Five Star Final (1931)
Mervyn LeRoy's searing pre-Code indictment of tabloid journalism, powered by a commanding Edward G. Robinson performance.
Five Star Final - Movie Information
- Release Year: 1931
- Directed by: Mervyn LeRoy
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Crime, Drama
- Runtime: 1h 29m
- Original Language: English
- Spoken Languages: English
- Release Date (Theatrical): September 26, 1931 (United States)
- Production Companies: The Vitaphone Corporation, First National Pictures
- Production Countries: United States of America
Five Star Final - Plot
Searching for headlines at any cost, an unscrupulous newspaper owner forces his editor to print a serial based on a past murder, tormenting a woman involved.
Five Star Final - Trailer
Watch the official trailer for this pre-Code classic below.
A picture as sensational as its subject!
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Five Star Final - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Mervyn LeRoy
Main Cast
- Edward G. Robinson
- Marian Marsh
- H.B. Warner
- Anthony Bushell
- George E. Stone
- Frances Starr
- Ona Munson
- Boris Karloff
- Aline MacMahon
- Oscar Apfel
Writers
- Byron Morgan
Producers
- Hal B. Wallis
Five Star Final - FAQs
Where can you watch Five Star Final online?
Five Star Final is available to stream on the Criterion Channel as part of a subscription. It can also be rented or purchased digitally through Amazon Video and Apple TV Store. Check JustWatch for the most current availability in your region.
Is Five Star Final based on a true story?
Five Star Final is based on a 1930 Broadway play by Louis Weitzenkorn, who drew on his own experience as a tabloid journalist. While fictional, the story reflects real practices of sensationalist newspapers of the era, particularly the scandal-driven tactics of New York City tabloids in the 1920s and 1930s.
Who are the main actors in Five Star Final?
Five Star Final stars Edward G. Robinson as tabloid editor Joseph W. Randall, alongside Marian Marsh, H.B. Warner, Frances Starr, Anthony Bushell, Ona Munson, George E. Stone, Aline MacMahon, Oscar Apfel, and Boris Karloff in a memorable supporting role.
What is Five Star Final about?
A ruthless newspaper owner pressures his editor into running a sensationalist serial revisiting a decades-old murder case. The resulting coverage destroys the life of a woman connected to the crime, exposing the devastating human cost of tabloid journalism driven purely by circulation and profit.
What role does Boris Karloff play in Five Star Final?
Boris Karloff plays T. Vernon Isopod, a disgraced former clergyman turned unscrupulous reporter who poses as a minister to infiltrate the family at the center of the newspaper's scandal. His performance is widely regarded as one of the film's most unsettling and memorable supporting turns.
Was Five Star Final nominated for any major awards?
Yes. Five Star Final received a nomination for Outstanding Picture at the 4th Academy Awards (1932), competing for what is now known as Best Picture. The nomination cemented the film's reputation as one of the most significant pre-Code Hollywood productions of the early sound era.
Who directed Five Star Final and when was it released?
Five Star Final was directed by Mervyn LeRoy and released on September 26, 1931, by First National Pictures and The Vitaphone Corporation. LeRoy was one of Warner Bros.' most prolific directors of the era, also known for Little Caesar (1931) and I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang (1932).
What makes Five Star Final a pre-Code film?
Produced before the strict enforcement of the Hays Code in 1934, Five Star Final tackles themes of media exploitation, suicide, and moral corruption with unusual frankness. Its unflinching portrayal of journalistic ruthlessness and the human wreckage it leaves behind would have been heavily restricted under later censorship rules.
More About Five Star Final
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