David Strathairn plays Edward R. Murrow in this movie from 2005. Paul Goldfinger still from the current Netflix movie.
Sen Jseph McCarthy questioning witnesses at his Senate hearings in 1954. Paul Goldfinger still from the movie.
Dianne Reeves, jazz singer. Paul Goldfinger still portrait. Short clips of her singing were shown during the movie. Murrow was a jazz fan who often visited those New York clubs
By Paul Goldfinger, Editor, Blogfinger.net
In 1954, Edward R. Murrow, a CBS TV newsman set out to expose the “red scare” story where Senator Joseph McCarthy called a large number of people for questioning by his Committee. Those who were called were suspected of being Communists or “fellow travelers.” He caused fear and mayhem among defendants, many of whom were celebrities and other creative people such as actors, writers, principles in Hollywood, and educators.
In many cases, he questioned people for whom no convincing evidence was presented to prove their “guilt.” Because of McCathey’s aggressive hearings, some people lost their jobs and couldn’t find others. Murrow exposed the problem on his TV show. At the end of his show he would say, “Good night and good luck.”
Murrow was acclaimed for taking on the rogue senator, and eventually Sen McCarthy was forced out.
This is from History.com:
“Over the next four years, McCarthy became the most famous (and feared) “Red-hunter” in the United States. Combining a flair for the dramatic with a penchant for wild and reckless charges, McCarthy was soon ruining careers, cowing opponents into silence, and titillating the American public with his accusations of communism. In all of the hysteria, however, few noticed that McCarthy never uncovered a single communist, in or out of the U.S. government.
“In 1954, with his political fortunes beginning to ebb, McCarthy seriously overreached himself when he charged that the U.S. Army was “soft on communists.” In the famous televised Army-McCarthy hearings of that year, the American public got a first-hand view of McCarthy’s bullying and recklessness. The hearings destroyed McCarthy’s credibility and, though he continued to hold office, effectively ended his power in the Senate.”
The movie is mainly about Edward R. Murow. He smoked 3 packs of cigarettes each day including while on air. He died at age 48 of lung cancer. McCarthy also died in his 40’s of alcoholism.
From the soundtrack. This version of “How High the Moon” by jazz singer Dianne Reeves is very nice, but there is an instrumental. (tenor sax solo) of “When I Fall in Love” which is exceptional.