Hildy Johnson, newspaper reporter, is engaged to Peggy Grant and planning to move to New York for a higher paying advertising job. The court press room is full of lame reporters who invent ...
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Title: The Front Page (1931)
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Cast
| Cast overview, first billed only: | |||
| Adolphe Menjou | ... | ||
| Pat O'Brien | ... | ||
| Mary Brian | ... | ||
| Edward Everett Horton | ... | ||
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Walter Catlett | ... |
Murphy
(as Walter L. Catlett)
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| George E. Stone | ... | ||
| Mae Clarke | ... |
Molly
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| Slim Summerville | ... |
Pincus
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Matt Moore | ... |
Kruger
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| Frank McHugh | ... | ||
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Clarence Wilson | ... |
Sheriff Hartman
(as Clarence H. Wilson)
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Fred Howard | ... |
Schwartz
(as Freddie Howard)
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Phil Tead | ... |
Wilson
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Eugene Strong | ... |
Endicott
(as Gene Strong)
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Spencer Charters | ... |
Woodenshoes
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Edit
Plot Summary
|
Add Synopsis
Storyline
Hildy Johnson, newspaper reporter, is engaged to Peggy Grant and planning to move to New York for a higher paying advertising job. The court press room is full of lame reporters who invent stories as much as write them. All are waiting to cover the hanging of Earl Williams. When Williams escapes from the inept Sheriff, Hildy seizes the opportunity by using his $260 honeymoon money to payoff an insider and get the scoop on the escape. However, Walter Burns, the Post's editor, is slow to repay Hildy back, hoping that he will stay on the story. Getting a major scoop looks possible when Hildy stumbles onto the bewildered escapee and hides him in a roll-top desk in the press room. Burns shows up to help. Can they keep Williams' whereabouts secret long enough to get the scoop, especially with the Sheriff and other reporters hovering around? Written by Gary Jackson <garyjack5@cogeco.ca>
Genres:
ComedyParents Guide:
Add content advisory for parents »
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See full technical specs »
Details
Country:
USALanguage:
EnglishRelease Date:
4 April 1931 (USA) See more »Also Known As:
A Primeira Página See more »Filming Locations:
Metropolitan Studios - 1040 N. Las Palmas Boulevard, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USACompany Credits
Show detailed
company contact information
on
IMDbPro »
Technical Specs
Runtime:
Sound Mix:
Mono (Western Electric Sound System)Color:
Black and WhiteAspect Ratio:
1.20 : 1
Edit
(1909) (uncredited)
Music by Gus Edwards
Played on banjo early in the film
See more »
Did You Know?
Trivia
Osgood Perkins created the role of Walter Burns on the Broadway stage. His son Tony Perkins would later star in Alfred Hitchcock's classic "Psycho." See more »Goofs
At approximately 69 minutes, Hildy types furiously at a typewriter, however, with his right hand he only uses his index finger and pushes the same key over and over again. See more »Crazy Credits
The end credits consist of Walter and Hildy above a big 'THE END,' covering a large question mark, while the sound of the train is heard and music plays. There is also laughter, presumably coming from Walter Burns. See more »Soundtracks
By the Light of the Silvery Moon(1909) (uncredited)
Music by Gus Edwards
Played on banjo early in the film
See more »
Newspaperman Hildy Johnson (Pat O'Brien) is quitting the business and getting married to Peggy (Mary Brian). But his unscrupulous boss Walter Burns(Adolphe Menjou) doesn't want him to quit. Also an innocent man is about to be hanged and Burns will do anything to make sure Johnson works on that story.
Fast and funny--the first cinematic version of this story. It shows its age at times and some of it is wildly overacted but O'Brien and Menjou are both just great in their roles. Also director Lewis Milestone uses some very unusual camera tricks to keep the story moving and there's lots of action and running around which is unusual for an early talkie.
This was remade in 1940 with a sex change making Johnson a woman. That was "His Girl Friday" with Rosalind Russell and Cary Grant. That one is better than this but this is better than the 1974 version (that had Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau) and 1988 remake called "Switching Channels" (with Kathleen Turner and Burt Reynolds). They're all good to varying degrees but this one came first. Worth seeing.