El Gran Carnaval de Billy Wilder. Una advertencia sobre las historias de interés humano / Billy Wilder’s "Ace in the Hole": A Cautionary Tale about Human-Interest Stories

This article analyses <i>Ace in the Hole</i> (<i>El gran carnaval</i>) by Billy Wilder as a critical portrayal of sensationalist journalism and public fascination with human tragedy. Through the character of Chuck Tatum, a morally bankrupt reporter, the film critiques the media’s exploitation of “human interest stories” and the ethical erosion in pursuit of professional revival. Drawing parallels with the real-life Floyd Collins incident (1925), the author explores how the film constructs a cynical spectacle of public opinion and mass curiosity. While contrasting Tatum with Pulitzer-winning journalist William Burke Miller, the study highlights the moral degeneration of both individual and collective actors in media consumption. The work ultimately asserts that Wilder’s harshest critique targets the audience itself—symbolised by the average American family—whose voyeuristic appetite sustains media manipulation. The article also examines the cultural and industrial implications of the film’s commercial failure and its subsequent reevaluation. Through intertextual analysis and historical parallels, the study sheds light on the evolution of media ethics and the representation of journalism in cinema. This research contributes to broader debates in media studies, cultural criticism, and film ethics, offering insights into the intersection between narrative spectacle and journalistic integrity.