Ahead of its time

Wow! This film is so ahead of its time. Billy Wilder's film is a commentary on how the press can interfere with and hijack a disaster/tragedy for its own purposes.

Think of any recent disaster, and how the media can turn it into a circus even while the police are conducting an investigation. Kirk Douglas represents the worst form of journalist, a man only out for himself, not caring one bit about the man trapped in the hole. The longer he can keep the circus going, the better it is for him and his career.

Recently in the UK, a woman called Nicola Bulley went missing in St Michael on Wyre in Lanacshire. It became a huge news story, with the media descending on the community. The added element were the " Tik Tik detectives" who joined in the circus. The Police search was impeded by the media circus as the small community was invaded by the media.