Classic Films - Reviews and Reflections with Stuart Fernie
Sep 22, 2026 · 5 min · 7 segments
Send us Fan Mail Brief discussion and analysis of characters and themes in Billy Wilder’s “Ace in the Hole”, starring Kirk Douglas, Jan Sterling…
Stuart FernieHost
Ace in the Hole is an exploration of outlook and consequent actions that are self-serving to the point where the central character and a number of similar-minded opportunists are willing to use and abuse others to advance themselves, their careers and their profits.
Although ideally motivated to seek truth, facts and justice, journalists, like many other public service professionals, may lose sight of lofty objectives and use, abuse or influence events and situations to promote themselves, advance their ambitions or promote a cause in which they believe.
A man named Leo is trapped underground to glorify and market himself, even causing life-threatening delays to Leo's rescue in order to maximise his impact and influence, with tragic and unnecessary consequences as the trapped Leo dies when he might have been saved days earlier without Tatum's manipulation and self-serving intervention.
Ace in the Hole is an exploration of outlook and consequent actions that are self-serving to the point where the central character and a number of similar-minded opportunists are willing to use and abuse others to advance themselves, their careers and their profits.
Although ideally motivated to seek truth, facts and justice, journalists, like many other public service professionals, may lose sight of lofty objectives and use, abuse or influence events and situations to promote themselves, advance their ambitions or promote a cause in which they believe.
A man named Leo is trapped underground to glorify and market himself, even causing life-threatening delays to Leo's rescue in order to maximise his impact and influence, with tragic and unnecessary consequences as the trapped Leo dies when he might have been saved days earlier without Tatum's manipulation and self-serving intervention.
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