The Big Tip Off (1955)
Directed by Frank McDonald
Genres - Drama |
Release Date - Mar 20, 1955 (USA - Unknown), Mar 20, 1955 (USA) |
Run Time - 79 min. |
Countries - United States |
MPAA Rating - NR
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Synopsis by Hal Erickson
A TV telethon is the "gimmick" in Allied Artists' The Big Tipoff. Richard Conte plays two-bit newspaper columnist Johnny Denton, who gains notoreity by printing tips on upcoming gangland activities. Denton heightens his fame by refusing to reveal the source of his information; the audience knows, however, that Denton's tip-off man is crime kingpin Bob Gilmore (Bruce Bennett), who is in the process of staging a phony telethon to scam the public. This plot element is mainly an excuse to offer a series of unrelated variety acts featuring such LA TV personalities as Spade Cooley, April Stevens, Chuy Reyes, and Ginny Jackson. The two male protagonists are given a chance for redemption through the auspices of Sister Joan (Cathy Downs), but an apparent murder muddies the proceedings.
Characteristics
Keywords
charity, anchorperson, columnist, con/scam, flashback, investigation, journalism, lawyer, loot, newspaper, nun, reporter, telethon, underworld