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The Front Page (1974)

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Critic Reviews: 1
Fresh: 1 | Rotten: 0

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Average Rating: 3.6/5
User Ratings: 3,034

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Movie Info

This third film version of the 1928 Ben Hecht/Charlie MacArthur Broadway hit The Front Page was the first one permitted to utilize all the salty profanities in the original play. Director Billy Wilder cast his two favorite leading men, Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau, as ace reporter Hildy Johnson and ruthless newspaper editor Walter Burns, respectively. The plot of the Hecht/MacArthur play remains intact: Burns pulls every underhanded game in the book to prevent Johnson from leaving his Chicago

PG, 1 hr. 45 min.

Drama, Classics, Comedy

I. A. L. Diamond, Billy Wilder

Jun 15, 1998

Universal Pictures

Cast

All Critics (23) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (16) | Rotten (8) | DVD (4)

Even though the mechanics and demands of movie-making slow what should be the furious tempo, this Front Page displays a giddy bitterness that is rare in any films except those of Mr. Wilder. It is also, much of the time, extremely funny.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: New York Times | Comment
New York Times
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Full of wonderful comedic business, throw-away lines and some effortless ensemble set pieces, The Front Page bristles with its collection of talents on both sides of the camera.... It's that Billy Wilder touch of hurtful grains of truth inside every com

October 6, 2007 Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | Comment
Urban Cinefile

This slick remake of the ebullient original falls short of being the film it could have been, despite the presence of master filmmaker Wilder and his engaging costars.

August 14, 2007 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | Comment
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Too much of it seemed stretched thin and unfunny.

March 16, 2007 Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | Comment
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

Funny retelling with Lemmon and Matthau guided by Billy Wilder.

March 17, 2006 Comment
Video-Reviewmaster.com

It relies too much on foul language, inappropriate slapstick, and superficial cynicism.

January 26, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out | Comment

not up to the original

July 9, 2005 Comment
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for The Front Page

This is actually a remake of an older movie, which was a remake of an older movie too, so it's nothing new. It's pretty funny in some scenes, but that's about all I liked about it. It's pretty good, but it could be better.

September 5, 2010
ajv2688

Super Reviewer

"the front page" is the third time re-adaption of the stage play by ben hencht(who wrote the original scarface) and chas. macarthur. the first appearance on screen was in 1931, and the second time would be the most reputable one "his girl friday" in 1940 by howard hawks who had co-operated with hecht previously in

September 30, 2009
groaningbitch
Veronique Kwak

Super Reviewer

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Foreign Titles

  • Extrablatt (DE)
  • Spéciale première (FR)
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