''Behind the News'' is a 1940 American

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...

starring

Lloyd Nolan Lloyd Benedict Nolan (August 11, 1902 – September 27, 1985) was an American film and television actor. Among his many roles, Nolan is remembered for originating the role of private investigator Michael Shayne in a series of 1940s B movies. Bi ...

and directed by

Joseph Santley Joseph Mansfield Santley (born Joseph Ishmael Mansfield, January 10, 1890 – August 8, 1971) was an American actor, singer, dancer, writer, director, and producer of musical theatre, musical theatre, theatrical plays motion pictures and tele ...

. The film was nominated for an

Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...

for

Sound Recording Sound recording and reproduction is the electrical, mechanical, electronic, or digital inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording te ...

(

Charles L. Lootens Charles L. Lootens (May 14, 1900 – May 10, 1994) was an American sound engineer. He was nominated for four Academy Awards in the category Best Sound Recording. Selected filmography * ''Army Girl'' (1938) * ''Man of Conquest'' (1939) * '' ...

). It is also known as ''A Flagpole Needs a Flag''.

Plot

Recently graduated journalist Jeff Flavin gets a scholarship of six months work for ''The Enquirer''. Upon his arrival to the paper, Jeff gets the most renowned reporter, Stuart Woodrow, as a mentor. The editor, Vic Archer, hopes this will jumpstart the old man's spark and steer him back on the road to success where he used to be. However, the result of the pairing-up is that Jeff gets a very harsh treatment during his first time at the paper. Stu is reporting on notorious racketeer Harry "Face" Houseman, who many claim have been indicted just because the district attorney, Hardin S. Kelly, wants to be re-elected. Everything goes wrong with the cooperation between the old and young reporters. Jeff manages to make Stu late for a date with his fiancé Barbara Shaw, who is in fact Kelly's secretary. Stu gets drunk and scolds Jeff, but when Stu is too hungover cover the story about Face escaping prison, Jeff steps in and does the job. Jeff starts his own investigation of the case, and becomes witness to murder when Face is shot down in cold blood in his sister's apartment. He reports everything in Stu's name, and the old reporter becomes very grateful. Stu starts caring about Jeff's future career, and is determined to get him out of newspaper reporting, since he deems it unsuitable for a decent man like Jeff. Stu tricks Jeff to cover a fake story, and the editor is furious when he sees the result, and makes him read funny strips on radio instead of serious reporting. But when Jeff visits the court to meet one of his young listeners, he happens to watch the trial against Face's murderer, Carlos Marquez. Since Jeff speaks Spanish he discovers that the interpreter translates the accused man's words wrong, saying that Carlos confesses to the murder although he doesn't. When Carlos is convicted of the murder, Jeff tries to correct the wrongdoing by telling his editor about it. No one takes him seriously because of the fake story he reported previously, but eventually Stu agrees to help him look into the matter. Stu, Barbara and Jeff sneaks into the district attorney's office to look for clues. They find evidence that Kelly is corrupt and has been taking bribes for years. Together they go on to find a witness who can reveal Kelly's involvement in Face's murder and the false conviction of Carlos. When Kelly is arrested, Carlos is released. Jeff continues working as a reporter and also serves as the best man on Stu and Barbara's wedding.

Cast

as Stuart Woodrow *

Doris Davenport Doris Davenport, also known as Doris Jordan (January 1, 1917 – June 18, 1980) was an American actress in movies of the 1930s and early 1940s. Early years Davenport was born in Moline, Illinois, and lived in Davenport, Iowa, before s ...

as Barbara Shaw * Frank Albertson as Jeff Flavin * Robert Armstrong as Vic Archer *

Paul Harvey Paul Harvey Aurandt (September 4, 1918 – February 28, 2009) was an American radio broadcaster for ABC News Radio. He broadcast ''News and Comment'' on mornings and mid-days on weekdays and at noon on Saturdays and also his famous ''The Rest o ...

as Dist. Atty. Hardin S. Kelly * Charles Halton as Neil Saunders * Eddie Conrad as Enrico * Harry Tyler as Monroe *

Dick Elliott Richard Damon Elliott (April 30, 1886 – December 22, 1961) was an American character actor who played in over 240 films from the 1930s until the time of his death. Early years Elliott was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Career Elliott p ...

as Foster * Archie Twitchell as Reporter *

Veda Ann Borg Veda Ann Borg (January 11, 1915 – August 16, 1973) was an American film and television actress. Early years Born in Boston, Massachusetts, to Gottfried Borg, a Swedish immigrant, and Minna Noble, Borg became a model in 1936 before winni ...

as Bessie * Milton Parsons as Eddie

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Behind The News 1940 films 1940 drama films American drama films 1940s English-language films American black-and-white films Republic Pictures films Films directed by Joseph Santley Films produced by Robert North 1940s American films