Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
Woody Allen | ... | Howard Prince | |
Zero Mostel | ... | Hecky Brown | |
Herschel Bernardi | ... | Phil Sussman | |
Michael Murphy | ... | Alfred Miller | |
Andrea Marcovicci | ... | Florence Barrett | |
![]() |
Remak Ramsay | ... | Francis X. Hennessey |
![]() |
Marvin Lichterman | ... | Myer Prince |
Lloyd Gough | ... | Herbert Delaney | |
David Margulies | ... | William Phelps | |
![]() |
Joshua Shelley | ... | Sam - Resort Operator |
![]() |
Norman Rose | ... | Howard's Attorney |
Charles Kimbrough | ... | Committee Counselor | |
Josef Sommer | ... | Committee Chairman (as M. Josef Sommer) | |
Danny Aiello | ... | Danny LaGattuta | |
Georgann Johnson | ... | T.V. Interviewer |
In the early 1950s Howard Prince, who works in a restaurant, helps out a black-listed writer friend by selling a TV station a script under his own name. The money is useful in paying off gambling debts, so he takes on three more such clients. Howard is politically pretty innocent, but involvement with Florence - who quits TV in disgust over things - and friendship with the show's ex-star - now himself blacklisted - make him start to think about what is really going on. Written by Jeremy Perkins {J-26}
The Front tells the story of an average Joe Loser whose friend, a blacklisted television writer asks for his identity so he can continue working. Thus begins not only an acceptable scam, but a personal odyssey for this man, played by Woody Allen. He begins to be become a `front' for other blacklisted writers as well, presenting their material as his own. His evolution is such that while he began to do this mainly for his own profit, he ends up taking a stand on behalf of the blacklisted artists he knows and along the way, finding his own relevance in life.
While starring Woody Allen, the film was directed by Martin Ritt, a blacklisted artist himself. Additionally, it featured a blacklisted writer and several blacklisted actors, including Zero Mostel. There are definite comedic moments in the film, but they are generally limited to a line or the facial expression of a character, therefore I consider this to be a largely dramatic film. (Albeit light drama). Making a comedy about HUAC (House Un-American Activities Committee) and the Hollywood Blacklist is like offering a comedy about the Salem Witch Trails. Both events involved the destruction of the lives of the victims due to the paranoia and hysteria of their contemporary societies and neither subject is comic fodder.
Of the films centering on HUAC that I have seen, The Front is by far the most representative and most meaningful I have seen to date. The Front is a very important chronicle of a dark period in 20th century history and deserves the many accolades it has received.
--Shelly