Review of The Power of the Press

This is a Wonderful little film that was forgotten because it was squeezed between the silent era and the race to sound movies. The acting and story are smooth and show a competent Frank Capra early in his career. The story begins with light humorous touches but quickly turns into a dramatic crime story. SPOILERS: Fairbanks plays a cub newspaper reporter stuck writing about the weather forecast. And even that gets edited by his tough, cigar chewing boss. One day all the "real' reporters are out covering other stories when the phone rings with the news that the local distract attorney has just been shot. The editor is forced to send the boy wonder (Douglas Fairbanks Jr.) out to cover his first big assignment. Rushing out the door he bumps into a stranger and accidentally switches hats. His hat contained his press pass and he later discovers he is blocked from the crime scene by the cops because he has no other credentials. Stymied he wonders around the back of the house just in time to see a pretty young woman trying to sneak out a window. Trying to stop her as she runs towards her car, she drops her purse but gets away. He takes her purse back to the editor and they go through it and discover from her ID that she is the mayor's daughter. This story fills the front page and the new reporter is a star! Quickly the young girl tracks down the reporter to explain she does not know who committed the murder, but was just there by accident. She asks him to retract the implications of the story as she cries and pleads. Softheartedly he believes her and fights with the editor for the retraction threatening to quit. He's immediately fired. Back on the streets he runs into a guy he also saw outside the house where the murder occurred. Putting two and two together he tries to ingratiate himself with this gangster. Following him and acting drunk he drops clues that he knows more about the motives and the murder plot. The gangster tries to lead him wrong, but the young reporter uses a scrapbook found at the scene to bait the man. When the gangster steals a picture of his pretty female accomplice from the scrap book the report knows who he needs to talk with next. The scene switches to a country house where this pretty night club singer is hiding out. She's staying out of sight because she's working for the gangster who is working for a corrupt politician trying to become mayor! Young Douglas eventually finds her and explains that if she signs a confession he will help get her off and help prosecute the men who forced her to join in their plan. Just as she sees that he's right and starts to write out her version of the story the gangster shows up and fights with the reporter. With the rest of the gang waiting outside the singer and reporter come up with an elaborate escape plan that distracts the gang as they rush back to the paper with the murder tied up and save the day! With his job back and the mayor's daughter cleared of all suspicion they two fall in love. fade out.