The Front Page
Release date: 1931-04-04
Votes: 81
Genres: Comedy, Crime, Drama, Romance
Hildy Johnson is an investigative reporter looking for a bigger paycheck. When an accused murderer escapes from custody, Hildy sees an opportunity for the story of a lifetime. But when he finds the criminal, he learns that the man may not be guilty. With the help of his editor, Hildy attempts to hide the convict, uncover the conspiracy and write the scoop of his career.
Reviews
CinemaSerf
Newspaper man "Hildy" (Pat O'Brien) is heading to New York with his fiancée "Peggy" (Mary Brian) to take a better paid job in the advertising world. His editor "Burns" (Adolphe Menjou) has one last story for him to cover and has to play quite a clever game to ensure that his best reporter takes on the story. It's all about convicted killer "Earle Williams" (George E. Stone) who manages to escape from death row. "Hildy" spends his honeymoon fund to tap up an insider and to track down the man - only to conclude that maybe he didn't actually commit the crime for which he is to hang, after all. He now concocts a clever plan to hide the man - in a bureau, whilst he and his editor try to get to the bottom of the real crime. With the sheriff getting ever closer and with his fellow press hounds on the trail too, what now ensues is a quickly paced and fast-talking look at press journalism. Most of them are hacks, making up what they don't know, safe in the knowledge that the only scrutiny will come should the circulation drop. There are a few pithy one-liners too - not least from a recent visitor to the grotty prison who wonders how the prisoners stay alive long enough to be hung! What does work here is the cynicism. The writing takes a swipe at just about everyone from the press to the police; the courts and the system. Corruption and back-handers are rife up and down the greasy pole and the humour here is a little more sophisticated than in your face. I did find, however, that there is way too much dialogue and the investigative elements border on the farce a little too much for my liking, but it's still a cleverly constructed story of cats, mice and balls of wool that shows off the talents of the often under-rated Menjou well.
Movie Recommendation
The Front Page1974-11-01Ruthless Chicago newspaper editor Walter Burns resorts to dubious motives in order to get top reporter Hildy Johnson to cover one more big crime story before retirement.More...
Page2021-09-01There is no descriptionMore...
William The Conqueror2015-01-01Blending drama with the explanations of passionate historians and specialists, this enriched historical reconstruction traces 60 years in the life a man who transformed the Middle Ages and laid the foundation of modern Europe, William The Conqueror.More...
The Gay Diplomat1931-08-22Captain Orloff is sent to Bucharest to capture a Mata Hari type of spy, but many different women fit the bill and are attractive enough to make one question one's allegiance.More...
Eko Eko Azarak: R-Page2006-12-16A journalist named Takashi arrives at a rural town to investigate a string of mysterious accidental deaths. Around the same time, a young woman arrives dressed in a sailor suit school uniform. Her name is Misa Kuroi, a powerful witch who’s been sent by the leader of her black magic cult to seek out and destroy a powerful demon of destruction called Ezekiel. Eventually, Takashi and Misa cross paths and decide to work together to solve a supernatural mystery.More...
Krampus2015-11-26When his dysfunctional family clashes over the holidays, young Max is disillusioned and turns his back on Christmas. Little does he know, this lack of festive spirit has unleashed the wrath of Krampus: a demonic force of ancient evil intent on punishing non-believers.More...
The Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special2022-11-24On a mission to make Christmas unforgettable for Quill, the Guardians head to Earth in search of the perfect present.More...
The Equalizer 32023-08-30Robert McCall finds himself at home in Southern Italy but he discovers his friends are under the control of local crime bosses. As events turn deadly, McCall knows what he has to do: become his friends' protector by taking on the mafia.More...
Halloween 4: The Return of Michael Myers1988-10-21Ten years after his original massacre, the invalid Michael Myers awakens on Halloween Eve and returns to Haddonfield to kill his seven-year-old niece.More...
Star Trek III: The Search for Spock1984-06-01A surprise visit from Spock's father provides a startling revelation: McCoy is harboring Spock's living essence.More...
PK2014-12-18A stranger in the city asks questions no one has asked before. Known only by his initials, the man's innocent questions and childlike curiosity take him on a journey of love, laughter and letting go.More...
The Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mines2006-09-09After retrieving the Crystal Skull in Utah, Flynn Carsen receives a map in the mail with the secret location of King Solomon's Mines. When the scroll is stolen, Judson explains the power of the Key of Solomon's book and assigns Flynn to retrieve the map. The map is useless without the legend piece to decipher it, which is located in Volubilis near the Roman ruins in Morocco. Flynn heads to Casablanca to the ruins where he is chased by a group of mercenaries leaded by General Samir. They too want to find the location of King Solomon's mines. Flynn teams-up with Professor Emily Davenport working in the dig and they escape from General Samir and his men. While traveling to Gedi, they save the local Jomo from death and the trio faces a dangerous journey through the wild Africa.More...
Atlantis: Milo's Return2003-02-25Milo and Kida reunite with their friends to investigate strange occurances around the world that seem to have links to the secrets of Atlantis.More...
The Return of the Texas Chainsaw Massacre1995-09-22A group of teenagers get into a car crash in the Texas woods on prom night, and then wander into an old farmhouse that is home to Leatherface and his insane family of cannibalistic psychopaths.More...
Muriel, or the Time of Return1963-10-01In the seaside town of Boulogne, no one seems to be able to cope with their past, least of all Hélène, an antique furniture saleswoman, her stepson Bernard, and her former lover Alphonse.More...
Return to Horror High1987-01-28A few years ago, a mysterious serial-killer caused panic on Crippen High School. The killer was never caught. A movie company, Cosmic Pictures, has decided to make a feature movie about these events - on location, at the now abandoned school. Since members of cast and crew disappear without a trace, it seems as if history is repeating itself...More...
Darkman II: The Return of Durant1995-07-11Darkman and Durant return and they hate each other as much as ever. This time, Durant has plans to take over the city's drug trade using high-tech weaponry. Darkman must step in and try to stop Durant once and for all.More...
Cocoon: The Return1988-09-13The reinvigorated elderly group that left Earth comes back to visit their relatives. Will they all decide to go back to the planet where no one grows old, or will they be tempted to remain on Earth?More...
Slayers Return1996-08-03Lina Inverse and Naga the White Serpent are back! What begins as a routine bandit-stomping turns into the adventure of a lifetime involving magical golems, an ancient Elven weapon and even someone bent on destroying the world. It's a predicament only Lina and Naga could get themselves in to.More...
Now Is Good2012-09-19A girl dying of leukemia compiles a list of things she'd like to do before passing away. Topping the list is her desire to lose her virginity.More...
Similar Movies
Libeled Lady
1936-10-09When a major newspaper accuses wealthy socialite Connie Allenbury of being a home-wrecker, and she files a multi-million-dollar libel lawsuit, the publication's frazzled head editor, Warren Haggerty, must find a way to turn the tables on her. Soon Haggerty's harried fiancée, Gladys Benton, and his dashing friend Bill Chandler are in on a scheme that aims to discredit Connie, with amusing and unexpected results.Morning Glory
1933-08-18Wildly optimistic chatterbox Eva Lovelace is a would-be actress trying to crash the New York stage. She attracts the interest of a paternal actor, a philandering producer, and an earnest playwright. Is she destined for stardom, or will she fade like a morning glory after its brief blooming?The Adventurer
1917-10-22The daring convict no. 23, known as The Eel, escapes from prison and, after mocking his inept persecutors, saves the lives of three people in peril: a beautiful girl, her mother and an annoying suitor, only to get exhausted and almost drowned. Once he regains his strength at Judge Brown's home, he participates on an upper-class social party where he competes with the suitor for the favors of the charming Miss Brown. But prison guards are still after him…Twentieth Century
1934-05-11A temperamental Broadway producer trains an untutored actress, but when she becomes a star, she proves a match for him.The Princess Comes Ac...
