Five Star Final
1931 · Movie · NR · 89 min · ★ 6.6 · 86% critics
A struggling tabloid chases bigger sales by reviving an old murder story, ignoring the private lives caught in its path. As pressure builds, the film turns into a sharp warning about scandal, profit, and the human cost of sensational news.
Based on Five Star Final
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Details
- Years
- 1931
- Release date
- 1931-09-26
- Language
- English
- Rated
- NR
- Runtime
- 89 min
- Critic score
- 86/100
- TMDB rating
- 6.6/10 (46 votes)
- Box office
- $822,000
- Budget
- $310,000
About
You’ll like this if you want a dark, serious newspaper drama near The Front Page or Little Caesar; Not for you if you dislike preachy moral tales or old-fashioned performances.
Pros: powerful moral outrage; brisk newspaper drama; strong lead performances | Cons: uneven supporting acting; heavy-handed message; early-talkie stiffness
Themes
- press
- based on play or musical
- newspaper man
- newspaper editor
- pre-code
- female journalist
- breach of promise
- sensationalism
- accused of murder
- crime serial
- tabloid journalism
- newspaper headline
Awards & recognition
- Academy Award — Best Picture · nominated
Cast & crew
Edward G. Robinson
as Joseph W. Randall
Marian Marsh
as Jenny Townsend
H.B. Warner
as Michael Townsend
Anthony Bushell
as Phillip Weeks
George E. Stone
as Ziggie Feinstein
Frances Starr
as Nancy (Voorhees) Townsend
Ona Munson
as Kitty Carmody
Boris Karloff
as T. Vernon Isopod
Aline MacMahon
as Miss Taylor
Oscar Apfel
as Bernard Hinchecliffe
Directed by Mervyn LeRoy