Radio review - Ford Theatre - "The Front Page" (1949) ***1/2

It's always a pleasure to renew acquaintance with this play, surely the only recognised classic which has been nonetheless overshadowed by a movie remake. I'm always surprised how late Walter Burns takes to make an appearance - although when he does he makes up for it (played here by Everett Sloane). Hildy Johnson doesn't seem to be that good a reporter, but he blusters well and the support cast remains magnificent: the hapless killer Earl, Molly the "waitress" who throws herself out the window (but survives apparently - as what? a cripple?), the corrupt politicians and sheriff. Everyone is either crazy, corrupt, greedy, selfish, stupid or a combination of the above. In other words they are human, which is why this ages so well.