The Front Page

A film review by Christopher Null - Copyright © 2000 Filmcritic.com

Billy Wilder's version of the classic play carries a lot of fond memories for former newspapermen like myself, but I don't expect The Front Page to resonate quite so well with the rest of the populace. Lemmon plays it straight as a reporter bent on getting out of the business in order to get married while Matthau's hilariously over-the-top editor does everything in his power to keep him on the payroll during a fantastic jailbreak in 1920s Chicago. It drags in the middle, but a good first act and a stellar finale make the movie completely worthwhile.

Rating

3.5 out of 5 Stars

  • Director: Billy Wilder
  • Producer: Paul Monash
  • Screenwriter: Billy Wilder, I.A.L. Diamond
  • Stars: Jack Lemmon, Walter Matthau, Susan Sarandon, Vincent Gardenia, David Wayne, Allen Garfield, Austin Pendleton, Charles Durning
  • MPAA Rating: PG

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