The Front Page (1974)
Genre: Comedy
Duration: 105 minuten
Country:
United States
Directed by: Billy Wilder
Stars: Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau and Susan Sarandon
IMDb score:
7,3 (16.691)
Releasedate: 1 November 1974
The Front Page plot
"They'd do anything for a story…and do."
Hildebrand 'Hildy' Johnson is the star reporter for a Chicago newspaper in the 1930s. Tired of his job and the newspaper business, he decides to step out and get married. This angers his editor, who wants Hildy to report on the current developments surrounding murderer Earl Williams, who is about to be hanged.
Actors and actresses
Hildebrand Johnson
Walter Burns
Peggy Grant
Sheriff
Roy Bensinger
Kruger
Earl Williams
Murphy
Schwartz
Dr. Max J. Eggelhofer
Reviews & comments
Chainsaw
-
- 8845 messages
- 3690 votes
There are few more fun duos than Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau and there are few directors as brilliant as Billy Wilder. The first collaboration of these three gentlemen was the great comedy The Fortune Cookie and Lemmon and Matthau were also in Buddy Buddy, Wilder's last film; an amusing film, but certainly not his best. The film in between with the duo is this The Front Page and fortunately it is more towards the level of The Fortune Cookie. Fast, sharp and hilarious. Lemmon and Matthau are of course strong, but the supporting roles are also played in a fun way.
The film - based on a play - contains long scenes that are mainly filled with dialogue and set in one location. And Wilder knows how to make these long scenes captivating like no other. Whether it's a group of squabbling journalists or Matthau and Lemmon arguing with each other for a long time; every scene is rock solid. In addition to sharp dialogues and the occasional black edge, the humor also suddenly consists of some slapstick with some exaggerated acting. But even though those crazy faces are the least fun, Wilder never really misses the mark with The Front Page. In fact, most blows are direct hits. But that's Wilder, he never actually misses a plank.
4.5 stars.
Translated from Dutch · View original
gotti
-
- 14094 messages
- 5956 votes
Had 24 of the 26 Wilders. And again The Front Page remains rock solid. Just a little less smooth and villainous than in my memory. A sharpness that Wilder had more 20 years earlier with Ace in the Hole. But despite that, Wilder remains a hero. One of the greatest.
Translated from Dutch · View original
james_cameron
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- 7243 messages
- 9972 votes
Entertaining, if somewhat bland comedy about the ins and outs of a newspaper in 1930s Chicago. Lemmon and Matthau are great fun as always, but their rather villainous characters aren't exactly sympathetic and the plot is on the simple side. The fast-paced dialogues and strong supporting cast (with Susan Sarandon in an early role) make up for it. Ultimately not one of Billy Wilder's better films, but fun enough.
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