The Great Man (1956)

In the bustling metropolis of New York, the sudden and shocking death of beloved national radio and television personality, Herb Fuller, sends ripples through the industry. Known affectionately as a "great man," Fuller's tragic demise in a car crash leaves a void in the Amalgamated Broadcasting System, the network he called home. Poised to honor their fallen star with an extravagant one-hour tribute, the network is thrown into a frenzy of activity, with ambitious network executive Sid Moore using the situation to his advantage. Moore, who discovered Fuller in a small New England station, is eager to endorse Joe Harris, a New York man-about-town show host, as Fuller's successor. Harris, a former investigative journalist, is drawn to the prospect of stepping out of his fluffy gig and stepping into Fuller's shoes, a proposition that largely depends on the success of the memorial show. Yearning to utilize his investigative skills, Harris proposes to transform the tribute into an intimate portrait of Fuller, bringing to light the unknown stories of the beloved host through the eyes of those who knew him, including the regulars like band leader Eddie Brand and vocalist Carol Larson, fondly referred to as the "Fuller Family." However, as Harris delves deeper into Fuller's life, he uncovers a startling realization. The man revered by the masses was, in fact, disliked by most who knew him personally, their admiration fueled solely by Fuller's beneficial presence in their lives. Among Fuller's broadcasts, one particular heart-wrenching episode, where he personally delivered blood plasma donated by a listener to an injured soldier on the war front, piques Harris's interest. As he digs further, he discovers that Fuller's on-air persona was more smoke-and-mirrors than substance, a far cry from the man he truly was. Faced with this reality, Harris grapples with a daunting decision: Should he manipulate the truth and preserve Fuller's image, thereby securing his future in the network, or should he uphold his journalistic integrity and reveal the man behind the mask? In a world of 150 million devotees, all Harris can find are victims, cynical users, and a handful of Fuller's detractors. As the clock ticks down to the memorial show, will Harris resort to the magic of editing to create a fitting eulogy for the "great man," or will he expose the reality of Herb Fuller, forever changing the way the public perceives their beloved icon? The stage is set for a revelation that could shake the foundations of the broadcasting world.

The Great Man is a drama movie featuring José Ferrer.

The Great Man is currently streaming on Fandor.