THE FRONT

US, 1976, 95 minutes, Colour.
Woody Allen, Zero Mostel, Herschel Bernardi, Michael Murphy, Andrea Marcovicci.
Directed by Martin Ritt.

The Front is a very interesting film, humorous, but with serious intent. In fact, the intent is so serious and the makers so committed that a just cause is in danger of eliciting sentimental sympathy. The 50s blacklisting for real or alleged Communist sympathies is presented in its hypocritical severity and in its humiliation and destruction of so many people. Woody Allen portrays the amiable but self-centred front for the writers, who is ultimately challenged to take a serious stand. Writer Walter Bernstein, director Martin Ritt, and star Zero Mostel, among others, were blacklisted. Their film is an ironic laugh at American persecution that they have survived. There is also anger and undefeatable defiance.

1. The importance of this film? Made by Americans in the 70's, for Americans? Others? As remembrance of what Lillian Hellmann called "scoundrel time"?

2. The importance of the fact that the writer, director and several of the major stars were blacklisted as indicated in the final credits? An indictment of the atmosphere in America in the 50s? The comparative freedom of the 70s? How much the value of hindsight?

3. The picture of the United States in the early 50s? The post-war period, unAmerican activities and patriotism and loyalty? What kind of America was presented in the initial newsreel collage: Eisenhower, Marilyn Monroe, sport, career and bombs, Miss America? Frank Sinatra singing Young at Heart? The later comments about Americanism in the film; American purity of ideals? The value of hindsight in estimating this particular period?

4. How well did the film present issues of freedom, America as a free country, the clash with Communism, memories of Russia before and during the war, the cold war, the Communist conspiracy? The portrait of the FBI conspiracy saving America? The committees and their powers, role of inquiry, personalities involved in interrogation, making decisions and taking advice, surveillance? The committee and its power to Hake people do what it wanted? Characters saying that the committees wanted to be affirmed? A deal was done for the sake of sincerity of confession? The importance of confessing, naming others? The portrait of Hennessy as the investigator? His power? His attitude, especially towards Hecky, his puritanical attitudes, catholic-sounding name? The relationship with the television networks? The picture of Jackson and his ownership of three shops and supervising the actors in his series? The need for stands to be taken, the possibility of gaol?

5. The significance of the blacklist and its waning? The response of the people of the time? Later audience response to this idea? The picture of the way that it operated? In the head of the TV network and his shunning of Hecky, his firing of Hecky, his bowing to the advice of Hennessy? Sussman and his firing of Hecky and the way that he did it? Florence and her resignation on and publishing the pamphlet? Howard and his role as a front? The interrogation and his gaol sentence? The significance of the title and the operation of Howard as the front for the blacklisted writers?

6. How much sympathy did the film evoke for the writers? As Communists, Communist sympathisers? Were they guilty of un-American activities? The effect of the blacklist of their careers, personal lives? Their skill as writers, their discussion for the protection of Howard, money and salaries and taxation? The methods of the FBI in asking them to confess, to name? The surveillance? Hecky and his being asked to spy on Howard?

7. The atmosphere of New York for authenticity, the shops, drug stores, the streets, early American television, studios and their work, television series and peoples' response etc.?

8. The choice of Woody Allen for the character of Howard? His own personal comic style and repartee? Did this dominate his performance or was it subdued to the character of Howard? Howard Prince and Woody Allen as a combination? character? The ordinary nun and his philosophy of looking after "number one", seeing him as a cashier, his betting, borrowing, at the bank? The chances that he took? His friendship and his agreeing to take the money? Living in his little world and growing powerful in it as he said? How did his work as a front change his character?

9. Howard as Howard Prince the writer., his lifestyle, his ability to lie, perform the part, the various crises with friends and then his repayment of the money, the bank, the rewrite in the studio and his ringing for the script? The discussion with the other writer and his acting as a front for all of them, collecting their works and the threat of discovery by the FBI? Mixing in TV circles and cocktail parties etc.?

10. How interesting was the character of Florence, as a girl, her explanation of Connecticut background and upbringing, her involvement, outings with Howard and their discussion about their love affair, her admiration for his work? Her skill in television and the possibility of her being a producer? Her romanticising Howard? Her resignation after being disgusted by Sussman and his sacking of Hecky? Her publishing the pamphlet, the difference of ideals from Howard's and her leaving him, the discussion in the shop? The bond between them, especially when he told the truth, the reaction to it; coping with it? Her being present with him to the end as he went to gaol? A portrait of a woman of principle, the heroine for this film?

11. The portrait of Sussman as the ordinary television executive, the benign producer, unable to take a stand, his treatment of Hecky, his reaction to Florence's leaving, to Howard's advising him to take a stand and his inability to do it?

12. The portrait of Hecky and the effect of the blacklist on him? Florence's saying that writers could continue with the fronts but actors blacklisted could find no work? Zero Mostel and the irony of his own of blacklisting? His playing the part of a comic, his effectiveness, the humour of his artificiality, his popularity? The sequences of his pleading with Hennessey, humiliation, his wanting to dissociate himself from politics? His being sacked? The proposition to spy and the way that he did it? His song and dance act, applause, his clash with Sam and his humiliation? The drunken night and the signs of his despair? The kind attitude in his visit for the apology, the setting up of his own death in his hotel apartment, the champagne, the mirror and his killing himself? The effect of the funeral and the harsh reality of the blacklisting?

13. The character of Hennessy and the American types? Strong, clean-cut, humourless?

14. Sam and his friendship with Hecky, praising him, the sudden clash and his shouting abuse?

15. Howard and his being followed, the subpoena, his decision concerning what he had to do, the telling of the truth to Florence and getting her backing and making her proud of him, the importance of the discussion with the three writers in the hospital and the differing points of view about the fifth amendment, protecting himself? Howard's wanting to lead the board on and not succumb to their pressures? His fiddling with their answers, their turning sour against him, what made his final decision clear to him? His final swearing at them?

16. The importance of the collage with his becoming the hero, going to gaol, a little man of principle?

17. How much insight into human nature especially in times of stress; wealth and achievement in career? A portrait of American society, conscience and freedom?