Review of "Good Night, and Good Luck" DVD

Review of

Good Night, and Good Luck DVD

Five out of five stars

 While there is no doubt some poetic license taken with the conversations that occurred in the newsroom, this movie has enough historical accuracy that it can be shown and should be shown in history classes. The setting is the early 1950’s in the United States when Wisconsin senator Joe McCarthy was engaged in his wild claims of communists everywhere in the United States.

 Due to his experiences as a correspondent in World War II, Edward R. Murrow was the premiere journalist in the United States and had a program on the CBS television network. Murrow chose to expose McCarthy for what he was, a man that engaged in wild and unsubstantiated claims that were attempts at character assassination. It took courage to stand against McCarthy and the brave actions by Murrow and the people at CBS had a great deal to do with McCarthy’s disgrace and rapid fall from power.

 This movie recreates those times and to make it more realistic, it was shot in black & white. Actual footage of Senator Joe McCarthy and other figures from that time is used, adding to the historical realism. All of the performances capture what had to have been the tension in the CBS newsroom at the time, for they were risking a great deal. This is a great movie and it is easy to see why it was nominated for so many awards.