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Movies / On DVD / The Front Page
The Front Page

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The Front Page (1974)

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70 %
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Reviews Counted:23

Fresh:16

Rotten:7

Average Rating:5.9/10

Runtime: 1 hr 45 mins

Genre: Comedies

Synopsis: Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau again team with Wilder in the third film version of the Hecht-MacArthur classic comedy. The familiar story finds hard-nosed editor Walter Burns (Matthau) trying every... Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau again team with Wilder in the third film version of the Hecht-MacArthur classic comedy. The familiar story finds hard-nosed editor Walter Burns (Matthau) trying every trick in the book to keep his ace reporter Hildy Johnson from leaving the newspaper business to get married. When Earl Williams (Austin Pendleton) an anarchist facing execution, breaks out of prison, Walter has found the perfect hook to keep Johnson in Chicago for a little longer. The escaped convict suddenly pops up in the press room and Hildy hides him in a rolltop desk until he's able to get a location for an exclusive interview. Despite the pleas of Molly Malloy (Carol Burnett), a prostitute in love with Williams, the newsmen refuse to let him go. As Hildy begins looking into the activities of the Sheriff (Vince Gardenia) and the Mayor (Harold Gould), it seems like they've decided to execute the wrong man. Matthau, Lemmon and Martin Gabel as a lunatic psychiatrist give wonderful performances. [More]

Starring: Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Vincent Gardenia, Susan Sarandon

Starring: Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Vincent Gardenia, Susan Sarandon, Allen Garfield, David Wayne, Charles Durning, Austin Pendleton, Carol Burnett, Herb Edelman, Martin Gabel, Harold Gould, Cliff Osmond, Dick O'Neill, Jon Korkes, Paul Benedict, Doro Merande, Noam Pitlik

Director: Billy Wilder

Director: Billy Wilder
Screenwriter: Billy Wilder, I. A. L. Diamond
Story: Ben Hecht, Charles MacArthur
Producer: Paul Monash
Composer: Billy May

[See More Credits]

Reviews for The Front Page

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1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
Text View | 1 2 >> >|
Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
 
 

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

Full Review Source: Time Out | comment Comment
01/26/06
Geoff Andrew
Geoff Andrew
Time Out
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

No review available.

comment Comment
11/15/03
Rich Cline
Rich Cline
Shadows on the Wall

Matthau and Lemmon put in their usual faultless turns, but cannot lift a pervading air of pointlessness.

Full Review Source: Channel 4 Film | comment Comment
05/24/03
Channel 4 Film
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

No review available.

comment Comment
03/27/09
Amber Wilkinson
Amber Wilkinson
Eye for Film
N/R

Click to read the article

Full Review Source: Variety | comment Comment
03/26/09
Variety
Top Critic Icon Top 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

Full Review Source: Urban Cinefile | comment Comment
10/06/07
Urban Cinefile Critics
Urban Cinefile Critics
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.

Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | comment Comment
08/14/07
TV Guide's Movie Guide
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

Too much of it seemed stretched thin and unfunny.

Full Review Source: Ozus' World Movie Reviews | comment Comment
03/16/07
Dennis Schwartz
Dennis Schwartz
Ozus' World Movie Reviews

No review available.

comment Comment
02/26/07
John A. Nesbit
John A. Nesbit
Old School Reviews

Funny retelling with Lemmon and Matthau guided by Billy Wilder.

comment Comment
03/17/06
Steve Crum
Steve Crum
Video-Reviewmaster.com

not up to the original

comment Comment
07/09/05
Tony Medley
Tony Medley
tonymedley.com

No review available.

comment Comment
06/17/05
Emanuel Levy
Emanuel Levy
EmanuelLevy.Com

No review available.

comment Comment
06/11/05
Jake Euker
Jake Euker
F5 (Wichita, KS)

No review available.

comment Comment
05/08/05
Frank Swietek
Frank Swietek
One Guy's Opinion

No review available.

comment Comment
12/26/04
Philip Martin
Philip Martin
Arkansas Democrat-Gazette

No review available.

comment Comment
09/02/04
Andy Klein
Andy Klein
Los Angeles CityBeat

No review available.

comment Comment
03/17/04
Daniel M. Kimmel
Daniel M. Kimmel
Worcester Telegram & Gazette

No review available.

comment Comment
08/22/03
Carol Cling
Carol Cling
Las Vegas Review-Journal

No review available.

comment Comment
07/01/03
Jeffrey Westhoff
Jeffrey Westhoff
Northwest Herald (Crystal Lake, IL)

No review available.

comment Comment
12/23/02
Michael Szymanski
Michael Szymanski
Zap2it.com
 
 
1 - 20 (sorted by date; UK critics are listed first)
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