Pub.lished Movie Reviews
The Front Page (1974)
"Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur's rowdy dream of newspaper life, first produced on the stage in 1928, seems to be foolproof, and the structure still stands up in this version, directed by Billy Wilder. But something singular and marvellous has been diminished to the sloppy ordinary." - Pauline Kael
"The Front Page" is a comedic tale revolving around a ruthlessly driven editor, Burns, who is adamant about his top reporter, Hildy, covering one last crime story before retirement. Hildy is equally relentless; you wouldn't want to find yourself standing between him and a good scoop. As luck would have it, a major scoop lands right in Hildy's lap just as he's planning his retirement, cross-country move, marriage, and career change.
Burns is an utterly unprincipled character. If he has a moral compass at all, it only points towards the next headline for his newspaper. Hildy, on the other hand, is charming, but prepared to do whatever is necessary to get the inside scoop, ensuring his competitors don't. If you enjoy watching cantankerous old men outsmarting their morally repugnant counterparts, this movie will be to your liking. If not, you should watch "His Girl Friday" (1940) with Cary Grant instead.
Most of the remaining characters serve as one-dimensional foils. We instantly despise the sheriff and the governor, sympathize with the accused and his lover - who are targeted by the sheriff and governor for political gain - and feel ambivalent towards the other crime reporters, although one is particularly detestable.
Burns's unrelenting ruthlessness is always demonstrated at the expense of characters we've already taken a dislike to. It's an age-old story, but if you can overlook the cliché, there's something incredibly cathartic about witnessing truly despicable characters being outmaneuvered by someone even more ruthless.
The accused's lover is a rather one-dimensional character who self-identifies as a two-bit hooker. This is an unlikely self-characterization and seems designed to make her unlikeable. If she were likeable, we might take issue with Hildy for not defending her when his colleagues ruthlessly demean her. This narrative tactic may have worked in the '70s, but falls flat in the modern context. The attacks on her character does serve to make Hildy's colleagues more dislikable, but inadvertently makes Hildy less likeable as well.
The other character we sympathize with is the accused. The movie doesn't focus as much on him. His apparent mental impairment is played for laughs, but also evokes sympathy, as it seems to be the reason he has ended up on death row. Nevertheless, the movie's primary objective is not to evoke sympathy for the accused, but to arouse our anger towards those who want to hang him, thereby justifying the extreme actions of the newspaper men to right the wrongs of the wrongdoers, and presumably shine the bright light of a front page news article on their malfeasance.
The movie is based on a wildly successful play of the same name. What is interesting is Roger Ebert reported that all the newsmen dialogue is based on real life...
"The play was inspired by experiences Hecht and MacArthur had as Chicago newsmen in the era around World War One, and most of the characters are based on real people who were thinly-disguised (if at all). Hildy was drawn from Hilding Johnson of the old Chicago Herald-Examiner, and Burns was a copy of Walter Howey, managing editor of the paper. The other reporters were also drawn from life, and so (the authors swore) was most of the dialog."
"May the wind at your back never be your own."
- You do not appreciate black comedy
- You have a sensitive nature towards topics like suicide and death
- You dislike movies set in historical time periods, specifically the early 1900s
- You are not a fan of fast-paced dialogues and quick wit
- You are under the recommended viewing age of 14
Warning: The following may contain spoilers:
What's the deal with "The Front Page"? This 1974 movie, starring Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau, is supposedly a comedy but it's about the newspaper business. I mean, have you ever read a newspaper?
The movie is set in the 1920s, which is a hoot. Because back then, 'breaking news' was something you read about the next day in a paper.
And can we talk about the dialogue? It’s so fast-paced it's like everyone just downed five cups of coffee before each scene. Maybe that's the real reason Hildy wants to quit. It’s not for love or marriage, he just wants a nap.
His Girl Friday (1940):
If you enjoyed "The Front Page", you are likely to appreciate "His Girl Friday". Directed by Howard Hawks, this film is a screwball comedy that shares the newspaper setting with "The Front Page". However, this one's got a twist - the hard-boiled editor character Walter Burns is trying to keep his ex-wife and star reporter from leaving the business and remarrying. It's a fast-paced, witty film filled with snappy dialogues that would surely keep you engaged till the end.
All the President's Men (1976):A recommendation list for a fan of "The Front Page" wouldn't be complete without "All the President's Men". Starring Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman, this film is based on the real-life reporting done by Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein on the Watergate scandal. The movie is a masterful look at the world of investigative journalism, demonstrating how dogged reporting and persistence can uncover earth-shaking truths.
Broadcast News (1987):"Broadcast News" might come across as an ideal recommendation for admirers of "The Front Page". The film explores the romantic and professional lives of television news reporters and producers. It aligns perfectly with your preference of journalism-themed films, with stellar performances by William Hurt, Holly Hunter, and Albert Brooks. Directed by James L. Brooks, this film is known for a great mix of humor, drama, and romance.
Nightcrawler (2014):If you are willing to see a modern take on journalism, "Nightcrawler" would be a great fit. The film stars Jake Gyllenhaal as an ambitious news stringer who is willing to cross any limit to capture the best footage for television news. A thrilling ride from start to finish, this movie offers an edgier, grittier look at the world of news reporting, showing just how far some are willing to go for the perfect story. Directed by Dan Gilroy, its intense narrative will keep you gripped.
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