IT WAS 70 years ago that The Argus hit the big screen in the classic film Brighton Rock.

Early in the movie we learn that a dead body has been uncovered in the city through a glaring headline in what was then called The Evening Argus.

It read “Brighton gangster’s body found: gravel pit discovery”.

Now, to commemorate the anniversary of the film’s release, an exhibition is being held as part of the Cinecity film festival in which The Argus features heavily.

Entitled Fake News: The British Cinema Newspapers, the display focuses on the use of print media in Brighton Rock and other notable UK movies.

It takes place at the University of Brighton South Gallery in Grand Parade from Saturday to December 9.

Tim Brown, co-founder of Cinecity, said print journalism was at the forefront of his mind when he set about planning the event.

He said: “Our starting point when we thought about the film was looking at its use of newspapers.

“When people think about Brighton Rock they think about the social realism or Brighton as a location.

“It has been explored in lots of different ways but we wanted to focus on newspapers like The Argus.”

The Evening Argus plays a pivotal role in the plot of the film. The body that is found in the gravel pit belongs to gang member Kite, who was suspected by a rival gang of revealing facts to Fred Hale – a fictional former Argus reporter.

The murder is discovered shortly after Hale wrote a story about the various fighting groups in Brighton.

Pinkie Brown (played by Richard Attenborough) takes over from Kite as leader of the tribe and sets out to murder Hale.

Mr Brown said: “The paper is behind the whole back story as to why Pinkie’s gang is out to get the other gang. It’s embedded into the plot.”

The exhibition hosts many back copies of The Argus as well as recreating significant front pages from Brighton Rock. It also includes an old delivery bike and camera which are both on display at our city office in Manchester Street.

As well as headlines from Brighton Rock, Fake News recreates several front pages from Alfred Hitchcock movies. The legendary Psycho director used newspaper headlines in many of his films.

He was once quoted as saying: “Where can you get movie stories that are better than today’s headlines?”

lCinecity runs from Friday to November 26. For more information visit cine-city.co.uk