1936-05-22A Swedish princess boards an ocean liner in Europe en route to an acting career in America and finds herself getting inconveniently attached to a bandleader returning home. To complicate matters, a blackmailer on board apparently knows she is not who she claims to be - and he has his sights set on other passengers with secrets of their own. In the meantime an escaped killer has stowed away under someone else's identity, and is killing again to cover his tracks; five international police detectives on board are heading the investigation to find him. When evidence points to the princess and bandleader, they must find the killer themselves - before he finds them.Ever Since Eve
1937-07-15Madge Winton, a beautiful secretary, makes herself look homely in order to avoid advances by lecherous bosses. When her new employer, writer Freddy Matthews, accidentally sees her without her disguise, she has to pretend to be her roommate Sadie.Final Justice
1984-10-28Due to his violent past, Deputy Sheriff Thomas Jefferson Geronimo III has been transferred to a rural outpost. When two thugs kill the sheriff, Geronimo shoots one of them, and the other vows revenge. Unfortunately for Geronimo, that thug turns out to be a mob boss, and the court orders Geronimo to extradite him back to his home in Sicily. When their plane is hijacked, the adversaries find their roles reversed.Gefährliche Wahrheit
2021-10-15There is no descriptionThe Palm Beach Story
1942-08-28A New York inventor, Tom Jeffers, needs cash to develop his big idea, so his adoring wife, Gerry, decides to raise it by divorcing him and marrying an eccentric Florida millionaire, J. D. Hackensacker III.Reaching for the Moon...
1930-12-29Wall Street wizard, Larry Day, new to the ways of love, is coached by his valet. He follows Vivian Benton on an ocean liner, where cocktails, laced with a "love potion," work their magic. He then loses his fortune in the market crash and feels he has also lost his girl.Bud Abbott and Lou Co...
1949-05-26Lost Caverns Hotel bellhop Freddie Phillips is suspected of murder. Swami Talpur tries to hypnotize Freddie into confessing, but Freddie is too stupid for the plot to work. Inspector Wellman uses Freddie to get the killer (and it isn't the Swami).Black Tuesday
1954-12-31Vicious gangster Vincent Canelli pulls off a daring prison escape just moments before going to the electric chair, taking with him Peter Manning – a bank robber and cop killer who was to die right after him. Taking several hostages along, they try to get their hands on the loot from Manning’s robbery to finance their escape from the country.We're Not Dressing
1934-04-27Beautiful high society type Doris Worthington is entertaining guests on her yacht in the Pacific when it hits a reef and sinks. She makes her way to an island with the help of singing sailor Stephen Jones. Her friend Edith, Uncle Hubert, and Princes Michael and Alexander make it to the same island but all prove to be useless in the art of survival. The sailor is the only one with the practical knowhow to survive but Doris and the others snub his leadership offer. That is until he starts a clam bake and wafts the fumes in their starving faces. The group gradually gives into his leadership, the only question now is if Doris will give into his charms.Other Men's Women
1931-01-17The friendship of two working stiff railroad engineers is put to the test when one falls for the other’s wife.The Ex-File 3: The Re...
2017-12-29Buddies Meng Yun and Yu Fei break up with their girlfriends and indulge themselves in living the bachelor lifestyle again. However, as their ex-girlfriends reemerge in their lives, their “Single Plan” starts to unravel!Gold Diggers of 1933
1933-05-27When all Broadway shows are shut down during the Depression, a trio of desperate showgirls scheme to bilk a repugnant high society man of his money to keep their show going.À Nous la Liberté
1931-12-18In this classic French satire, Louis, a convict, escapes from prison and takes on legitimate work, making his way up in the business world. Eventually becoming the head of a successful factory, Louis opts to modernize his company with mechanical innovations. But when his friend Émile finally leaves jail years later and reunites with Louis, the past catches up with them. The two, worried about being apprehended by police, long to flee the confines of industry.Queen Christina
1934-02-09Popular monarch Queen Christina of Sweden must choose between love and loyalty to her nation when she unexpectedly falls for a Spanish envoy.The Scarlet Empress
1934-05-09During the 18th century, German noblewoman Sophia Frederica, who would later become Catherine the Great, travels to Moscow to marry the dimwitted Grand Duke Peter, the heir to the Russian throne. Their arranged marriage proves to be loveless, and Catherine takes many lovers, including the handsome Count Alexei, and bears a son. When the unstable Peter eventually ascends to the throne, Catherine plots to oust him from power.Shall We Dance
1937-05-07Ballet star Petrov arranges to cross the Atlantic aboard the same ship as the dancer and musical star he's fallen for but barely knows. By the time the ocean liner reaches New York, a little white lie has churned through the rumour mill and turned into a hot gossip item—that the two celebrities are secretly married.