Front Page Woman (1935)

Director:

Michael Curtiz

Writers:

Richard Macaulay (story)
Laird Doyle (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

20 July 1935 (USA)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Plot:

A woman reporter tries to prove she's just as good as any man, but runs into trouble along the way.

Plot Keywords:

Reporter | Jury | Laundry | Knife | Fire

Cast

Bette Davis	...	Ellen Garfield
George Brent	...	Curt Devlin
Roscoe Karns	...	Toots O'Grady
Wini Shaw	...	Inez Cordoza (as Winifred Shaw)
Walter Walker	...	Judge Hugo Rickard
J. Carrol Naish	...	Robert Cardoza (as J. Carroll Naish)
Gordon Westcott	...	Maitland Coulter
Dorothy Dare	...	Mae LaRue
June Martel	...	Olive Wilson
Joseph Crehan	...	Spike Kiley
J. Farrell MacDonald	...	Hallohan
Addison Richards	...	District Attorney
Joe King	...	Hartnett (as Joseph King)
Selmer Jackson	...	Joe Davis (as Selmar Jackson)
Miki Morita	...	Fuji - Stone's Servant (as Mike Morita)

Runtime:

82 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #923) | USA:TV-G (TV rating)

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

In the promotional trailer, Bette Davis and George Brent talk about a proposed radio broadcast dealing with their latest picture, _Front Page Woman_.

Quotes:

Ellen Garfield: You make me so mad I could... well, I could spit!

Movie Connections:

Featured in All About Bette (1994) (TV)

To Scoop Or Not To Scoop

With Bette Davis doing a role that Glenda Farrell or Joan Blondell was used to doing and George Brent standing in for James Cagney or Pat O'Brien, Front Page Woman is about a sob sister columnist wanting to prove she's as good at investigative reporting as the man she loves. Brent's a good guy all right, but he certainly believes that woman's place is in the home or writing a woman's column about same.

The chance comes when both are sent by their rival papers to cover a fire. The fire it turns out was only a ruse to cover the stabbing of a bigshot played by Huntley Gordon. As the investigation, arrest, and trial proceed, Davis and Brent go on scooping spree to show the other up who is the better reporter.

That kind of fun can certainly put a strain on a relationship and the two of them, Brent more so, play fast and loose with the criminal justice system to get that scoop over the other. In the end the crime revolves around a love triangle with Gordon, mystery lady Wini Shaw, and polo player Gordon Westcott.

Contrary to rumor Bette Davis could play comedy though it was not her strong suit. Her material is slight, but she does her best to rise above a role she's miscast in. Her devoted fans will certainly not turn away from Front Page Woman.