Jeff Flavin, an idealistic journalism school graduate, wins a scholarship entitling him to six months employment as a cub reporter on the Enquirer . On the day Jeff arrives, managing editor Vic Archer is ranting against his star reporter, Stuart Woodrow, whose cynicism and laziness are destroying his reputation as a great writer. Archer assigns Jeff to Stu in hopes of resuscitating Stu’s interest in his career, but because Stu loathes cubs, he treats Jeff badly. Stu is covering the arrest of notorious racketeer Harry “Face” Houseman, who is to be prosecuted by district attorney Hardin S. Kelly. The reporters accuse Kelly of going after Houseman merely because he is up for re-election, and indeed the case secures the election for Kelly. Meanwhile, Jeff investigates a rash of food poisonings at the local home for elderly people. Jeff gets himself and Stu arrested while trying to obtain evidence, causing Stu to miss an important date with his fiancée, Barbara Shaw, who is Kelly’s secretary. Soon after, Stu gets drunk and tells Jeff off, but Jeff nonetheless helps Stu out when he is too drunk to cover Houseman’s escape from prison. Jeff goes to the apartment of Houseman’s sister and watches in horror as Houseman is gunned down and an innocent child, killed. Jeff writes the story under Stu’s byline, which prompts Stu’s gratitude but makes him more determined to get Jeff out of the newspaper racket, as he thinks he is too decent for it. He gives Jeff a false story about the mayor’s divorce, and an infuriated Archer demotes Jeff to reading the funny pages on the radio. Later, Jeff goes to court to aid one of his young listeners and afterward watches the trial of Carlos Marquez, a Mexican accused of killing Houseman. Jeff, who speaks Spanish, hears translator Tomas Olmedo falsely state that Carlos confessed to the murder. Carlos is convicted, and when Jeff tries to convince Archer and the others of his innocence, they refuse to listen to him because of the fake story. Barbara finally convinces Stu to give Jeff a break, and the trio searches Kelly’s office for clues. They discover that Olmedo was paid off by Kelly and also that Kelly had been receiving graft from Houseman and other racketeers for years. Speculating that Kelly was behind Houseman’s escape and murder, they then find Olmedo and secure his testimony. Kelly is arrested and convicted, Carlos is freed, and Jeff, now a full-fledged reporter, is the best man at Stu and Barbara’s wedding. More on Wikipedia or Mubi
Festival Film- Awards & Festivals
Academy Awards, 1941- Nominee: Best Sound, Recording
Watch Behind the News – It is also known as A Flagpole Needs a Flag (1940)
