Hollywood really had a bone to pick with journalists in the early 1930s. In 1931 it nominated "The Front Page" for its Best Picture Oscar and a year later did the same with "Five Star Final."The first film is a lot of fun, but I think I admired the latter film more. It's gritty and racy in that pre-code way films from this time period were, and it pulls no punches in going after newspapers and the sleazy lengths they'll go to -- and the lives they're willing to destroy -- in the pursuit of profits.Edward G. Robinson is just one of the best actors in movies ever. How can such an ugly mug of a guy command the screen the way he does? See this movie for an example of his screen presence."Five Star Final" belongs to the unique list of films that received an Academy Award nomination for Best Picture but no other nominations, something that hasn't happened since 1943 but that happened more frequently than you might think up to then.Grade: A

This is an amazing newspaper drama about a scandal sheet, the New York Evening Globe, that focuses on gossip, whether slander or not, destroying lives they have no business interfering in. And why bring up a 20 year old murder where the exonerated killer has reformed, lived a decent life, and is preparing to see the illegitimate daughter from that scandal be married into high society? Because that's what scandal sheets do, then, now, but hopefully not always. 82 years after this film was released, its message is still clear yet the attack it makes on these trash moguls has not been heeded, only worsened through today's hideous social media.The story here surrounds a woman (Frances Starr) who killed her lover who left her pregnant and refused to marry her. She was exonerated, married a man whom she truly grew to love (H.B. Warner) and has raised a beautiful daughter (Marian Marsh). At the Evening Globe, the owners suggest bringing back the story in serial form and find out what happened to her. Marsh's fiancée's (Anthony Bushell) parents are not forgiving, and as more of her past is exposed, Starr makes a drastic decision which results in tragedy for everybody and hopefully a guilt that will follow the Globe's owners to the grave.Under their thumb is Edward G. Robinson who goes along with the story yet as the clock ticks away, his own guilt surfaces, especially when Starr keeps trying to get ahold of him or the owners to beg them to cease the story for her daughter's sake. This is where the film is almost like the countdown to an execution, and the great tension arrives. Aline MacMahon, in her film debut, is outstanding, giving one of the greatest performances I've ever seen on film. She admits she's working in this position because it was the only job she can find, finds everything her employers do disgusting, and turns to drink to get the bad taste out of her mouth, hoping it will give her the courage to tell her boss (whom she obviously is in love with) off. Robinson finally gathers the courage to face the truth and his confrontation with his boss may have you cheering.In smaller roles as some of the sleazy reporters are George E. Stone, Ona Munson and Boris Karloff. The future King of Horror plays one of the sleaziest characters ever on film; He's a defrocked minister who continues to wear the uniform to get his victims to confide in him. Even Munson, playing pretty sleazy here herself, admits she is disgusted by him. The scene where Marsh confronts the Globe is celluloid at its eeriest with Karloff frightened out of his boots as he faces his sins at the hands of one of the victims.The reason these stories fascinate the public is obvious. As the musical "Sweet Smell of Success" (based upon the 1957 film noir) indicated, the public thrives on dirt, and they don't even care if it's true. You may, as I did, find this film to be an excellent expose on the evils of abuse because of the freedom of the press, yet you will be angry, as you should be. Think of that the next time you pass a newspaper rack at your local grocery store and see some innocent person's life being exposed in print or turn on your morning news to find out that it is not news, only unnecessary gossip.

