Speed and truth was always the motto of Reuter's news agency, and those two characteristics certainly dominate this film, especially speed. Everything is fast here, the dialog keeps constantly firing off, and everything keeps happening at once. Whether you like journalism or not, it's a great story of faith and stubborn integrity constantly fighting incredulity and stupidity, and although it turns out critical at times, the truth always gets through in the end. Edward G. Robinson makes a great portrait of the fantastic news reporter who started with carrier pigeons, being called the "pigeon fool", but always followed the development and made his progress with it. Edna Best makes the endearing part of his wife, Eddie Albert is more interested in writing poems than in his master's craze about pigeons, Nigel Bruce makes a wonderful sponsor and friend both in need and in times of crisis, and there are other grand old actors contributing also. The height of the drama is the murder of President Lincoln and its stormy reactions, and William Dieterle has made a good job of it. This one of those classical biopics of Hollywood from the 30s on.
Review of A Dispatch from Reuters
A Dispatch from Reuters
(1940)
Fascinating account of the development of a news agency
28 April 2024