The Front Page

Decent enough. But it obviously pales in comparison to 'His Girl Friday'.

One of Billy Wilder's quickest and most raucous comedies, once again boasting Lemmon and Matthau's incomparable wisecracking chemistry. Wilder is as cynical as ever, depicting a corrupt establishment and an unethical press, both willing to take unfair advantages to achieve their respective goals. Even if the specific medium of newspapers is outdated, it's still a relevant farce about media in general.

I know it's not entirely fair to constantly compare this to an earlier version, but I can't help it. His Girl Friday is a better film in every possible way. Here the jokes aren't as funny, the dialog isn't as snappy, and the whole thing isn't as full of life and fun energy. And for some reason this sort of screwball comedy just doesn't work as well in the 1970s. Lemmon and Matthau are great (goes without saying), but they can't make this movie better than what it is. Not one of Wilder's best.

A very good final act doesn't quite rise this above tolerable.

Viewed December 11, 2020.

Matthau and Lemmon are great as usual, but nothing else really worked for me.

Good story and quality acting but it just doesn't work anymore.

A watchable but completely unnecessary remake that even Wilder regretted making. At this stage of his career, he was seriously losing touch with contemporary audiences, and the warning signs of his impending doom are visible here in bright neon lights. It is a complete throwback, but unlike What's Up Doc, it isn't an energetic ride through times past tempered by youthful exuberance. It is saved by a great cast who distract the viewer somewhat from the overwhelming feeling of redundancy.

a dud movie that has a few laughs, but nothing considering the motion picture stalwarts involved. i'm confidant that if IAL Diamond had written this script it would have been a winner, but wilder didn't exactly do a terrible job with what he had.

Nothing special, but well-directed and thoroughly watchable.

I laughed my head off at the scene with the psychiatrist, "you wanted to kill your father so you could be with your mother... he drew his gun, an obvious phallic symbol..." haha. Fun film.

72.500

No way this could have worked without this tremendous cast on fire -- Lemmon is great, Matthau steals the show as the editor that does everything to keep his reporter, like paying a girl and some kids to pretend as Hildy's unknown family or giving him his watch as a sign of friendship, but then using this to arrest him in the next station and bring him back to Chicago. It's also amazing to notice how Susan ALWAYS had the same face and Durning's talent to simply stand as a sublime supporting guy.

By itself, this movie is very well made, good direction, performances, and the changes from the original play are right. But... there's a better version in the world in almost every aspect. If you have to choose to watch only one or you want to start watching the best one, then His Girl Friday is the one. Even with that, you can still watch and enjoy this version, as they're both great adaptations. It's just one is greater than the other.

meh

OK, but the material was dated by 1974. Lemmon and Matthau made a good team. David Wayne steals just about all the scenes he's in.

Another wonderful version of The Front Page. Jack Lemmon and Walter Matheau doesn't do us wrong here.

It may sound distinctly familiar to anyone who's seen His Girl Friday, but because it's the same eternally ripe material, and because it's in the hands of one of the wittiest filmmakers of Hollywood's Golden Age, it all feels fresh. We escape right into the world of the Chicago press room of the 1920s where a few shy of a dozen case-hardened crime reporters lean on desks and play cards, snapping their suspenders and sputtering out the wet ends of their cigars.

great ending.