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The Front

Play trailer Poster for The Front PG Released Sep 17, 1976 1h 33m Comedy Drama Play Trailer Watchlist
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69% Tomatometer 26 Reviews 74% Popcornmeter 2,500+ Ratings
In the 1950s, restaurant cashier Howard Prince (Woody Allen) is apathetic toward the politics around him. When a blacklisted screenwriter (Michael Murphy) asks Howard to sell a script under his own name, Howard sees an opportunity to make a profit and becomes a "front" for several blacklisted writers. But after he witnesses the social destruction of a comedian (Zero Mostel), Howard sees the corruption of McCarthyism and decides to do something to make a difference.
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The Front

Critics Reviews

View All (26) Critics Reviews
Pauline Kael New Yorker Damned if the subject didn't get the better of Berstein. He didn't develop the comic potential of his idea; instead, almost as if by reflex, he has written one of those scripts about how the common man must become involved, must learn what he stands for. Dec 2, 2023 Full Review Time Out An empty monument to the senility of American liberalism. Jan 26, 2006 Full Review Vincent Canby New York Times It recreates the awful noise of ignorance that can still be heard. Rated: 3.5/5 May 9, 2005 Full Review David Nusair Reel Film Reviews ...an effective (and affecting) endeavor. Rated: 3/4 Apr 2, 2021 Full Review Michael Mascioli Philadelphia Gay News The Front lacks a good script and seems to have trouble convincing us whether or not all this really happened. May 28, 2020 Full Review Donald McLean Bay Area Reporter Funny as only Allen can be, the script by Walter Bernstein and the direction by Martin Ritt delve far deeper and give us a penetrating look via black comedy at a time of mass hysteria. May 21, 2020 Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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Mark B The Front shows the devastation of American Art by HAUC, McCarthy and incidentally, Catholics. Don't believe me. Watch the film. All the bad guys have uber Irish Catholic names. Woody Allen, Zero Mostel, and Herschel Bernardi give great performances, while the bad guys are all straw men. Still, this is a film worth watching, even though, like many Ritt films, this is a fantasy. NOBODY, and I mean NOBODY said what Woody Allen says to the HUAC. Rated 4 out of 5 stars 08/28/23 Full Review Shioka O Woody Allen's character is somewhat the only slightly likeable in this film. This is lousier than Allen's own film, there are some laughs but I felt he could make this better with smart dialogs. Rated 2 out of 5 stars 12/21/22 Full Review Russ G Hard to believe I saw this nearly half a century ago! Given what we know of Woody Allen's later life, it's hard to remember that he rattled off a string of good movies. This was a film that had to be made while many of the McCarthy era's victims were still alive. Today's Lefties need to see this, because turnabout is NOT fair play! Rated 3 out of 5 stars 10/31/22 Full Review david f A funny comedy about the Hollywood Blacklist and a man who fronts for blacklisted writers. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Audience Member WA does a great job playing a silly and self-important "writer". The film does a good job combining humor and activism. It's a different sort of Woody Allen film, and that's great. Rated 3 out of 5 stars 02/14/23 Full Review jaime h Funny, powerful, poignant and wonderful all around film! Rated 5 out of 5 stars 03/31/23 Full Review Read all reviews
The Front

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Movie Info

Synopsis In the 1950s, restaurant cashier Howard Prince (Woody Allen) is apathetic toward the politics around him. When a blacklisted screenwriter (Michael Murphy) asks Howard to sell a script under his own name, Howard sees an opportunity to make a profit and becomes a "front" for several blacklisted writers. But after he witnesses the social destruction of a comedian (Zero Mostel), Howard sees the corruption of McCarthyism and decides to do something to make a difference.
Director
Martin Ritt
Producer
Martin Ritt
Screenwriter
Walter Bernstein
Distributor
Columbia Pictures
Production Co
Rollins-Joffe Productions, Persky-Bright Productions, Columbia Pictures Corporation
Rating
PG
Genre
Comedy, Drama
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Sep 17, 1976, Wide
Release Date (Streaming)
Apr 16, 2012
Runtime
1h 33m
Sound Mix
Mono
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