MURROW

US, 1986, 110 minutes, Colour.
Daniel J.Travanti, Dabney Coleman, Edward Herrmann, David Suchet, Robert Vaughn, John Mc Martin.
Directed by Jack Gold.

Murrow is a made-for-Cable telemovie, a biography of Edward R. Murrow, one of the pioneers of television reporting. Not always admired by his contemporaries, Murrow nevertheless gained a strong reputation and pioneered styles of television and news. Daniel J. Travanti (best known for Hill Street Blues) is a very serious Murrow. A number of character actors portray various people at CBS in the '40s and '50s: Dabney Coleman as the founder of CBS, William S. Paley, Edward Hermann as producer Fred Friendly, John Mc Martin as CBS president Frank Stanton.

The film traces the events that were first treated in radio and television reportage, especially Murrow's work in England during World War Two.

The film is of particular relevance to American audiences with their knowledge of the networks and their appreciation of TV news and current affairs. However, the film also serves as a useful background to some of the history of the development of radio and television reporting. Direction is by the British director of film and television, Jack Gold.

1.The impact of the telemovie? For American audiences? World-wide audiences? A biography of Edward R. Murrow? His place in the development of media and news reporting? Radio and television? Personality?

2.The background of the United States and reporting? Britain and World War Two? America from the '40s to the '60s? The world of radio and, especially, the world of television? The musical score? The use of authentic clips? A documentary biopic style?

3.Audience knowledge or lack of knowledge of Murrow? His being presented as a symbol of television reporting? Of the cause of actuality reporting? Of electronic journalism?

4.The re-creation of the atmosphere of World War Two? Murrow and his love for radio, commission in England, radio reports? His daring? The Blitz? Relationship with Roosevelt and backing from him? His association with William Paley? Warning? His relationships, wife? The effect of World War 2 experience on him?

5.The world of radio, its significance in World War 2, information for the Americans? His contribution, questioning, changes?

6.The background of CBS and its growth? The move into network television? The character of William Paley? Power, influence, vision? His relationship with Frank Stanton? CBS president? Murrow as vice-president? Development and changes? Policy, personal interactions? The Shirer sacking and the demonstrations?

7.The personality of Murrow? His character? His work with the team? The work with Fred Friendly? Building up the team, its style, time slot, effective communication, reporting? The issues of the United States in the '50s - television treatment of issues like smoking, strikes? Murrow as committed to this vocation of television news reporting and communication?

8.Frank Stanton and his relationship with Murrow? With Fred Friendly? Television footage? The situation of the soldier and the father's card? The crew and their background? Decisions about the show, editorial policy and influence? Intervention? The acclaim? Hollenbeck and the communist menace? The later suicide? Stanton and his reaction? Murrow and his reply?

9.The relationship between Paley and Stanton? As characters, their contribution to CBS? The TV world and the real world, ratings and sponsors?

10.The issue of the quizzes and the rigging of answers? The time slot, losing, the arguments? London? The insult? The USIS and the TV interview?

11.Murrow and his friendship with Paley? The bureaucratic background versus that of the journalist? Fears, being sick? Stanton and the hurt? Stanton and his passion?

12.Murrow and his illness? The smoking? Paley's visit? His death? The testimonials? The aftermath of television and its growth?

13.A TV personality, committed to his work? Private life and relationships? Television and the truth? Murrow and his influence on the style of American news broadcasting?