The Front (1976)

1976 • 94 minutes
4.5
22 reviews
69%
Tomatometer
PG
Rating
Eligible
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About this movie

This acclaimed comedy with its serious, compelling theme vividly brings to life one of America's most disturbing memories: the Communist "witch hunts" of the '50s. Woody Allen stars as Howard Prince, a small-time restaurant cashier, part-time bookie and full-time loser who is induced by a writer-friend to "front" for the submission of his TV scripts when he is blacklisted as an alleged subversive. Howard is soon "fronting" for other writers. He becomes a celebrity and is lionized as television's most brilliant and prolific young author. But when popular TV comic Hecky Brown (Zero Mostel) is blacklisted and his career is threatened, he agrees to keep Howard under surveillance. Howard is then summoned to appear before an investigative committee and his stand before them brings about an unexpected dramatic conclusion. © 1976, renewed 2004 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Rating
PG

Ratings and reviews

4.5
22 reviews
Peter Coplin
April 10, 2015
The intermingling of a serious subject during a very crazy time in US history thanks to a raging alcoholic (McCarthy) aided and abetted by Joe Kennedy who trashed our image in England, linked with the absolutely quintessential Woody Allen humor - glasses and all - is just an absolute delight. This movie has been forgotten. Allen at his absolute best. If you aren't blown away by the story, the credits will do it.
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Steven Liang
May 1, 2020
Respect to the blacklisted. It took one person to told off McCarthy but a nation to gather courage and conscience.
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Lillia Franco
August 19, 2022
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