The Front Page (1974)

As a tabloid newspaper editor tries to prevent his top reporter from retiring, an escaped death row convict shows up at the office trying to convey his innocence.

Director:

Billy Wilder

Writers:

Ben Hecht (play), Charles MacArthur (play),

Stars:

Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Susan Sarandon

Nominated for 3 Golden Globes. Another 2 wins & 1 nomination.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Jack Lemmon	...	Hildy Johnson
Walter Matthau	...	Walter Burns
Susan Sarandon	...	Peggy Grant
Vincent Gardenia	...	Sheriff
David Wayne	...	Bensinger
Allen Garfield	...	Kruger
Austin Pendleton	...	Earl Williams
Charles Durning	...	Murphy
Herb Edelman	...	Schwartz (as Herbert Edelman)
Martin Gabel	...	Dr. Eggelhofer
Harold Gould	...	The Mayor
Cliff Osmond	...	Jacobi
Dick O'Neill	...	McHugh
Jon Korkes	...	Rudy Keppler
Lou Frizzell	...	Endicott

Storyline

Hildy Johnson is the top reporter on a Chicago newspaper during the 1920s. Tired of the whole game he's determined to quit his job to get married. His scheming editor, Walter Burns, has other plans though. It's the day before guilty (but insane) murderer, Earl Williams, is due to go to the gallows and Burns tempts Johnson to stay and write the story.

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Plot Keywords:

reporter | train station | wisecrack humor | reference to ben hecht | execution | 

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Taglines:

It's the hottest story since the Chicago Fire... And they're sitting on it.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

PG

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 December 1974 (USA)

Also Known As:

Prima pagina

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$4,000,000 (estimated)

Gross:

SEK 4,427,652 (Sweden)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal Pictures

Technical Specs

Runtime:

105 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Lemmon and Matthau are arguing in Burns' office early in the film, Lemmon mentions having been out of town covering "the monkey trial." In 1999, Lemmon starred as Henry Drummond in Inherit the Wind , based on the 1925 State of Tennessee vs. Scopes trial (Creationism vs. Darwinism/Evolution) better known by the public as the "monkey trials."

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Goofs

When Hildy enters the press room to say goodbye to his fellow reporters, he greets them with a Edward G. Robinson imitation, saying "This is a raid, see." Edward G. Robinson would not become a famous enough to imitate as a "gangster" until Little Caesar came out two years later.

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Quotes

Mollie Malloy: I never said that I loved Earl Williams and was willing to marry him on the gallows. You made that up!
Murphy: Oh, come on. You've been sucking around that cuckoo ever since he's been in the death house.
McHugh: Everybody knows you're his soul-mate.
Mollie Malloy: That's a lot of bunk! Like all that other stuff you been writing. Calling me an Angel of the Pavement and the Midnight Madonna. Who ya kiddin'? I'm a two-dollar whore from Division Street and you know it!

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Connections

Version of The Front Page (1931)

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Soundtracks

"Swing Low Sweet Chariot"
(uncredited)
Written by Wallis Willis
Sung by unknown performer in gaol cell

User Reviews

Witty and fast-paced

When the subject of great movies is being discussed, this movie must be included in the discussion. This movie is a witty and fast-paced satire that pokes fun at the news media. The characters are memorable and the acting is fantastic. Walter Matthau, Jack Lemmon and Vincent Gardenia are great in this movie, but most impressive is Carol Burnett's wonderful and powerful performance which dominates every scene in which she appears. But what makes this movie even more appealing is that it is a story of how the quest for the extra buck can corrupt everyone involved, with tragic consequences. Billy Wilder is very strong on this point and for this reason this movie is worth watching.