Kirk Douglas is brilliant as a repugnant newspaperman who manufactures a story for his own benefit. Surprisingly cynical for a film that's almost 60 years old, but arguably more relevant than ever in today's era of 24 hour rolling news channels. If a sequel of this film was made today it would probably be called "Ace in the Hole 2: Balloon Boy Floats Again".

Wilder's tale of the media, of drying, desperation, greed and defiance. The metaphors are stunning, for example the giant, evergrowing & very literal media created circus. The story builds up momentum, and the scenery (and symbolism) gets more lucid. It's fascinating how it develops. Good people exist somewhere in this crooked world, but unfortunately they too are surrounded, and eaten alive, by the circus of life.

"Not unlike Fritz Lang's equally misanthropic Scarlet Street, Ace in the Hole plays the squashing of one man's human spirit for societal-weary gravitas." - Ed Gonzalez

Not that impressed. The beginning was alright, and the second third was good, but I was ready for that man get out of that damned hole about half an hour sooner. I saw the entire third act coming from a mile away, but somehow it still took FOREVER to resolve. It's not just that it dragged on, but there was a while there where it just felt like we were waiting with the rest of the crowd for something to happen. And by "something," I mean the obvious, and lame conclusion.

Ham-handed production. Completely lame beginning (I was going to pull the plug on the first 15 minutes)--but then it finally started to move, once they got to the cave. Kirk very good, but the whole thing was still by and large too shallow and obvious (too evidently a story first that they just hung some characters on). Oh well, at least it did feature that Green Acres guy (as Mr Furburger).

The way the sensationalism spread by Douglas' Tatum snowballs to become the news is chilling. Douglas' performance was frenetic, and an excellent viewpoint from which to experience the stark dichotomy that Wilder has setup between the events actually occurring and the way they are being perceived. The guilt that overcomes Tatum is made all the more poignant by the amorality that he expresses earlier in the film, and the carefully depicted indifference of the world around him.

Tough, cynical Wilder film finds Douglas in peak form as ruthless newspaper man obsessed with stringing out story of a mining tragedy for his own ends. Film was ahead of its time in the 50s, now stands as an ultra-realistic depiction of modern day media circuses (love the inclusion of a literal carnival in this film to ram home the point!) Supporting cast are all superb, love Hall's opening scenes as Mr Boot, and dialogue is delivered at a rat-a-tat-tat pace ensuring a fresh modern feel.

Caustic dramedy in the usual cynical yet sentimental Wilder fashion; its willingness to border on caricature can be offputting but as assumed it's an expertly written and directed piece of craft.

Captivating from start to finish, one of the best noirs I've ever seen. Kirk Douglas is phenomenal.

it's of no great surprise that either billy wilder can write a gripping script or that douglas is a great actor, so that's to be expected. for the most part this movie is simply a great movie, my only complaints are that it dragged on in a couple places, and i was not impressed with sterling.

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A harsh indictment of the media and the public's appetite for bad news. Kirk Douglas plays pretty much the biggest bastard in the world perfectly.

something I can't understand about this movie is : why such a crowd must come to this cave and be worried for his destiny . Kirk Douglas's performance was astonishing and I love the character . the movie haven't had a good beginning .

In the Wilder canon, only The Apartment eclipses Ace in the Hole. It darkly and cynically crucifies the media, but you really can't call its venom unwarranted. Great melodramatic final line and shot of Douglas.

Part dark comedy, part film noir, primarily intensely cynical drama, this biting piece of filmmaking which practically oozes venom is the kind of thing that leaves me amazed about '50s Hollywood, I certainly could never imagine such a film being financed nowadays even though (or precisely because) now in the era of 24 hour news services this film is more relevant than ever before. Kirk Douglas is brilliant as the repulsive main character. Very compelling.

Not my favorite Billy Wilder's picture, but it's impossible not to like it anyway: Kirk Douglas's character, as this sleazy newsman, is at the core of the film-journalism by excellence, and you cannot avoid comparing him to his son Michael Douglas in Wall Street, which is, I guess, even if you don't approve of Oliver Stone's engajed filmmaking, the film-corporation of our time.