SCREWBALL COMEDY CLASSICS DOUBLE FEATURE VOL. 2 (His Girl Friday & The Front Page) [MOD/DVD-R] [1931, 1940]

THE FRONT PAGE

“3 ½ Stars – First filming of Hecht-MacArthur play is forceful, funny, and flamboyantly directed… Stands up quite well alongside remake HIS GIRL FRIDAY.” — Leonard Maltin

One of the most significant films of the early sound era. “The Front Page” gave audiences the definitive concept of the filmic newspaperman, and film makers the definitive concept of sound film and its comedic potential. Remade by Howard Hawks as “His Girl Friday,” the original, from the play by Charles McArthur and Ben Hecht (former newspaperman). Set in the editorial room of a Chicago newspaper, director Milestone captured the pace and atmosphere by utilizing rapid deliveries of dialogue, a moving camera and quick cutting. The results are still as delightful as they were 85 years ago.

Awards:

• 3 Academy Award Nominations: Best Picture, Best Actor (Adolph Menjou) and Best Director (Lewis Milestone)
• Won, Top Ten Films of 1931 by the National Board of Review
• Won, National Film Registry 2010, National Film Preservation Board

101 Min, B&W, 1:33:1, NR, 1931

HIS GIRL FRIDAY

“4 Stars! – Terrific character actors add sparkle to must see film.” – Leonard Maltin

One of the fastest and wittiest comedies ever made, His Girl Friday  is an excellent adaption of the newspaper world hit play, ‘The Front Page.’  The pace is rapid-fire, and the action non-stop with Howard Hawks’ famed technique of overlapping conversation adding to this fun, sophisticated comedy.

Awards:

• Won, National Film Registry 1993, National Film Preservation Board

92 Min, B&W, 1:33:1, NR, 1940

Format  MOD/DVD-R

Language  English

Region  All Regions

Audio  MONO

Aspect Ratio  1:33:1

Rating  NR

Runtime  193 Min

Year  1931, 1940

Color  B&W