Screening: The Front—February 2, Springfield

(1976, Rated PG, Comedy – Drama, 1hr 35 min, Directed by Martin Ritt, stars Woody Allen and Zero Mostel)

Friday, February 2nd, at 7 p.m.

Delaware County Peace Center, 1001 Old Sproul Road, Springfield, PA

This 1976 acclaimed comedy drama with its serious and compelling theme vividly brings to life one of America’s most disturbing memories: the Communist “witch hunts” of the ’50s. Woody Allen stars as Howard Prince, a small-time restaurant cashier, part-time bookie is induced by a writer-friend to “front” for the submission of his TV scripts when he is blacklisted as an alleged subversive.

Howard is soon “fronting” for other writers. He becomes a celebrity and is lionized as television’s most brilliant and prolific young author. But when popular TV comic Hecky Brown (played by actual blacklisted comic Zero Mostel) is blacklisted and career is threatened, he agrees to keep Howard under surveillance. Howard is then summoned to appear before an anti-communist investigative committee and his stand before them brings about an unexpected dramatic conclusion.

Because of the Hollywood blacklist, a number of artists, writers, directors and others were rendered unemployable, having been accused of subversive political activities in support of Communism or of being Communists.

THE FRONT was written by blacklisted screen writer Walter Bernstein, and directed by the legendary film maker, Martin Ritt. the blacklisted director of such films as The Spy Who Came In From The Cold, Hud, Hombre, and Norma Jean. Reviewing The Front for the New York Times, film critic, Vincent Canby wrote,”Even in its comic moments, The Front works on the conscience as it recreates the awful noise of ignorance that can still be heard.”

Co-sponsored by the Brandywine Peace Community, 484-574-1148. 
For more information and complete directions, visit Peace Center of Delaware County website, www.delcopeacecenter.org .

THE FRONT film trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QuAWRf1CmiQ