Good night, and good luck: the screenplay and history behind the landmark movieThe only official companion book to the award-winning new film, complete with the original shooting script, extensive historical material and commentaries. "Good Night, and Good Luck." takes place during the early days of broadcast journalism in 1950s America. It chronicles the real-life conflict between television newsman Edward R. Murrow (David Strathairn) and Senator Joseph McCarthy. With a desire to report the facts and enlighten the public, Murrow and his dedicated staff--headed by his producer Fred Friendly (George Clooney) and Joe Wershba (Robert Downey Jr.) in the CBS newsroom--defy corporate and sponsorship pressures and examine the lies and scare-mongering tactics perpetrated by McCarthy during his communist "witch hunts." A very public feud develops when the Senator responds by accusing the anchor of being a communist. Despite the climate of fear and reprisal, the CBS crew carries on, and their tenacity eventually pays off when McCarthy is brought before the Senate and his lies and bullying tactics are finally uncovered. In a format similar to the Newmarket Press books on "Hotel Rwanda" and "Kinsey," this in-depth companion delves into the history behind the acclaimed film. In addition to the complete screenplay by George Clooney and Grant Heslov, this informative volume features historical materials and articles, original contributions from the actual figures featured in the film (Joe and Shirley Wershba, Milo Radulovich and others), and an exclusive Q&A with the screenwriters Clooney and Heslov. 40 b/w photos. |
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Contents
Preface | 7 |
The Night Television Documentaries Changed Forever | 13 |
See It Now by Joseph Wershba | 21 |
Copyright | |
8 other sections not shown
Common terms and phrases
0'Brian AARON accused actors Air Force Alcoa American ANNIE LEE MOSS asked broadcast BULLPEN camera Charlie Clooney as Fred CONTINUED control room David Strathairn Director documentary Don Hewitt Don Hollenbeck Executive Producer exits fear film footage Frank Langella Fred Friendly Friendly's George Clooney going gonna Grant Heslov guys hear interview Joe and Shirley Joe McCarthy Joe Wershba journalism Junior Senator LIBERACE Luck MACK McCarthy's MICKELSON Milko Milo Radulovich monitor movie MURROW CONT'D MURROW V.O. NATALIE newsroom night Okay PALEY CONT'D PALEY'S OFFICE Patricia Clarkson Person to Person play political radio Robert Downey Jr Roy Cohn scene SCOTT script Senator Joseph Senator McCarthy SENATOR SYMINGTON Shirley Wershba shoot silence sits smile speech started story Strathairn as Edward Surine talk Tate Donovan television tell there's thing walk watch WILLIAMS Yeah