Review By: Mike HeenanWith all the recent media attention and personal attacks on Woody Allen from his crazy ex, it’s hard to remember that at one time he was actually a respectable filmmaker, writer, and in the case of The Front, an actor. It was the first film that he didn’t have any control over writing or directing and was simply just an actor. Allen was quoted as trusting director Martin Ritt as Ritt had survived the McCarthy years of the HUAC (House Un-American Activities Committee), as did co star Zero Mostel.
Allen stars as Howard Prince, who works as a cashier in a diner and is a bit of a con artist and gambler. One day one of his old friends Alfred Miller, played by Michael Murphy, stops by to tell Howard that he’s been blacklisted from his industry, of which Howard assumes to mean he has some sickness. Over a game of chess, Miller comes up with a scheme to present to Howard that apparently has worked in the past, which is a “front”. The blacklisted writer would write his scripts, but use an unknown person to be the public writer of the script. Howard easily accepts his cut of 10% of the sales due to his many gambling debts.