Fact1: Joe Harris is popular established local radio news reporter covering Broadway entertainment with wise-guy attitude, Fact2: Philip Carleton assigns Harris to prepare memorial extravaganza including elaborate public viewing and special memorial show featuring interviews with Fuller 's radio cast and others, Fact3: Fuller 's longtime producer offers assistance, Fact4: Moore signs Harris to contract, Fact5: network spin chances of becoming Fuller 's successor
Output: Joe Harris Jose Ferrer is a popular, established local radio news reporter covering Broadway entertainment with a wiseguy attitude. Herb Fuller is the networks undisputed star. When Fuller dies in an auto accident, Philip Carleton Dean Jagger, president of the Amalgamated Broadcasting Network, assigns Harris to prepare a memorial extravaganza, including an elaborate public viewing and a special memorial show featuring interviews with Fullers radio cast, the Fuller Family, based on Arthur Godfreys cast of Little Godfreys and others who knew him. Carleton dangles a chance at Harris becoming Fullers replacement if he succeeds. Assisted by network PR man Nick Cellentano Jim Backus, Harris is intrigued by odd comments at the public viewing, including some from various individuals who attend strictly out of boredom and are indifferent to Fuller. Harris meets Sid Moore Keenan Wynn, Fullers longtime producer, who offers his assistance while realizing Harris is in line to become Fullers successor. Aided by his secretary Ginny Joanne Gilbert, Harris discovers Fuller was an alcoholic and an unethical womanizing egomaniac who became a star in spite of it. He is visited by Paul Beaseley Ed Wynn, owner of a tiny Christian radio station in New England, who first hired Fuller, impressed by his inspirational poetry and treated him as a son, only to discover Fullers dark side. Harris is initially condescending to the mildmannered Beaseley, but by the time he finishes his story, Harris is apologetic. Harriss investigations reveal Fullers relationship with Carol Larson Julie London, the alcoholic vocalist on his show, and various conflicts of interest involving his relationship with various song publishers whose songs were performed on Fullers program. Fuller bandleader Eddie Brand played by reallife bandleader Russ Morgan, hoping to remain on what he, too, suspects will become Harris show, dutifully records an artificially sincere sound bite regarding Fuller. Moore signs Harris to a contract, then reveals more of Fullers escapades. Carleton privately warns Harris of Moores duplicitous nature, telling the newsman that the network will spin his chances of becoming Fullers successor negatively so that Moore agrees to release him from the contract, adding if Harris cannot secure a release, the network will turn elsewhere. Amassing the research into a script, Harris has to choose between praising the beloved, amusing and warmhearted Fuller the public saw or unmasking the phony beneath the image. Harris makes up his mind as the broadcast starts, throwing away his prepared script to tell the truth about Herb Fuller. As Carleton and Moore listen in, Moore realizes what Harris is about to do. He rips up Harris contract and demands Carleton stop the broadcast. Seeing that Moore has done precisely what he had hoped for, Carleton refuses to stop the broadcast, explaining that he can market Harris as a man of principle and honesty to the public just as easily as his network marketed Fullers phony image.