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The Front Page

  • 19311931
  • PAPA
  • 1h 41m
IMDb RATING
6.7/10
2.8K
YOUR RATING
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Pat O'Brien, Mary Brian, and Adolphe Menjou in The Front Page (1931)
ComedyCrimeDrama

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
2.8K
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
    • 43User reviews
    • 41Critic reviews
    • 76Metascore
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 3 Oscars
      • 2 wins & 3 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)
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    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 comedygermaphoberolltop deskfugitivehanging57 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
      • PA
    • 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

      [first lines]

      Title card: This story is laid in a Mythical Kingdom.

    • 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 reviews43

    Review
    Top review
    Entertaining Version of the Story
    If it weren't for the even better Howard Hawks remake, "The Front Page" would probably be much more well-remembered today. It's entertaining in its own right, with a slightly different feel from the remake, and it is better than most movies of its own era in at least a couple of important respects. While you can still tell at times that it is from the very early sound era, it does use sound and dialogue more smoothly and constructively (that is, rather than as a mere novelty) than do most early 30's movies.

    Adolphe Menjou has the role of Walter Burns, and he is a good fit, giving the character just a slightly different turn from the way that Cary Grant would later play it. The role of Hildy Johnson is somewhat bland in this one - it was the genius of Hawks in changing this role into a more worthy foil for Burns that made "His Girl Friday" so outstanding - but in compensation, some of the other reporters get more to do here. The supporting cast has a number of good character actors, especially Edward Everett Horton as the fussy Bensinger, and it's good that they were given some worthwhile moments of their own. Certainly the great remake deserves its own reputation, but this version deserves to be remembered as well.
    helpful•30
    2
    • Snow Leopard
    • Dec 6, 2002

    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
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.20 : 1

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    Pat O'Brien, Mary Brian, and Adolphe Menjou in The Front Page (1931)
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