As I was reading Jack Shafer's article about Ace in the Hole, I was reminded of the story of Floyd Collins. He was trapped in Sand Cave (which is near Mammoth Cave in Kentucky) in 1925. A reporter for the Louisville Courier-Journal, W.B. Miller, happened upon the story, and by the time he finished with it, there was a tent city near Sand Cave, and state troopers with bayonets were keeping the tourists back. Needless to say, this didn't help poor Floyd who died in the cave, and whose body could only be extracted by amputating a foot. I wonder if this was the story that inspired Billy Wilder.

I didn't know about this movie, but I will put it on my must-see list -- not only because of the story-line, but also because ol' Kirk is one of my favorite actors.

Khentkawes

Indeed, Ace in the Hole's Charles Tatum recounts the Floyd Collins story--and the Pulitzer Prize won--to the young photographer he's in the process of corrupting.

--Jack