| Hildy Johnston | |
|---|---|
 | |
|
Real Name |
Hildebrand Johnston |
|
First Appearance |
The Front Page (1928) |
|
Original Publisher |
Times Square Theater |
|
Created by |
Ben Hecht |
Origin[]
Hildebrand "Hildy" Johnson is the quick-witted, sharp-tongued, ambitious, and fiercely independent reporter and ex-wife of newspaper editor Walter Burns.
Originally portrayed as male in the source play The Front Page (1928), Hollywood director Howard Hawks reimagined Hildy as a woman, creating one of cinema’s most memorable professional female leads that challenged 1940s gender roles. At the film’s start, she’s an ace journalist eager to leave the frenetic newsroom for a more conventional life.
Exhausted by her chaotic former marriage, Hildy decides to leave both her husband and her career behind in favor of a life with Bruce Baldwin, a mild-mannered insurance man who treats her with gentle respect. Yet when Walter traps her with the promise of one final, big scoop, the controversial case of Earl Williams on death row, she’s irresistibly drawn back to the adrenaline of her profession.
Hildy confidently navigates a male-dominated world. She’s respected for her journalistic skill and known for matching, and often out-sparring, Walter in their rapid-fire banter. Reflecting her identity, she declares, "I’m no suburban bridge player — I’m a newspaperman!"
As the chaotic courtroom drama and political machinations unfold, Hildy finds she cannot abandon her calling. Ultimately, she chooses the kinetic, unpredictable life of journalism over domestic ease, realizing where she truly belongs. Her final decision to remarry Walter is not a retreat to traditional gender norms, but a return to an equal partnership built on mutual respect and shared passion.
Public Domain Appearances[]
All published appearances of Hildy Johnson from before January 1, 1930 are public domain in the US.
Some notable appearances are listed below:
Public Domain Stage Plays[]
- The Front Page (1928)
Public Domain Film Appearances[]
- His Girl Friday (1940)
Notes[]
- His Girl Friday was selected by the Library of Congress for preservation in the United States National Film Registry in 1993, and was ranked 19th on the American Film Institute's 100 Years ... 100 Laughs.
- Rosalind Russell's performance as Hildy Johnson is reportedly one of the inspirations for Action Comics' Lois Lane, and would serve as the basis for Paige Sinclair in BoJack Horseman.