A DISPATCH FROM REUTERS

US, 1940, 90 minutes, Black and white.
Edward G. Robinson, Edna Best, Eddie Albert, Albert Basserman, Gene Lockhart, Otto Kruger, Montagu Love, Nigel Bruce, James Stephenson.
Directed by William Dieterle.

A Dispatch from Reuters was one of the many popular biographies made by Warner Bros. in the '30s and early '40s. Many of them, as this one, were directed by William Dieterle. It is brief, gives an overview of the career of Baron Julius Reuter. He is played most genially by a moustachioed Edward G. Robinson, a nice change from gangster and police roles. Eddie Albert, in one of his earliest films, plays his rather scatterbrained assistant.

The film gives a lot of basic information about communication and journalism in the middle of the 19th century and the advances made by pigeon post, telegraph and the development of a network of information coming speedily for journalists and newspapers. The film's climax, in England and parliament with the announcement of the death of Abraham Lincoln and its effects, is quite moving.

1. The popularity of film biographies in the '30s and '40s? Now? The contribution of William Dieterle? The value of this kind of biography: information, inspiration? (At the beginning of World War Two?)

2. Warner Bros. production values: black and white photography, sets for 19th century Europe? Atmosphere? Score?

3. Audience knowledge of Julius Reuter and his background, his work? The possibility to learn about his achievements, admire it? Communications and journalism in the 19th century?

4. The importance of journalism, reporting, information, truth? The speed with which the information can be gathered and communicated? The importance of a free and uncensored press?

5. The portrait of Julius: as a young boy, working, the inventor and the wires and his admiration? His establishing the pigeon post? Its success? His hopes? Max as his boyhood friend, awkward, making mistakes, letting the pigeons go, not managing, supposedly working out slogans and advertising? The poison situation and the sending of the pigeon, the special bird? Dr Magnus and his appreciation? Ida? The banker and his pomposity, ejecting Julius? The information about Russia and its effect on the banks? The change of heart? The bankers and their getting stock exchange information and the banker cheating and his comeuppance? Reuter providing a financial service? The telegraph overtaking the pigeon post? The encounter with the news reporter from The Times? The possibility of sending news via telegraph? The interview with Louis Napoleon's adviser and the emperor himself? His success? The approach to the London papers, rejection by The Times, acceptance by the Scots editor? Sending the information to The Times - their appreciation? The contracts? The report and the signature of Reuters? the increase in the work? The Anglo-Irish? and their own plan? The friendship with Lord Randolph and getting the money? Building the line in Ireland? Sending the assistant to the US? The packet, the buoy with the information? Beating Anglo-Irish? The irony of the news of Lincoln's assassination - and Lord Randolph backing the South and possibly losing money? The published information? The reaction of the stock exchange, Lord Randolph's reaction (but persuaded by Reuter)? The attack by the opposition in parliament? Questions? Reuter's presence? The U.S. ambassador and his sending the information? The apology to Reuter? Success? Reuter's personal life, Ida and her admiration, running the office, the marriage, their son? Reuter's struggle, vision and achievement?

6. Max and his friendship, the girls, the slogans, awkward, losing the pigeons, Ida taking over the office? His continued loyalty?

7. Ida, the situation with the poison, her father's financial success, her admiration, managing the office in Belgium, the marriage, her continued support?

8. The bankers and their obstinacy, using the information? Dr Magnus and his support? Lord Randolph and his friendship?

9. The importance of information for the changes in history - the money market, Lincoln's assassination etc?

10. Themes of journalism and communications and their development?