The Front (1976)

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Director: Martin Ritt

Writer: Walter Bernstein

Stars: Woody Allen, Michael Murphy, Remak Ramsey, Marvin Lichterman, Andrea Marcovicci, Zero Mostel, Herschel Bernardi



A cashier and small-time bookie (Woody Allen) agrees to front for black-listed writers (Michael Murphy, Remak Ramsey, Marvin Lichterman) in 1950s network TV, passing off their work as his own and keeping 10% of the fee.

 


He becomes comfortable and enjoys his new fame, but his delight at living the good life and dating a beautiful script editor (Andrea Marcovicci) gradually wanes in the face of the seriousness of the McCarthy era blacklist, the coercive tactics of the federal government, and its devastating effect on the lives of people in show business. 



This is one of Allen's rare appearances in a film that he did not write and direct.

 




He has chosen his material well.

 


Director Martin Ritt and screenwriter Walter Bernstein, both blacklisted themselves, have crafted a marvelously entertaining and funny film that also dramatizes the tragedy of the blacklist. 



Allen makes the material his own so that it often seems as if he has written his own dialogue. 



Zero Mostel delivers a great performance as the blacklisted comedian Hecky Brown.












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