Five Star Final came to big screens on September 26, 1931. A slow-burn movie about looking for a story to boost sales for the New York Evening Gazette. The Managing Editor was pushed by his boss to produce a story to gain more traction for the paper and increase sales no matter the extent.
The editor, Joseph Randall, forced to find the next hot story, was told to bring up the past of a young lady's murder case. Nancy Voorhees was a killer of her child's father because of his cheating, but now, over twenty years later, she is a mother, wife, and everyday citizen, besides changing her name to start a new life.
Joseph aimed to reveal Nancy Voorhees's new identity and expose her current life. What he didn't know was by exposing her, he would affect the life of her daughter, daughter fiancé, and current husband.
This film shows the extent to which journalist Joseph Randall was willing to go for a story. Five Star Final included false identities, breaking and entering, spying, and death.
But what was missing in the journalist, possibly a moral compass, or is money more important?
Five Star Final can still be related today, especially in early 2000's Hollywood. In stars and high-profile court cases, privacy is no longer a thing. There are cameras everywhere, and who is to say a person would not sell you out for a dime. A quote from the movie that stood out to me was from Mr. Randall's Assistant, Miss Taylor, " I think you can always get people interested in the crucifixion of a woman." Her words are relevant today. Female celebrity's lives, especially, are always in the media, whether it be her on a night out, relationship drama, or simply a weight change.
My Rating of Five Star Final is a 7/10, although it was a slow burn; the ending did cause a few tears to be shed and me at the edge of my seat. If you want a mystery classic film with a twist, this would be a top 10 recommendation.
But this was more than a movie to put on and then walk away feeling the same. It makes you reflect on your own actions and how your actions affect other people's lives and those of those around them.
This movie, as an aspiring journalist, was an eye-opener. Is a story worth losing your morals or the downfall of someone else? That is up to you to decide with your own moral compass and snack of choice while watching on the big screen.
