Ace in the Hole

Name: Ace in the Hole
Genre: Drama
Released: 1951-06-29
Duration: 1 h 52 min
Rating: 8
Cast: Kirk Douglas, Jan Sterling, Robert Arthur, Porter Hall, Frank Cady

Rough, tough Chuck Tatum, who battered his way to the top... trampling everything in his path - men, women and morals !

Ace in the Hole (1951)

Timing: 1:52 (112 min)

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7.8/10
760

8.1/10
42000

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Everything about the movie

Video 3

Photo 58

Actors and characters

Video for the film Ace in the Hole — Ace in the Hole | Original Trailer [HD] | Coolidge Corner Theatre

2:36

Photo 58

Release date

Country

Production

Genre

Budget

$1 800 000

Box office

$3 969 893

Website

Director

Billy Wilder

Actors

Kirk Douglas, Jan Sterling, Robert Arthur, Porter Hall, Frank Cady, Richard Benedict, Ray Teal, Lewis Martin, John Berkes, Frances Dominguez
All actors and roles (10)

Scenario

Billy Wilder, Walter Newman

Producer

Billy Wilder

Camera operator

Charles Lang

Composer

Hugo Friedhofer

Artist

Audition

Bert McKay

Editing

Arthur P. Schmidt
Whole Team (33)

Short description

An arrogant reporter exploits a story about a man trapped in a cave to revitalize his career.

What's left behind the scenes

The film was not a box office success, but over time it entered the "golden fund" of Hollywood.
The film was met with a cold reception by audiences, and the film company lost money. Without notifying director and screenwriter Billy Wilder, and certainly without asking his permission, the studio management changed the film's title to "The Big Carnival" in the hope of increasing box office receipts. This did not work. Wilder's next film (the 1952 war drama "Stalag 17") was a commercial success, and Wilder expected to receive his share of the film's earnings from theaters. However, accountants at "Paramount Pictures" told him that the lost revenue from "Ace in the Hole" would be deducted from the director's fee for "Stalag 17".
Actor Victor Desny (1906-1979) filed a lawsuit against this film while the screenplay was still being written. He claimed that the screenplay was an unauthorized and slightly reworked version of the story of Floyd Collins (1887-1925). Collins had indeed once become lost in caves, as was mentioned in the film. Desny owned the rights to this story, and that is why he alleged copyright infringement. Director and screenwriter Billy Wilder (1906-2002) filed a countersuit, but Desny prevailed, and Wilder's lawyers paid him $14,350.
Audiences received the film coldly, and the production company lost money. Without notifying director and screenwriter Billy Wilder, and certainly without asking his permission, studio management changed the film's title to 'The Big Carnival' in hopes of increasing box office returns. This did not work. Wilder's next film (the 1952 war drama 'Stalag 17') proved to be more than successful at the box office, and Wilder expected to receive his share of the film's theatrical earnings. However, Paramount Pictures accountants informed him that the shortfall from the release of 'Ace in the Hole' would be deducted from the director's fee for 'Stalag 17'.
Actor Victor Desny (1906-1979) filed a lawsuit against the film while the screenplay was still being written. He claimed that the script was an unauthorized and slightly reworked version of the story of Floyd Collins (1887-1925). Collins had indeed once become lost in caves, which was mentioned in the film. Desny held the rights to this story, which is why he claimed copyright infringement. Director and screenwriter Billy Wilder (1906-2002) filed a countersuit, but Desny prevailed, and Wilder's lawyers paid him $14,350.