Good Night, and Good Luck

Good Night, and Good Luck Literary Elements

Director

George Clooney

Leading Actors/Actresses

David Strathairn, George Clooney

Supporting Actors/Actresses

Robert Downey, Jr., Patricia Clarkson, Jeff Daniels, Frank Langella

Genre

Historical Drama

Language

English

Awards

Nominated for six Academy Awards: Best Picture, Best Leading Actor for Strathairn, Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, Best Cinematography, and Best Art Direction

Date of Release

October 7, 2005

Producer

Grant Heslov

Setting and Context

The United States, the 1950s

Narrator and Point of View

Through the point of view of narrator Edward R. Murrow

Tone and Mood

Serious, Intriguing, Fun, Educational, and Critical

Protagonist and Antagonist

Edward R. Murrow vs. Joseph McCarthy

Major Conflict

The conflict between Edward R. Murrow and Joseph McCarthy is the major conflict of the film. As Murrow tries to discredit McCarthy's tactics, McCarthy fights back.

Climax

When it is announced that McCarthy is being investigated.

Foreshadowing

Don Hollenbeck's death is foreshadowed by how disheartened he seems by the criticism against him throughout the movie.

Understatement

Innovations in Filming or Lighting or Camera Techniques

Though not innovative, the film is well-shot. Shot in color, it was transferred to black and white in post-production.

Allusions

Allusions to history, popular culture, politics, people, literature, and quite a few other things.

Paradox

When Paley says "I'm with you today Ed, and I'm with you tomorrow," we know this cannot be completely true, because Paley is also in thrall to investors, so there is a limit to his loyalty.

Parallelism