secured proxy/rewrite to display backend

[thedaver]

I have Apache 1.3.22 Frontend server running SSL secured through :443. It is enabled with mod_proxy and mod_rewrite. It is Internet accessible at

https://www.example.com/

A Backend server is running Apache with a legacy "application" site that is cgi driven. It is intranet accessible at

http://backend.example.com/

I would like to have requests to Frontends's URL

https://www.example.com/application/

be a passthrough /rewrite for requests to

http://backend.example.com/

without having to recode anything on Backend.

The result should be Internet output with:

https://www.example.com/application/cgi-bin/foo.cgi?i=1

or whatever else the Backend spews forth.

Can this be done with mod's _proxy and _rewrite? I've tried some combinations but I'm just thrashing now... HELP!
Thanks!
Dave.