On F List of Movie Reviews
(For optimum viewing, adjust the zoom level of your browser to 125%.)
The Front Page (1931)
Rate:
3
Viewed:
2/21
2/21:
I'm a big fan of Billy Wilder's remake of The Front Page, but after seeing the original for the first
time, I have to conclude it's a boring movie.
The biggest trouble is the dialogue. It's so leaden that over 5,000 words should be cut out. All the
characters do is talk, talk, and talk. That much was evident in the last five minutes when I wanted the movie
to end already. Actually, I was interested to know which film was the first to come up with the line: "The son
of a bitch stole my watch."
I know who Pat O'Brien was: a longtime supporting actor in James Cagney pictures. The Front Page is his
first film in a leading role, and he's young-looking here. Unfortunately, Pat O'Brien doesn't have that kind of
star quality. His comedic timing isn't great, either. That's why I think Cary Grant would've been perfect, hence
His Girl Friday. Adolphe Menjou tries but has been buried by too many
lines.
More of a play than anything, I think the writers were too much in love with their words. The delivery is so
fast that it's easy to miss them. Some of the lines didn't register in my mind; therefore, I kept moving on with
the film which isn't good. This is the primary reason why the remake worked plus it had two big stars in Walter
Matthau and Jack Lemmon who knew the art of comedic timing while working with a well-written script that's full
of witty moments.
All in all, The Front Page may be considered the first screwball comedy picture, but it's very old and I
don't mean that in a kind way.