The Front - BLU-RAY

Billy Wilder's reworking of the lightning-quick Hecht-MacArthur newspaper satire features Jack Lemmon as Hildy Johnson, the Chicago reporter whose impending nuptials and retirement will end his partnership with gruff editor Walter Burns (Walter Matthau). That is, until they become embroiled in getting the scoop on an escaped convict on the eve of his execution. Susan Sarandon, Charles Durning, Vincent Gardenia, and Carol Burnett as Mollie Malloy co-star. 105 min. Widescreen; Soundtrack English; Subtitles English; audio commentary; interviews; theatrical trailer.

Raucous, irreverent, and remarkably funny, THE FRONT PAGE is a landmark in cinema history - a brilliantly orchestrated, high-speed satire that set the standard for the countless screwball comedies that followed in it's wake. But few films can match the risque flavor and the relentless pace of the masterpiece that spawned an entire genre, earning Academy Award nominations for Best Picture, Best Actor (Adolphe Menjou), and Best Director (Lewis Milestone), as well as a spot on the esteemed National Film Registry. Based on the wildly successful (and controversial) play by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur, THE FRONT PAGE follows hard-boiled crime reporter Hildy Johnson (Pat O'Brien) who has vowed to quit the business and marry his new sweetheart (Mary Brian). But when a political radical (George E. Stone) escapes from custody on the eve of his hanging, the reporter's room is plunged into comedic chaos, and Hildy's brash editor (Menjou) sees it as an opportunity to manipulate the reporter into staying. Special Features Mastered in HD from 35mm elements preserved by the Library of Congress, Short documentary on the film preservation efforts of the Library of Congress, Audio commentary by film historian Bret Wood, 1937 Radio adaptation starring Walter Winchell, presented by Cecil B. DeMille (60 min.), 1946 Radio adaptation starring Adolphe Menjou and Pat O'Brien (30 min.)

Mel Brooks' directorial debut is one of the greatest comedies of all time and stars Zero Mostel as conniving theater producer Max Bialystock and Gene Wilder as skittish accountant Leo Bloom. Together they produce InchSpringtime for Hitler,Inch a lavish stage musical which they've planned to flop so they can keep their little old lady investors' money. But should the play become a hit, the boys'll be doing all their producing in the pokey. With Lee Meredith, Dick Shawn, Kenneth Mars, Christopher Hewett. 88 min. Widescreen; Soundtrack English; Subtitles English; audio commentary; Inchmaking ofInch documentary; outtake; theatrical trailer; radio spot; more.