The Front (1976) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

A financially desperate man becomes a false public writer and ultimately rejects political intimidation at the cost of his freedom.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

A Name For Hire

Alfred Miller is blacklisted and asks Howard Prince to submit his television scripts under Howard's name. Howard accepts for friendship and money, and the arrangement quickly succeeds.

Key Events

• Miller Is Blacklisted — Alfred Miller cannot obtain television work because he is blacklisted. Characters: Alfred Miller, Howard Prince Location: New York City
• The Front Proposal — Miller asks Howard to submit scripts under Howard's name for ten percent. Characters: Alfred Miller, Howard Prince Location: New York City
• Howard Accepts — Howard agrees to act as Miller's front because of friendship and financial need. Characters: Howard Prince, Alfred Miller Location: New York City
• Scripts Reach Television — Howard submits Miller's scripts, which are welcomed because Howard is not blacklisted. Characters: Howard Prince, Alfred Miller Location: Television network offices

Success Behind A Mask

Howard becomes a successful front for several blacklisted writers. Florence Barrett admires the work and begins dating Howard, unaware that he is not the writer he appears to be.

Key Events

• Hecky Gets A Role — Howard's script offers Hecky Brown an important role in the television show. Characters: Howard Prince, Hecky Brown Location: Television production offices
• Howard Becomes Successful — Howard's success leads two additional blacklisted writers to use him as their front. Characters: Howard Prince, Alfred Miller Location: New York television industry
• Florence Misreads Howard — Florence admires the scripts and mistakes Howard for a principled artist. Characters: Howard Prince, Florence Barrett Location: Television network offices
• Howard Dates Florence — Howard begins dating Florence but avoids discussing his supposed writing career. Characters: Howard Prince, Florence Barrett Location: New York City

The Cost Of Purges

Hecky Brown loses his television role because of earlier political associations. He is then pressured to investigate Howard, while further humiliation in the Catskills leaves him unable to cope.

Key Events

• Hecky Faces Investigation — Hecky is questioned about a May Day march and his subscription to The Daily Worker. Characters: Hecky Brown Location: Investigative offices
• Hecky Loses His Show — Hecky is fired from the show because of his past political associations. Characters: Hecky Brown Location: Television production offices
• Hecky Investigates Howard — Hecky is instructed to learn more about Howard's alleged Communist Party involvement. Characters: Hecky Brown, Howard Prince Location: New York City
• Catskills Invitation — Hecky invites Howard to the Catskills while booked to perform on stage. Characters: Hecky Brown, Howard Prince Location: The Catskills
• Hecky Is Short-Changed — The club owner pays Hecky less than the promised salary. Characters: Hecky Brown Location: Catskills club
• Hecky Is Fired Again — The club owner fires Hecky and denounces him as a communist. Characters: Hecky Brown Location: Catskills club
• Hecky's Suicide — Unable to support his family after repeated humiliation, Hecky jumps from a hotel window. Characters: Hecky Brown, Howard Prince Location: Hotel

Truth Before The Hearing

Howard sees the damage caused by the investigations and is consumed by despair after Hecky's death. He finally tells Florence that he is a cashier rather than a writer.

Key Events

• Programming Comes Under Suspicion — Howard witnesses the damaging effects of communist-hunting investigations on network programming. Characters: Howard Prince Location: Television network offices
• Howard Tells Florence — After Hecky's death, Howard admits to Florence that he is only a cashier, not a writer. Characters: Howard Prince, Florence Barrett Location: New York City
• Committee Summons Howard — Suspicion falls on Howard, and he is called to testify before the committee. Characters: Howard Prince Location: House Un-American Activities Committee hearing room

Refusal In The Chamber

Called before the committee, Howard refuses to provide the demanded political testimony or condemn Hecky. He rejects the committee's authority and is taken away in handcuffs while Florence and the blacklisted writers support him.

Key Events

• Committee Summons Howard — Suspicion falls on Howard, and he is called to testify before the committee. Characters: Howard Prince Location: House Un-American Activities Committee hearing room
• Howard Refuses Compliance — Howard evades questions, rejects the committee's authority, and refuses to condemn Hecky. Characters: Howard Prince Location: House Un-American Activities Committee hearing room
• Howard Is Taken Away — Howard is handcuffed as Florence kisses him goodbye and the blacklisted writers support him. Characters: Howard Prince, Florence Barrett, Alfred Miller Location: Committee building

Story Breakdown

• Blacklist Pressure — The anti-Communist investigations prevent Alfred Miller from working openly in television.
  • Miller Loses Work — Alfred Miller is blacklisted and cannot obtain television writing jobs.
  • A False Name — Miller asks Howard Prince to submit scripts under Howard's name.
• Howard Takes The Deal — Howard accepts the front arrangement because of friendship and financial need.
  • Ten Percent Agreement — Howard receives ten percent of the money generated by Miller's scripts.
  • Scripts Reach Television — Howard submits Miller's work as a writer who is not on the blacklist.
• Success And Romance — Howard's apparent writing career expands while Florence forms a romantic impression of him.
  • More Front Arrangements — Two additional blacklisted writers hire Howard to serve as their front.
  • Florence's Admiration — Florence mistakes Howard for a principled artist and begins dating him.
• Hecky's Persecution — Hecky Brown becomes a casualty of the investigations and is pushed into investigating Howard.
  • Past Political Evidence — Hecky is punished for a May Day march and a subscription to The Daily Worker.
  • Catskills Humiliation — Hecky is short-changed, fired, and denounced as a communist at the club.
• Loss And Confession — Hecky's death forces Howard to confront the consequences of the political purge and his own deception.
  • Hecky's Suicide — Unable to cope with professional and financial pressure, Hecky jumps from a hotel window.
  • Truth Told To Florence — Howard admits that he is a cashier rather than a television writer.
• Defiance Before HUAC — Howard chooses resistance instead of cooperating with the committee's demands.
  • Evasive Testimony — Howard attempts to answer without either admitting or denying the accusations.
  • Refusal And Arrest — Howard rejects the committee's authority, leaves the interrogation, and is taken away in handcuffs.

Directed by

Martin Ritt

Key Cast

• Woody Allen — Howard Prince
• Zero Mostel — Hecky Brown
• Herschel Bernardi — Philip Sussman
• Michael Murphy — Alfred Miller
• Andrea Marcovicci — Florence Barrett