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.
- Director
- Writers
- Ben Hecht(play)
- Charles MacArthur(play)
- Bartlett Cormack(adaptation)
- Stars
Top credits
- Director
- Writers
- Ben Hecht(play)
- Charles MacArthur(play)
- Bartlett Cormack(adaptation)
- Stars
- Nominated for 3 Oscars
- 2 wins & 4 nominations total
Walter Catlett
- Murphy
- (as Walter L. Catlett)
Clarence Wilson
- Sheriff Hartman
- (as Clarence H. Wilson)
Fred Howard
- Schwartz
- (as Freddie Howard)
Eugene Strong
- Endicott
- (as Gene Strong)
- Director
- Writers
- Ben Hecht(play)
- Charles MacArthur(play)
- Bartlett Cormack(adaptation)
- All cast & crew
- Production, box office & more at IMDbPro
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe 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.
- GoofsAt 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 creditsThe 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.
- ConnectionsFeatured in Sprockets: Ready When You Are... (1991)
- SoundtracksBy the Light of the Silvery Moon
(1909) (uncredited)
Music by Gus Edwards
Played on banjo early in the film
Review
Featured review
Very good
Newspaperman Hildy Johnson (Pat O'Brien) is quitting the business and getting married to Peggy (Mary Brian). But his unscrupulous boss Walter Burns(Adolphe Menjou) doesn't want him to quit. Also an innocent man is about to be hanged and Burns will do anything to make sure Johnson works on that story.
Fast and funny--the first cinematic version of this story. It shows its age at times and some of it is wildly overacted but O'Brien and Menjou are both just great in their roles. Also director Lewis Milestone uses some very unusual camera tricks to keep the story moving and there's lots of action and running around which is unusual for an early talkie.
This was remade in 1940 with a sex change making Johnson a woman. That was "His Girl Friday" with Rosalind Russell and Cary Grant. That one is better than this but this is better than the 1974 version (that had Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau) and 1988 remake called "Switching Channels" (with Kathleen Turner and Burt Reynolds). They're all good to varying degrees but this one came first. Worth seeing.
Fast and funny--the first cinematic version of this story. It shows its age at times and some of it is wildly overacted but O'Brien and Menjou are both just great in their roles. Also director Lewis Milestone uses some very unusual camera tricks to keep the story moving and there's lots of action and running around which is unusual for an early talkie.
This was remade in 1940 with a sex change making Johnson a woman. That was "His Girl Friday" with Rosalind Russell and Cary Grant. That one is better than this but this is better than the 1974 version (that had Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau) and 1988 remake called "Switching Channels" (with Kathleen Turner and Burt Reynolds). They're all good to varying degrees but this one came first. Worth seeing.
helpful•252
- preppy-3
- Jul 23, 2007
Details
- Release date
- Country of origin
- Official site
- Language
- Also known as
- The Front Page
- Filming locations
- Production company
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Gross US & Canada
- $1,526,000
- Runtime1 hour 41 minutes
- Color
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