Ace in the Hole (1951)

Disgraced journalist Chuck Tatum, once a star reporter for major East Coast papers, lands a job at a small Albuquerque newspaper after being fired for unethical behavior. Frustrated by the lack of compelling stories, he seizes an opportunity when he discovers Leo Minosa, a local man trapped in a collapsed cave. Manipulating the rescue efforts to prolong the story, Tatum crafts a media spectacle, exploiting Leo’s plight for fame and fortune.