Similarities Between Good Night And Good Luck

Although there were various inconsistencies between the film and historical facts Good Night and Good Luck was overall accurate in its portrayal of the broadcasts featured on Murrow’s documentary series, See it Now, especially Murrow’s “A Report on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy”. Murrow’s transition from radio to television was effective due to See it Now which first appeared on television on November 18, 1951. As seen in the film, his program was organized and professional, using Murrow’s insightful commentary in addition to live interviews and images to further. Murrow’s “A Report on Senator Joseph R. McCarthy” was particularly famous because it was the. The report took place on March 9th, 1954, which was stated in the movie. There were many parallels between the film and Murrow’s broadcast in real life and actor playing Murrow actually quoted from the reporter’s famous

criticism. For example, Murrow’s stated in both that, “But the line between investigating and persecuting is a very fine one and the junior senator from Wisconsin has stepped over it repeatedly”. In all cases, the report demonstrates how Murrow condemned McCarthy for abuse of power and misconduct as well as described the extent of McCarthy’s crimes. Other reports that appeared in the movie, like the case of Milo Radulovich and the hearing of Annie Lee Moss, were also faultlessly depicted. Again, the film uses clips from the time period to successfully uncover the lives and personality of the victims in these proceedings. Because of Good Night and Good Luck’s excellent interpretation of Murrow’s character, commentary, and telecasts, the movie is historically correct.
Along with the historical accuracy of Murrow’s work at CBS, the culture of the 1950s was unerringly represented in the motion picture. One of the first scenes of the film, the audience encounters the decade’s common fashion, music, and smoky newsroom setting. The most popular genres of music during this time period were folk, rock n roll, and jazz. In this particular film, there were many scenes that featured an African American women jazz singer, played by Dianne Reeves, and her wide-reaching audience conveyed the popularity of this occasion. Famous African American jazz women during this time included Eleanor Collins, Ella Fitzgerald, Lena Horne, and Nancy Wilson. In addition to music, Good Night and Good Luck properly displayed the fashion and trends during the 1950s, specially those prevalent in the CBS workplace. In a photograph titled “The Cbs News Mid Century Roundup”, Murrow and other reporters can be seen wearing suits and smoking cigarettes, which were two trends that were exhibited correctly in the movie. Lastly, the film was in black and white, which not only eased the transition between historical footage and clips from the movie, but this decision also made the movie adhere to the quality of TV during the 1950s. By the fall of 1948, television sets had become more common in households and broadcasting companies, especially ABC, CBS, NBC, and the DuMont Television Network, had begun to fill up schedules for evening programs.
Lastly, one crucial idea that is accurately demonstrated in the film is the consequence of McCarthy’s actions and reputation as well as right wing opposition on the reporters themselves. Within newcasting stations, there was an alarming amount of accusations made against fellow broadcasters. For example, the Red Channels was a report that was published in 1950 for the purpose of revealing the influence of communism on radio and television. The Red Channels was essentially a four page pamphlet written by Counterattack, an anticommunist newsletter, that blacklisted famous figures in the entertainment and media industry. This pamphlet incited panic within the broadcasting industry in the same way many reporters were visibly anxious in the movie. In a scene in the beginning of the film, there is gossip surrounding the CBS station where reporters are concerned with a “loyalty oath” in which they must state their patriotism, or else they will be considered a target or be fired. These scenes clearly demonstrate the reporters’ uneasiness in their workplace, as they are constantly in fear of unemployment. Another way the movie was through Palmer Williams, a fellow CBS reporter, who did not want to be affiliated with the program on McCarthy due to his ex-wife’s possible connections to the Communist party. His character served as a prime example of the fear of possible investigation of the studio or the discredit of the program. The film was an overall success in displaying the corollaries of the Red Scare, like unemployment, on those who work in the media industry.
Beyond the scope of what is shown in the movie, the Red Scare impacted many sectors of American society and was known to be founded in the fear of Soviet influence.

On the other hand, the movie focused of Murrow’s program and exaggerated its effectiveness among the general public and the government itself. Despite these shortcomings, the film was an overall successful portrayal of the attack on McCarthy by Edward Murrow, the style of the 1950s, and the alarm of the journalists working during this Red Scare. The character in Good Night and Good Luck observed the injustice behind McCarthy’s numerous accusations, and Murrow and the CBS network were then able to defend the American people and the country’s standards of liberty and justice. Like Murrow stated in his “Reply to Senator McCarthy”, “We proclaim ourselves, as indeed we are, the defenders of freedom, wherever it continues to exist in the world, but we cannot defend freedom abroad by deserting it at home”. Despite his fear of losing his position at CBS, he exemplified unfeigned patriotism in the fight against corruption within

government.