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The Front Page

  • 19311931
  • ApprovedApproved
  • 1h 41m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
2.9K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Pat O'Brien, Mary Brian, and Adolphe Menjou in The Front Page (1931)
  • Comedy
  • Crime
  • Drama
A crusading newspaper editor tricks his retiring star reporter into covering one last case.A crusading newspaper editor tricks his retiring star reporter into covering one last case.A crusading newspaper editor tricks his retiring star reporter into covering one last case.
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
2.9K
YOUR RATING
  • Director
    • Lewis Milestone
  • Writers
    • Ben Hecht(play)
    • Charles MacArthur(play)
    • Bartlett Cormack(adaptation)
  • Stars
    • Adolphe Menjou
    • Pat O'Brien
    • Mary Brian
Top credits
  • Director
    • Lewis Milestone
  • Writers
    • Ben Hecht(play)
    • Charles MacArthur(play)
    • Bartlett Cormack(adaptation)
  • Stars
    • Adolphe Menjou
    • Pat O'Brien
    • Mary Brian
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 46User reviews
    • 37Critic reviews
    • 76Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 3 Oscars
      • 2 wins & 4 nominations total

    Photos22

    Pat O'Brien, Mary Brian, and Adolphe Menjou in The Front Page (1931)
    Pat O'Brien in The Front Page (1931)
    Adolphe Menjou in The Front Page (1931)
    The Front Page (1931)
    The Front Page (1931)
    Pat O'Brien, Mary Brian, and Adolphe Menjou in The Front Page (1931)
    Matt Moore in The Front Page (1931)
    Clarence Wilson in The Front Page (1931)
    Edward Everett Horton and Mae Clarke in The Front Page (1931)
    Pat O'Brien in The Front Page (1931)
    Pat O'Brien and Mary Brian in The Front Page (1931)
    Mae Clarke and George E. Stone in The Front Page (1931)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Adolphe Menjou
    Adolphe Menjou
    • Walter Burnsas Walter Burns
    Pat O'Brien
    Pat O'Brien
    • Hildy Johnsonas Hildy Johnson
    Mary Brian
    Mary Brian
    • Peggy Grantas Peggy Grant
    Edward Everett Horton
    Edward Everett Horton
    • Bensingeras Bensinger
    Walter Catlett
    Walter Catlett
    • Murphyas Murphy
    • (as Walter L. Catlett)
    George E. Stone
    George E. Stone
    • Earl Williamsas Earl Williams
    Mae Clarke
    Mae Clarke
    • Mollyas Molly
    Slim Summerville
    Slim Summerville
    • Pincusas Pincus
    Matt Moore
    Matt Moore
    • Krugeras Kruger
    Frank McHugh
    Frank McHugh
    • McCueas McCue
    Clarence Wilson
    Clarence Wilson
    • Sheriff Hartmanas Sheriff Hartman
    • (as Clarence H. Wilson)
    Fred Howard
    • Schwartzas Schwartz
    • (as Freddie Howard)
    Phil Tead
    Phil Tead
    • Wilsonas Wilson
    Eugene Strong
    Eugene Strong
    • Endicottas Endicott
    • (as Gene Strong)
    Spencer Charters
    Spencer Charters
    • Woodenshoesas Woodenshoes
    Maurice Black
    Maurice Black
    • Diamond Louieas Diamond Louie
    Effie Ellsler
    Effie Ellsler
    • Mrs. Grantas Mrs. Grant
    Dorothea Wolbert
    Dorothea Wolbert
    • Jennyas Jenny
    • Director
      • Lewis Milestone
    • Writers
      • Ben Hecht(play)
      • Charles MacArthur(play)
      • Bartlett Cormack(adaptation)
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
    • All cast & crew

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    Storyline

    Edit
    Hildy Johnson, newspaper reporter, is engaged to Peggy Grant and planning to move to New York for a higher paying advertising job. The court press room is full of lame reporters who invent stories as much as write them. All are waiting to cover the hanging of Earl Williams. When Williams escapes from the inept Sheriff, Hildy seizes the opportunity by using his $260 honeymoon money to payoff an insider and get the scoop on the escape. However, Walter Burns, the Post's editor, is slow to repay Hildy back, hoping that he will stay on the story. Getting a major scoop looks possible when Hildy stumbles onto the bewildered escapee and hides him in a roll-top desk in the press room. Burns shows up to help. Can they keep Williams' whereabouts secret long enough to get the scoop, especially with the Sheriff and other reporters hovering around? —Gary Jackson <garyjack5@cogeco.ca>
    • screwball comedy
    • germaphobe
    • rolltop desk
    • fugitive
    • hanging
    • 61 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Taglines
      • A Picture That Has Cracked This Shock-Proof Town Wide Open! (Print Ad- Albany Evening News, ((Albany NY)) 8 June 1931)
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Crime
      • Drama
      • Romance
    • Certificate
      • Approved
    • Parents guide
      • Add content advisory

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      The last line of the stage play had to be partly obliterated in the film version by the sound of a typewriter being accidentally struck because the censors --even of that day--wouldn't allow the phrase "son-of-a-bitch" to be used in a movie.
    • Goofs
      At approximately 69 minutes, Hildy types furiously at a typewriter, however, with his right hand he only uses his index finger and pushes the same key over and over again.
    • Quotes

      Irving Pincus: Can we help it if the people rise to support this administration's stand against the Red menace!

