
Rated R for language and one strong sexual scene.
My personal rating: B
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