CMFH Film Reviews

1940, USA
Comedy, Crime, Romance
Review by Deborah Dearth

::Flick Quickie::

Howard Hawks' rapid-fire dialogue film stands as one of the best tough-love romantic comedies of all times. Based on the successful Broadway play The Front Page, Hawks changed the reporter from Hildebrand to Hildegaard, and allowed her to be the newspaper editor's ex-wife, thus altering the dynamics of the story and creating the perfect love-hate relationship. The tale takes place in the hectic and sometimes unethical newspaper world of Chicago's 1930s, where the reporters are manipulative, the crooks are helpful, and the politicians are blissfully crooked.

Ex-reporter Hildy Johnson (brilliantly quick-witted Rosalind Russell) has decided to see what life is like on the other side of the fence, by marrying an insurance salesman (Ralph Bellamy) and moving to the country. Editor Walter Burns (the ever-charismatic Cary Grant) is always one step ahead to bring her back into her natural habitat -- the newspaper biz -- and back into his life. Tying this chaos together is a simple minded murderer about to be hanged, and the slimy politicians obstructing his release.

The DVD is a nice little package including four mini-featurettes of the lead actors and director, text bios of the leads, movie trailers, print ads, and an insightful commentary track by film critic and Hawks' bio author Todd McCarthy.