Quotes by Jay Carr

“They were fast-moving opportunists encased in cynicism and proud of it.”

“One of the things that will keep The Front Page burning bright as long as newspapers are alive is the myth that newspapermen are breezy and raffish. What other play has for so long fed the self-image of journalists?”

“[Walter Burns is] the archetypal managing editor-ruthless, self-righteous, manipulative, downright maniacal if it means an exclusive, especially one that it can congratulate itself for on its own front page.”

“[There werent many easy choices.] There have been more than 30,000 films made, at least, ... To extract 100 was difficult.”

“Some films are in [The A List] because theyre pop cultural landmarks,”

“A few critics said, I want to write on such and such, ”

“Comedy is always slighted,”

“[Mel Brooks, for example, was one director who missed out.] Young Frankenstein came close, ... but we ended up with old Frankenstein. ”

“This is a grid. Its a map that captures the landscape of film, ... If you think, This book is all over the place, thats the intention.”

“[The Front Page] is still full of peppy banter as it sends its seedy knights after cheap scoops.”