Winchell (1998) (TV)

User Rating:

6.7/10   

Director:

Paul Mazursky

Writers (WGA):

Herman Klurfeld (book)
Scott Abbott (teleplay)

Release Date:

21 November 1998 (USA)

Genre:

Biography | Drama | History | News

Plot:

The true story of the influential and controversial columnist, Walter Winchell.

Plot Keywords:

Columnist | 1950s | Radio | Ghost Writer | Writer

Awards:

Won Golden Globe. Another 5 wins & 6 nominations

Cast

Stanley Tucci	...	Walter Winchell
Glenne Headly	...	Dallas Wayne
Paul Giamatti	...	Herman Kurfeld
Christopher Plummer	...	Franklin D. Roosevelt
Xander Berkeley	...	Gavreau
Kevin Tighe	...	William Randolph Hearst
Frank Medrano	...	Melvin Diamond
Vic Polizos	...	Sam Hague
John F. O'Donohue	...	Harry the Doorman (as John O'Donohue)
Michael Greene	...	Bellamy
Rod McCary	...	Emcee
Victoria Gabrielle Platt	...	Josephine Baker
Rabbi Jonathan Aaron	...	Rabbi
Pat Asanti	...	Vaudeville Magician
Sean Michael Allen	...	Mirror Reporter (as Sean Barnes)

MPAA:

Rated R for language and a scene of strong sexuality.

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Certification:

Argentina:16 | Iceland:12 | Germany:6 | UK:15 | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

Fried Films

Goofs:

Anachronisms: When Winchell does a Las Vegas nightclub act in 1958, a sign can be seen advertising a show starring Seigfried and Roy - who didn't become headliners until years after Winchell's death.

Quotes:

Walter Winchell: Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. North and South America and all the ships at sea! Let's go to press!

Movie Connections:

Featured in The 56th Annual Golden Globe Awards (1999) (TV)

Soundtrack:

Last Call

The name alone is enough.

Being a child of television. The legacy of Walter Winchell to me previously consisted of bits and pieces. ITEMS as it may.

This recent in a series of HBO bio-pics gives loving attention to Winchell, the man, his inventiveness, dedication and ultimately, his power. It seems complete enough in the spectrum with which we view the man. There is suggestion that his influence may have rivaled FDR himself, and he shows William Randolph Hearst to be no match mano-a-mano.

Paul Mazursky is perfectly suited to direct this and gives us everything we need on the screen. Stanley Tucci earns a well-deserved Golden Globe in the title role. Paul Giamatti is superb as Winchell's ghost, Klurfeld (who's book sourced this film), only Glenne Headley, who's work tends to be spotty at times, seems a bit overmatched as WINCHELL's southern-fried moll, Dallas.

I left with renewed respect, for the man.