Many journalists today complain about not only being disrespected but also utterly disliked by large segments of the public. This is a situation quite different from the halcyon days following Watergate, when the Fourth Estate was celebrated as the guardian of democracy and everything that holds modern civilisation together. However, even before our times there were journalists who were disliked or, at best, viewed as deeply divisive figures. One of them is protagonist of Winchell, 1998 biopic directed by Paul Mazursky.
Protagonist, played by Stanley Tucci, is Walther Winchell, one of the most popular and influential journalists in 1930s and 1940s America. Script by Scott Abbott is based on Winchell, His Life and Times, 1976 book written by Winchell’s associate and ghost writer Herman Klurfeld (played by Paul Giamatti). Plot gives basic chronological account of Winchell’s life, starting from his growing up in Jewish immigrant family in New York City and career as vaudeville entertainer in his youth. In 1929 Winchell establishes himself as top gossip columnist for New York Daily Mirror, using a network of connections among personalities in show business, politics and organised crime. Popularity of his columns allows him to try his hand in the new medium of radio, where his specific style of delivery would make him a household name among tens of millions of listeners. Winchell is very outspoken in views and in late 1930s uses every opportunity to attack Hitler’s regime, much to the displeasure of William Randolph Hearst (played by Kevin Tighe), owner of the newspaper and media tycoon with business interests in Nazi Germany. On the other hand, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (played by Christopher Plummer) appreciates Winchell’s popularity and influence and convinces him to use his talents for propaganda purposes during WW2. In 1950s Winchell, partly because of personal feuds with certain celebrities, joins McCarthy’s witch hunt against alleged Communists. That, and the medium of television he can’t adapt to, will bring Winchell’s downfall.
Winchell was originally to be directed by Bob Fosse with Robert De Niro in title role. Fosse’s death has postponed the project for many years. When it was finally made, it was in HBO production and the director Paul Mazursky, although known for many interesting films in 1970s and 1980s, was long past his prime. He does adequate job in Winchell, though, trying his best to recreate various historical periods with limited resources. The greatest asset of the film is Stanley Tucci, who obviously enjoys playing the flamboyant but often unlikeable character of Winchell. He made good impression and won Emmy and Golden Globe for his work. Tucci manages to outshadow Paul Giamatti, who is very good in the role of character who, mostly unsuccessfully, tries to serve as Winchell’s conscience and voice of reason. Unfortunately, work of both actors is compromised by poor script that requires from audience an extraordinarily good knowledge of mid 20th Century history, while at the same time ignoring both the potentially fascinating story of Winchell becoming journalistic star and even more fascinating story how he has lost favour of American public in his later years. Winchell also takes a cavalier attitude towards historical truth. Character of actress and Winchell’s long-time girlfriend Dallas Wayne, played by Glenne Headley, is very loosely based on real life actress and celebrity Texas Guinan and misused in poorly written and poorly acted scenes near the end. Winchell is at times interesting, but it leaves impression of underwhelming and forgettable work. Life and times of flamboyant protagonist are more likely to be properly explored by documentary.
RATING: 4/10 (+)
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