The Front Page (1931): Cast, Ratings & Plot
The Front Page is a 1931 comedy directed by Lewis Milestone, starring Pat O'Brien, Frank McHugh and George E. Stone. It runs 1 hour 41 minutes. It was nominated for 3 Oscars. Critics gave it 76 on Metacritic.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 41m (101 min)
- Director
- Lewis Milestone
- Genre
- Comedy
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- United Artists
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is The Front Page About?
The premise of The Front Page without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
A seasoned reporter, Hildy Johnson, decides to leave his career to marry Peggy Grant. However, his editor, Walter Burns, isn't ready to let him go, and concocts a scheme to keep him on board for one last story. Hildy finds himself embroiled in the pursuit of Earl Williams, an escaped convict whose guilt or innocence remains a mystery. The pursuit leads to humorous clashes and a race against time as Hildy grapples with his personal happiness and the lure of a major news story.
The Front Page Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- fugitive
- newspaper
- newspaper editor
- chicago illinois
- based on play
- screwball comedy
- escape from prison
- germaphobe
- rolltop desk
- prostitute
- manhunt
- mayor
+38 more Show fewer
- jumping from a window
- sheriff
- quitting a job
- reporter
- death row
- journalism
- national film registry
- pocket watch
- jail
- press room
- gallows
- broken bottle
- arrest
- three word title
- blackmail
- kidnapping
- bar
- handcuffs
- psychiatrist
- gunfire
- falling from height
- typewriter
- playing cards
- fast motion scene
- shot in the stomach
- hypochondriac
- resignation
- printing press
- sandbag
- cleaning lady
- anti communist
- banjo
- reprieve
- scapegoat
- satire comedy
- dark comedy
- machine gun
- sequel baiting
The Front Page Cast
Pat O'Brien leads the cast, with Frank McHugh and George E. Stone. Directed by Lewis Milestone; 10 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Lewis Milestone
Also Starring in The Front Page
· 6 moreMore from Lewis Milestone
More films directed by Lewis Milestone, best-rated first: All Quiet on the Western Front, Of Mice and Men, Mutiny on the Bounty and Ocean's 11.
The Front Page Reviews & Ratings
Critics gave The Front Page 76 on Metacritic.
-
Metacritic 76 Metascore
See on Metacritic -
TMDB 65% User score
See on TMDB
The Front Page Plot Summary
What happens in The Front Page from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 15 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 2-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
The play unfolds in the grimy press room of Chicago’s Criminal Courts Building, which overlooks the gallows situated behind the Cook County Jail. Within this confined space, reporters from various local newspapers are engaged in a mix of poker games and sharp-edged jokes as they await significant news regarding Earl Williams, a white man believed to be a Communist revolutionary, who has been convicted of murdering a black policeman. Among them is Hildy Johnson, the brash and charismatic star reporter for the Examiner, who makes a late entrance merely to announce his departure from the chaotic world of journalism in pursuit of a more respectable job and a marriage.
Full summary
The whole story of The Front Page, scene by scene
The Front Page Awards & Nominations
The Front Page was nominated for 3 Oscars.
3 nominations1 ceremony
-
Oscars 1932 3 nominations- Nominated Actor – Adolphe Menjou
- Nominated Directing – Lewis Milestone
- Nominated Outstanding Production
How Well Do You Know The Front Page?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who is the protagonist and star reporter in The Front Page?
The Front Page Also Known As
13 alternative titles, including “Última Hora” and “フロント・ページ”.
- Also known as
-
- Última Hora
- フロント・ページ
- 犯罪都市/フロント・ページ
- Un gran reportaje
- A Primeira Página
- Первая полоса
- Първа страница
- 犯罪的都市
- 특종 기사
- Címlapsztori
- 犯罪都市
- Det stora reportaget
+1 more Show fewer
- Primera plana
Seen The Front Page?
Movies Like The Front Page
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including The Front Page, Front Page Woman and On the Front Page.
The Front Page FAQ: Cast, Awards & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, ratings, awards and post-credit scenes of The Front Page, each answered in a sentence.
How long is The Front Page?
The Front Page runs 1 hour 41 minutes (101 minutes).
When was The Front Page released?
The Front Page was released on April 4, 1931.
Who directed The Front Page?
The Front Page was directed by Lewis Milestone.
More films by Lewis Milestone Who is in the cast of The Front Page?
The Front Page stars Pat O'Brien, Frank McHugh and George E. Stone, among 10 credited actors.
How is The Front Page rated?
The Front Page has 76 on Metacritic and 65% on TMDB.
Was The Front Page nominated for any awards?
The Front Page received 3 nominations across 1 ceremony.
Does The Front Page have a post-credit scene?
No. The Front Page has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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