Sixième édition

Bette Davis and George Brent are sort of engaged. They are also reporters on competing newspapers who keep swiping each others' stories in this fast-paced Warner Brothers movie, with the full stock company on display, in this engaging effort.

Warner Brothers worked these two actors hard in 1935. Brent made seven movies in 1935, Miss Davis five. Director Michael Curtiz also worked the script hard. He seems to pack two hours of dialogue into 82 minutes, mostly by having the actors start talking the instant the previous speaker has finished. There's tremendous chemistry between the two leads; they worked together in eleven movies. It's that chemistry that carries the movie, given a standard script; RKO seems to have made essentially the same movie twenty times to less effect.

Bette Davis plays a plucky female reporter who just got the chance to do lead stories--those traditionally done exclusively by men. A rival reporter, George Brent, is in love with her but also has little respect for her "trying to make it in a man's world"--so naturally she refuses to marry a man who doesn't respect her. In the midst of their arguments, Brent proposes a contest to see which can get the biggest scoop during a murder investigation and the subsequent trial. Now this all could have been very predictable or sexist, but somehow both pitfalls were avoided.

Sure, this isn't the deepest or best film that Bette Davis made in her long and distinguished career, but for the mid-1930s it's pretty good stuff. Although Warner Brothers employed one of the finest actresses of all time in the form of Miss Davis, up until the late 30s, they bounced her around from bad to mediocre to top of the line films and back again! So inconsistent were these roles that even after being Oscar nominated (OF HUMAN BONDAGE) and receiving the Oscar (DANGEROUS), Miss Davis STILL bounced around the studio in predictable programmers, B-movies AND A-films as well. As a result, she walked out of her contract (briefly).

Despite all this, FRONT PAGE WOMAN was a good film for her career--as it was quite enjoyable, gave her a chance to appear with her favorite leading man (George Brent) and gave her a decent (though not always believable) leading role. The film is a typical battle of the sexes film which weren't especially uncommon during Hollywood's Golden Age and like many of these films (such as PAT AND MIKE and WOMAN OF THE YEAR), it was a lot of fun. Plus, the chemistry between Davis and Brent was wonderful and I wish their films together got more attention--they are always enjoyable even when the writing isn't up to snuff (as in a few of their films together).

Ellen Garfield (Bette Davis) and Curt Devlin (George Brent) are combative reporters at rival newspapers who are in a relationship. She faints during an execution and he tries to cover for her. She gets into trouble after he files the same story to both papers. They continue their back and forth banter while she refuses to marry him. They start following the same story of a Broadway murder mystery.

The first notable aspect is that she's not a good reporter for the first part of the movie. I'm surprised that a woman wouldn't be fired or at least demoted to wedding announcements after fainting. Nevertheless, the dialogue is snappy. The leads especially with Davis are fun. It's light except for the murder. My only complaint is that this movie needs more time with the leads together. They should be investigating as a team but trying to scoop each other in print.

Saw 'Front Page Woman' as a big fan of classic film. As somebody who liked the premise, which indicated that it would be quite a fun diversion as long as one didn't expect too much. Have said more than once about liking/loving other Michael Curtiz-directed films, with two of my all time favourite films being 'Casablanca' and 'The Adventures of Robin Hood'. Bette Davis and George Brent have been fine in other things, individually and even together.

A fun diversion 'Front Page Woman' turned out to be and it is worth seeing for anybody that likes racy for the time films, a nice chemistry between good casts and those involved on good if perhaps not great form. Though 'Front Page Woman' is also in my view a film that one shouldn't expect too much from, not for anybody expecting realism and am not trying to be snobbish or childish here (it does depend on the level of "unrealistic").

'Front Page Woman' is very nicely photographed and Davis looks fabulous in her wardrobe. As was usually the case, Curtiz's direction is efficient and he never seemed uncomfortable with the material. The story may not offer many surprises or realism in its depiction of newspaper life, but it has a lively energy throughout and is never less than entertaining.

The dialogue sparkles in its sharp wit, also being remarkably racy in particularly what it has to say on the working women. The chemistry between Davis and Brent is hard to resist, likewise with their performances. Brent getting the very slight edge.

Coming onto the not so good things, while never less than entertaining, 'Front Page Woman' is one of those "solid in all ways but not a lot exceptional" sort of films. If there were more surprises (even if just a few) and if it didn't try so hard in some places it would have been even better than it was.

Supporting cast are all competent but nobody is amazing or on the same level as Davis and Brent. Roscoe Karns in the most colourful supporting role coming closest.

In conclusion, entertaining. 7/10

With Bette Davis doing a role that Glenda Farrell or Joan Blondell was used to doing and George Brent standing in for James Cagney or Pat O'Brien, Front Page Woman is about a sob sister columnist wanting to prove she's as good at investigative reporting as the man she loves. Brent's a good guy all right, but he certainly believes that woman's place is in the home or writing a woman's column about same.

The chance comes when both are sent by their rival papers to cover a fire. The fire it turns out was only a ruse to cover the stabbing of a bigshot played by Huntley Gordon. As the investigation, arrest, and trial proceed, Davis and Brent go on scooping spree to show the other up who is the better reporter.

That kind of fun can certainly put a strain on a relationship and the two of them, Brent more so, play fast and loose with the criminal justice system to get that scoop over the other. In the end the crime revolves around a love triangle with Gordon, mystery lady Wini Shaw, and polo player Gordon Westcott.

Contrary to rumor Bette Davis could play comedy though it was not her strong suit. Her material is slight, but she does her best to rise above a role she's miscast in. Her devoted fans will certainly not turn away from Front Page Woman.