

Senate is investigating McCarthy, which means the imminent end of his crusade. Murrow broadcasts a rebuttal the following week, easily disproving McCarthy's accusations and pointing out that McCarthy didn't do anything to defend himself other than accuse anyone who opposes him as being either a Communist or a Communist sympathizer.Ī few days later, the news arrives that the U.S. McCarthy openly accuses Murrow of being a Communist, citing several pieces of evidence that seem to support it. McCarthy then asks for the opportunity to speak for himself on Murrow's show, which Murrow allows. Hollenbeck pleads with Murrow to go after O'Brian, but Murrow reluctantly tells him that he cannot attack O'Brian while he is busy going after McCarthy.Īs the team turns their focus to a filmed hearing of Annie Lee Moss, a Pentagon communication worker accused of being a Communist based on her name appearing on a list seen by an FBI infiltrator of the American Communist Party, they receive the news that Milo Radulovich is being reinstated by the Air Force, citing no direct evidence supporting any connections with Communism. The team stays together and presents the story, which becomes highly praised by the public and the press, with the exception of Jack O'Brian, who continues to attack both Murrow and especially Hollenbeck on their supposed support of communism. Friendly and Murrow gather their staff together, and when one of the team members voluntarily excuses himself because his ex-wife had attended Communist meetings before they even met, Murrow concludes that this kind of fear is what McCarthy wants. government, which some denounce as a witch hunt. They were planning to make a direct attack on Senator Joseph McCarthy and his crusade against Communist infiltration in the U.S. He warns him that if any members of his staff are associated with Communism in any way, however remotely, they would have to recuse themselves from Murrow's next story. CBS's Chief Executive, William Paley, brings this up with Murrow. Wershba is then given an envelope suggesting that Murrow has previously interacted with the Soviets and used to be on their payroll.


Murrow also tries to ease the worries of his colleague, Don Hollenbeck, who is struggling with both the strain of his recent divorce and attacks from newspaper writer Jack O'Brian, who is accusing him of being biased in his news reporting and being a " pinko". He reluctantly allows the story to air, which gains positive responses from the public. Murrow presents the story to CBS News' director, Sig Mickelson, who warns Murrow that the story will bring serious accusations and repercussions to CBS and their sponsors, some of whom have government contracts. Interest is piqued when it is found that the compilation of charges at Radulovich's hearing was in a sealed envelope and nobody saw them.

Air Force officer Milo Radulovich, who is being forcibly discharged because of family members being known communists and his refusal to denounce them. Murrow, along with his news team, producer Fred Friendly and reporter Joseph Wershba, learn of U.S. The setting is 1953, during the early days of television broadcast journalism. It was nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor for Strathairn. The film received critical acclaim for Clooney's direction, the writing, cinematography, production design, and performances (particularly Strathairn's).
#Good night image about silence quote movie
The movie takes its title (which ends with a period or full stop) from the line with which Murrow routinely signed off his broadcasts. It focuses on the theme of media responsibility, and also addresses what occurs when the media offers a voice of dissent from government policy. Senator Joseph McCarthy of Wisconsin, especially relating to the anti-Communist Senator's actions with the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations.Īlthough released in black and white, it was filmed on color film stock, but on a grayscale set, and was color-corrected to black and white during post-production. The film was written by Clooney and Grant Heslov, and portrays the conflict between veteran radio and television journalist Edward R. Good Night, and Good Luck (stylized as good night, and good luck.) is a 2005 historical drama film directed by George Clooney, and starring David Strathairn, Patricia Clarkson, Clooney, Jeff Daniels, Robert Downey Jr., and Frank Langella.