      Sheriff Hartman: Personified by Mr. Earl Williams. The guy who loses his job he's held for 14 years, joins a parade of unemployed, and, because he's goofy from lack of food, waves a red handkerchief.

      Irving Pincus: Williams is a dangerous radical! And he killed a policeman.

      Jimmy Murphy: Williams is a poor bird who had the tough luck to kill a colored policeman in a town where the colored vote counts!

    • Crazy credits
      The end credits consist of Walter and Hildy above a big 'THE END,' covering a large question mark, while the sound of the train is heard and music plays. There is also laughter, presumably coming from Walter Burns.
    • Connections
      Featured in Sprockets: Ready When You Are... (1991)
    • Soundtracks
      By the Light of the Silvery Moon
      (1909) (uncredited)

      Music by Gus Edwards

      Played on banjo early in the film

    User reviews46

    Review
    Top review
    6/10
    Dated but enjoyable first rendition based on the famous play from Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur
    This is the classic rendition filmed in 1931 titled ¨The Front Page¨ by Lewis Milestone with big cast as Adolph Menjou , Edward Everett Horton , Mae Clark and Pat O'Brien in his film debut . Acceptable version about known story in which a reporter wants to marry a beautiful woman but his mean editor impedes it . Rip-roaring vintage newspaper comedy ¨The Front Page¨ and subsequently , 1940 , the best retelling titled ¨His girl friend¨ and acceptable acting from everyone . Cynical editor named Walter Burns (Louis Wolheim was originally cast to play him , but Adolphe Menjou got the part when Wolheim died suddenly , this character was based on a famed editor) wants to get a big scoop on an execution which involves convincing star reporter Hildy Johnson (Pat O'Brien , whose role was based on the real-life a notorious reporter) to come back to work and put off her marriage to handsome millionaire Peggy Grant (Mary Brian) . Walter tries to keep him in town and break up her upcoming marriage takes place against the backdrop of a botched death row . Hildy can't resist covering some good news , even when it mean helping a condemned man getaway the law as she attempts to help an innocent man is about to be executed . And the escaped convicted murderer offers the journalist an exclusive interview . Other reporters also give hilarious acting in this breathless pursuit of an exclusive with the escaped death row inmate .

    Great cast gives powerful performances as Adolphe Menjou as a scheming publisher and Pat O'Brien as a convincing as well as incautious journalist . Agreeable play and screenplay from Ben Hecht , Charles MacArthur about a cunning managing editor of a known newspaper and his ambitious reporter . The journalists are all based on actual reporters who were Chicago colleagues of authors Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur, with most working alongside them at the courthouse ; the real names were only slightly changed . Bartlett Cormack Charles Lederer's brilliantly tart dialogue overlaps story to carry the black farce along the roller-coasted speed . Attractive performance from Pat O'Brien as ace journalist who wants to quit the business and get married and likable Adolphe Menjou as an editor who finds out his main reporter wants to leave him and gets in the way . Inventive and furious screen combats in which Adolphe Menjou and Pat O'Brien are given equal footing with staccato dialog and sparkling interpretations . Phenomenal playing from everyone , including a top-notch secondary cast such as Edward Everett Horton , George Stone , Mae Clarke , Slim Summerville and Matt Moore . Mediocre cinematography by cinematographer Hal Mohr who replaced Tony Gaudio , being necessary an alright remastering because of film copy is worn-out and suffers the public domain . Professional direction by Lewis Milestone render more funny than usual , and achieved success enough . Rating : 6,5 . Worthwhile watching .

    Other versions about this this frequent-told story are the followings : The play "The Front Page" opened at the Times Square Theater on August 14, 1929, and ran for 276 performances . As Osgood Perkins , Anthony Perkins's father , created the role of Walter Burns on the Broadway stage . And "Academy Award Theater" broadcast a 30 minute radio adaptation of the movie on June 22, 1946 with Adolphe Menjou and Pat O'Brien reprising their film roles . In cinema a classic adaptation titled ¨His Girl Friday ¨ 1940 , it makes some memorable exchanges , directed by Howard Hawks with Gary Grant , Ralph Bellamy and Rosalind Russell with the pivotal character assigned to a woman instead a man ; and do't miss this stunning adaptation ¨The front page¨ by the great Billy Wilder with Jack Lemmon as journalist , Walter Matthaw as managing editor and Carol Burnett . And 1988 new recounting , a modernized fourth remake titled ¨Switching Channels¨ in which an attractive TV anchorwoman want to marry tycoon but his mean ex-husband impedes it , starred by Burt Reynolds , Kathleen Turner , and Christopher Reeve , being directed by Ted Kotcheff .
    helpful•8
    1
    • ma-cortes
    • May 22, 2014

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • April 4, 1931 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Det stora reportaget
    • Filming locations
      • Metropolitan Studios - 1040 N. Las Palmas Avenue, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • The Caddo Company
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $1,526,000
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 41 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White

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