IMDb > The Front Page (1931)

The Front Page (1931) More at IMDbPro »


Overview

User Rating:
7.0/10   624 votes
MOVIEmeter: ?
Down 10% in popularity this week. See why on IMDbPro.
Director:
Lewis Milestone
Writers:
Ben Hecht (play) and
Charles MacArthur (play) ...
more
Contact:
View company contact information for The Front Page on IMDbPro.
Release Date:
4 April 1931 (USA) more
Genre:
Comedy more
Plot:
Hildy Johnson, newspaper reporter, is engaged to Peggy Grant and planning to move to New York for a higher paying advertising job... more | add synopsis
Awards:
Nominated for 3 Oscars. more
User Comments:
Entertaining Version of the Story more (16 total)

Cast

  (Cast overview, first billed only)

Adolphe Menjou ... Walter Burns
Pat O'Brien ... Hildebrand 'Hildy' Johnson
Mary Brian ... Peggy Grant

Edward Everett Horton ... Roy V. Bensinger
Walter Catlett ... Jimmy Murphy (as Walter L. Catlett)
George E. Stone ... Earl Williams
Mae Clarke ... Molly Malloy
Slim Summerville ... Irving Pincus
Matt Moore ... Ernie Kruger
Frank McHugh ... 'Mac' McCue
Clarence Wilson ... Sheriff Peter B. 'Pinky' Hartman (as Clarence H. Wilson)
Fred Howard ... Schwartz (as Freddie Howard)
Phil Tead ... Wilson
Eugene Strong ... Endicott (as Gene Strong)
Spencer Charters ... Woodenshoes
more
Create a character page for: ?

Additional Details

Runtime:
101 min
Country:
USA
Language:
English
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Sound System)
Certification:
Canada:PA (Ontario) | Spain:T

Fun Stuff

Trivia:
Louis Wolheim was originally cast to play Walter Burns, but Adolphe Menjou got the part when Wolheim died suddenly. more
Quotes:
[first lines]
Title card: This story is laid in a mythical kingdom.
more
Movie Connections:
Referenced in "The Kids in the Hall: (#1.3)" (1989) more

FAQ

This FAQ is empty. Add the first question.
14 out of 16 people found the following comment useful.
Entertaining Version of the Story, 6 December 2002
Author: Snow Leopard from Ohio

If it weren't for the even better Howard Hawks remake, "The Front Page" would probably be much more well-remembered today. It's entertaining in its own right, with a slightly different feel from the remake, and it is better than most movies of its own era in at least a couple of important respects. While you can still tell at times that it is from the very early sound era, it does use sound and dialogue more smoothly and constructively (that is, rather than as a mere novelty) than do most early 30's movies.

Adolphe Menjou has the role of Walter Burns, and he is a good fit, giving the character just a slightly different turn from the way that Cary Grant would later play it. The role of Hildy Johnson is somewhat bland in this one - it was the genius of Hawks in changing this role into a more worthy foil for Burns that made "His Girl Friday" so outstanding - but in compensation, some of the other reporters get more to do here. The supporting cast has a number of good character actors, especially Edward Everett Horton as the fussy Bensinger, and it's good that they were given some worthwhile moments of their own. Certainly the great remake deserves its own reputation, but this version deserves to be remembered as well.

Was the above comment useful to you?
more (16 total)

Message Boards

Discuss this movie with other users on IMDb message board for The Front Page (1931)

Recommendations

If you enjoyed this title, our database also recommends:
- - - - -
His Girl Friday Chicago The Fugitive Fury The Front Page
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
IMDb User Rating:
Show more recommendations

Related Links

Full cast and crew Company credits External reviews
IMDb Comedy section IMDb USA section Add this title to MyMovies

You may report errors and omissions on this page to the IMDb database managers. They will be examined and if approved will be included in a future update. Clicking the 'Update' button will take you through a step-by-step process.