The most influnential comedy in the history of Broadway

THE FRONT PAGE (1974) Having just re-read Ben Hecht & Charles MacArthur's classic American comedy, I'm still laughing at the lines and the gags so much it hurts. It hurts because its funny and it hurts because it's so true. Hecht & MacArthur's THE FRONT PAGE was to the Broadway theatre what Kern & Hammerstein's SHOWBOAT (from the novel by Edna Ferber) was to the Broadway musical. In other words, there was American comedy before THE FRONT PAGE and after the THE FRONT PAGE. The eras before and after have very little in common. Ben Hecht & Charles MacArthur were a pair of unrepentent reprobates and I loved their work so much that I feel that they were my spiritual brothers.

THE FRONT PAGE has been made and remade as a feature film & television production many times. For me, none of them capture the vitality and vitriol of a well done stage production. As a kid, I was fortunate to see a Broadway revival with Robert Ryan as Walter Burns; Bert Convey as Hildy Johnson; Katherine Houghton as Peggy Grant (Katherine Hepburn's niece); & Helen Hayes (Mrs. Charles MacArthur) as Mrs. Grant. That may be its fatal charm. Perhaps THE FRONT PAGE needs to explosive spontaneity of the stage to really come roaring to life.

At any rate, one would think that Billy Wilder & I.A.L. Diamond would be as good as anyone (and better than most) to turn this classic into a modern film. Guess again. As much as I appreciate Billy Wilder's prodigious gifts, this version just manages to fall flat. The cast is first rate. The producition values are respectable. The cast even includes great American character actors such as David Wayne & Vincent Gardenia. The problem seems to be that in an effort to "open up" the play, Wilder introduces some slapstick that that doesn't mesh with the rest of the play. They also made the mistake of trying to "improve" Hecht & MacArthur's dialog and some character relationships. Jack Lemmon as Hildy Johnson & Walter Matthau as Walter burns might have made great casting - if only they had done it 10 years earlier. It hurts to say that those things just don't help.

If you want a treat read Hecht & MacArthur's play. You'll see that it may well be the single most influential American comedy every produced. Then ask yourself if any comedy has ever had a greater curtain line than, "The son of a bitch stole my watch!"