Big News (1929) Full Movie – Pre-Code Mystery-Comedy Film

## 🎬 Big News (1929) Full Movie – Pre-Code Mystery-Comedy Film

**Big News** is a 1929 American pre-Code mystery-comedy film directed by Gregory La Cava, released by Pathé Exchange. Starring Robert Armstrong and Carole Lombard (billed as "Carol Lombard"), it's an early sound film that blends elements of newspaper drama, crime, and marital strife with comedic undertones.[3445]

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## 📖 Plot Summary

The story revolves around Steve Banks (Robert Armstrong), a newspaper reporter known for his hard-drinking habits, which are starting to jeopardize his career. His wife, Margaret Banks (Carole Lombard), also a reporter for a rival paper, warns him that she will divorce him if he doesn't clean up his act and stop letting alcohol compromise his work.

Despite the warnings, Steve becomes entangled in a dangerous story involving drug dealers, even after his editor fires him. The plot thickens when his editor is murdered, and Steve, due to his turbulent circumstances and persistent involvement with the criminal underworld, finds himself accused of the killing. Now, he must not only clear his name but also confront his personal demons to solve the murder and save his marriage.

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## 🎥 Style & Legacy

* **Early Sound Film:** As an "all-talkie" film from 1929, *Big News* is part of the exciting early era of sound cinema. It captures the rapid technological shift in filmmaking, moving away from silent pictures.
* **Pre-Code Era:** The film's "pre-Code" status means it was made before the strict enforcement of the Hays Code in 1934. This allowed for more mature themes, grittier realism, and moral ambiguities, such as a protagonist struggling with alcoholism and themes of marital discord and crime.
* **Newspaper Drama:** It exemplifies the popular "newspaper picture" genre of the era, showcasing fast-paced dialogue, cynical reporters, and a world of crime and corruption.
* **Carole Lombard's Early Role:** This film provides an early glimpse of Carole Lombard's talent before she became a major screwball comedy star. She is credited here as "Carol Lombard."
* **Preservation:** While not widely available, a 16mm reduction print of the film exists, preserving this piece of cinematic history.

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