First, why do I say it is dated? It is a matter of acting tastes. While several of the leads (the always good Robinson and Karloff, Aline MacMahon, and H.B.Warner) give strong performances (witness Warner's last three minutes in the film as the strain of his wife's tragedy finally destroys him), there is too much of the 1931 "staginess" of the acting style of that day in FIVE STAR FINAL. Put this way: my mother (who watched the film with me) enjoyed it, but laughed at that staginess - she was born in 1928, so as a kid many movies of the early 1930s would have had that style of acting, and she found it archaic).Bernarr MacFadden is recalled (if at all) as a one time newspaper owner and food/diet/health faddist. The latter career is what most people remember (one of his diet/health followers was Greta Garbo). Coming from the hinterlands, MacFadden looked like a hick but had tremendous energy, ego, and ambition. He bought the failing New York Evening Graphic in the 1920s and taking full advantage of that age of ballyhoo turned it into the raggiest newspaper of the day. As mentioned he made up "photographs" supposedly showing the crimes and punishments he was reporting. He did everything to scoop the rival Hearst and other papers of news dirt. His intention was (as was Hearst's, with more plausibility) to build himself into a national figure for political office - hoping to eventually become President. It did not work (fortunately). I say that safely. I have read his editorials about the end of certain criminals, and he sounds not soporific but childish in the intensity of his dislike (in one of them he actually wrote something like, "Now, he's dead, dead, dead...that'll show him!" - I am not making that up!!).The depth of the Graphic's career really was in 1928. A ridiculous marriage-divorce case, that of millionaire landlord Edward Browning (age 70) and his young wife "Peaches" (age under 20) broke out, and instead of ignoring it and concentrating on real news, MacFadden actually did his idiotic fake photos on the front page. Browning apparently (like all husbands with their wives, or people with their sex companions) had private language with Peaches that the court revealed. When he wanted sex but badgered his wife he (supposedly) said "Woof, woof, don't be a goof!", and if he described intercourse he'd say, "Honk, honk, it's the bonk!". MacFadden showed Browning and Peaches in bedclothes in their bedroom, with cartoon balloons with the expressions in them. The "goof" expression was coming from Browning, but the "bonk" expression came from a goose or duck that was transposed into the frame of the picture (probably because the latter's "quack" is sometimes like a "honk").FIVE STAR FINAL was one of the favorite of Eddie Robinson. Coming a year after his breakout success in LITTLE CAESAR he was glad (for once) not to have to be a gangster but a city room editor on a tabloid ready to blow up. Robinson's Joseph Taylor has been working for a New York City newspaper for 10 years as editor (before that he worked on other papers, but none quite so sensational). The owner of this paper, Hinchcliffe (Oscar Apfel) is a respectable looking millionaire, but he is an arch-hypocrite. He likes higher and higher circulation and does not mind if he uses scandals to boost his paper. By the way, some of the best minor sequences in FIVE STAR FINAL show Hinchclffe and Robinson discussing items that have to be moved or dropped and the effects on the public. Apparently their dropping of some articles by former Black heavyweight champ Jack Johnson (about his girlfriends) caused a dip in the circulation sales in Harlem (Robinson adds to this tidbit by mentioning that his housekeeper stopped buying the newspaper when that happened!).The plot of the film is that a twenty year old homicide that resulted in the acquittal of the perpetrator is resurrected for circulation. The woman (Marian Marsh) has married (H.B.Warner) and has a daughter (Frances Carr) who is getting married to the son (Anthony Bushnell) of the a wealthy manufacturer. The revelation of the old scandal (skillfully hidden by Marsh and Warner) is threatened by the newspaper series. The older couple then compound the problem when they mistakenly trust Boris Karloff as a clergyman (he was a defrocked theology student, who now is a sleazy reporter). The revelations lead to deeper and deeper problems, and eventual tragedy.Aline MacMahon is Robinson's secretary (and girlfriend) who knows he is better than his activities suggest. But it is not until the tragedy that Robinson's self-loathing for his activities emerges. It determines him on a showdown with Apfel, which is complicated by the arrival of another party who wants a confrontation and an explanation.The film is good, if some of the dialog turns to be too racy (and even bigoted) at times. The issue of the limits of a free press are always with us, and this presents it quite well up to Robinson's final commentary and actions to show his disgust with his job.How true is it that we do not forgive old felons or suspects in crimes? It varies. Those who are pedophiles or sex criminals are rarely forgiven, especially as they have to register with the police in many jurisdictions. As for our murderers, well you have the example of O. J. Simpson, and how he may now be finally facing a delayed punishment in a different crime. On the other hand, you have the case of the successful detective story novelist Anne Perry, who went to prison as a juvenile for murder. There is no universal rule on accepting these people one way or another. It probably depends on the crime involved.

This is what made Edward G. Robinson so great. He could take any role and make it unique and also from the start he could kid his "tough guy" persona (which he doesn't do here)!!!! Aline MacMahon also deserves praise. This was her first film and she was perfect in the role of Miss Taylor - Randall's "conscience". Yes, she soon started to play kindly aunts and best friends but she was vital to any film that she was in and in this film, next to Robinson, she is the highlight. Adorable Marian Marsh, who had just had a hit as Trilby in "Svengali" went on to star in several hits of the early 30s. In this film she plays the daughter Jenny Townsend and her high light is the end - "Why did you kill my Mother????"Joseph W. Randall (Edward G. Robinson) is managing editor of the Evening Gazette, the biggest scandal rag in the city. He is determined to make the paper more respectable and because of that the circulation is down. "you are trying to get above our readers... Say if I sat on a cigar box I'd be above them!!!". The paper's owner "the sultan of slop" decides to resurrect a 20 year old murder case where a young woman Nancy Voorhees killed her boss. She stood trial but was let off because of her baby. The paper wants to know what became of her. She is now married to a bank manger (H.B. Warner) who loves her dearly and stood by her. Her daughter, Jenny is about to be married to Phillip (Anthony Bushell) whose parents are in high society.Boris Karloff is really creepy as Isopod, a defrocked priest - "don't drive in taxis with him!!!" He poses as a priest interviewing the parents of the bride - in reality trying to get a scoop for the paper. Jenny's parents confide in him, thinking he really is a priest and of course Isopod takes it to the papers.The story makes front page news on the day of the wedding. Phillip's parent visit and command that the wedding be called off. Nancy, the mother, calls the paper, and by the use of a triple screen you see how her pleas go unanswered by everyone, except Miss Taylor. Her husband goes to see a friend who says he will do all in his power to stop the story but it is too late for Nancy, who has taken her own life."Why did you kill my mother!!!!". Even though Phillip has stood by her, Jenny is distraught and goes to Randall's office planning to kill him. After a huge show down that will leave you emotionally breathless a glass door is broken and Randall goes off with Miss Taylor - "if you want my opinion - take me to a speakeasy some night - I won't be working for you then"!!! - to start a clean life away from the gutter of the scandal rag that has "more huddles on this paper than on the Notre Dame team!!!!"The door that was broken was the door to the owner's office - not the door out of the office.Highly recommended.