Customer Reviews

Good Night, and Good Luck.: The Screenplay and History Behind the Landmark Movie (Newmarket Shooting Script)

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Edward R. Murrow, trailblazing journalist, produced a series of groundbreaking television shows in the 1950's, daring... just daring to suggest that a rampaging Congressman from Wisconsin was wrong. His courage, in the face of a not always supportive supervisors, in the face of politicians who would rage war against his characters, is tenable. This book is a salute, both to the award winning film, "Good Night, and Good Luck", and to the comparable Murrow and his re-visioning of news in America.

The book is a perfect companion piece to the film. Offering several retrospective articles, they are brief and illuminate the life and times during this paranoid period in history. An extensive question and answer session from George Clooney and Grant Heslov share their experiences with making this film.

The true work of art is the script. Spare, sparse, and wonderfully vibrant, the script glistens with the actual words of Murrow, and a taut drama to bring them on to television. My favorite scene in the movie translates to my favorite scene in the script, when Murrow, so eloquently, so precisely proclaims, "We're gonna go on with the story because the terror is right in this room." Bingo.

Some proclaim "Good Night, and Good Luck" to be a fluff propaganda piece designed to promulgate the liberal politicial fascinations of George Clooney, et. al. It seems no matter what the subject matter is, as long as Clooney is involved, that labeled is quickly slapped on it. However, this film resonates with a clear message, what's past is prolgue. Those who don't heed the lessons of history are doomed to repeat it.

The fact of the matter is, Murrow's words, spoken 50 years ago, are equally as true today. Fact is, we need the Murrows of the world, to stand, speak the truth, and fight for what is right. This film, this book, is a celebration of that.

I purchased the book for the wrong reason. I thought it would teach me how to write a Screenplay, instead it delivered what it promised...the facts behind the making of a really great movie.