Sabrina

I've been having a bit of a mini Audrey Hepburn season lately, and SABRINA is my latest watch. And what a joy it is to watch! It's a fast-paced, witty and engaging little movie about a little mouse of a girl - Hepburn, of course - who becomes a society star and has to pick between two rich brothers in the process.

The story is lightweight and frothy, but where this film really works is the script, which is just great stuff. This is one of those old-fashioned Hollywood efforts which is just a joy to watch, with top-name actors delivering their lines with aplomb. Hepburn has never been lovelier here, with none of those irritating characteristics than some of her other characters possess (I'm thinking of BREAKFAST AT TIFFANY'S in particular).

It helps that the calibre of the cast is superb, with a fine turn from Humphrey Bogart particularly notable. William Holden plays his cad to the hilt, and there's fine comic support from Walter Hampden and John Williams. SABRINA is also notably funny, and that comic routine with the stuck olive is one of the most hilarious things I've seen in a good while.

Sabrina (1954)

*** 1/2 (out of 4)

Insanely delightful romantic-comedy from Billy Wilder about Sabrina (Audrey Hepburn), a chauffeur's daughter who has always loved David Larrabee (William Holden), the son of the man her father works for. When she returns from Paris the youngest son begins to have a thing for her but he's promised to another woman and there's a major deal on the line. Older and much more mature brother Linus (Humphrey Bogart) decides to take Sabrina out until the deal is complete but soon he finds himself falling in love.

Wilder made so many great movies in his career that it's easy to overlook some of the ones that are meerly "good" or very good. SABRINA is a film that often gets overlooked when one discusses the director's career and that's a little shocking because this is an extremely good movie that works on all levels. Not only is the film extremely funny but it's incredibly romantic, charming and the director's master touch is scattered throughout the material. Not to mention you've also got three legends in the picture!

To me the film shows what a brilliant director Wilder was because it's true that the story is pretty much a small fairy tale that Hollywood did every year. There was always some sort of romance dealing with a dreaming girl and an overworked man who put love on the back burner. Wilder's touches throughout the film are obvious and it's really remarkable to see how well this material works. As I said, there are some very funny moments scattered throughout the picture but there's also a bit of intensity because you really do want to see the story work in the favor of the Bogart character. The way Wilder managed to make the romance work so well is a real strong inducator to what type of director he was.

As far as the cast goes, rumor has it that Bogart hated this role and the movie because he felt he was too old to be romancing such a young girl. You know, he was probably right but the film is so well-made and the performances are so great that this here really isn't an issue as you watch the picture. Bogart really comes across well here and he manages to play the broken-hearted quite well. Hepburn is wonderfully charming in a type of role that she is best remembered for. Bogart and Hepburn certainly have a burning chemistry that jumps off the screen. Holden is also extremely funny in his bit as the playboy. There's also some great supporting performances from John Williams, Walter Hampden and Francis X. Bushman.

SABRINA does run on a bit too long but there's still no question that Wilder does a fantastic job, the romance is perfect and the three leads are simply divine.

If they had cast a different group of actors to play Sabrina and the Larrabee brothers, I have a feeling that my overall feelings towards the movie would have been different. Sabrina truly succeeds on the weight of its acting. It takes a certain amount of talent to pull off the wit and charisma the script demands but in the end, Bogie ends up being Bogie, Hepburn is Hepburn through and through and Holden plays off both of them. Add a multi-talented supporting cast led, in my opinion, by the classic Walter Hampden and Sabrina becomes a classic Hollywood treat that you can enjoy whenever you're in the mood.

Sabrina returns from a two year trip for school to Paris. As the chauffeur's daughter to a wealthy business family, she fancies their younger son, who was not only her childhood friend, but is also the troublesome playboy of the family as well.

Although I'm skeptical of some of Sabrina's six Oscar nominations, it's hard to argue that it was a beautiful effort in a year dominated by Brando's On the Waterfront. Anyone curious about why Audrey Hepburn is revered the way she is should check out this movie and draw their own conclusions. Here she is surrounded by an accomplished cast, received an Oscar nomination for her acting, and is forever known as one of Hollywood's all-time greats according to many opinions.

Audrey Hepburn plays Sabrina Fairchild, who goes to Paris as a girl and returns as a woman.Before she left Sabrina was interested in David Larrabee (William Holden) but he didn't show any interest on her.But things have changed as she comes back from Paris.She's not the same teen girl anymore.She's an attractive woman.And David notices that too.And so does David's brother Linus (Humphrey Bogart). Sabrina (1954) was directed by one of the greatest directors of all time, Billy Wilder.The acting work is unique.Audrey Hepburn, who is one of the most beautiful women of all time, does her job very well.Not only was she beautiful, she was also extremely talented.You could always trust on William Holden and Humphrey Bogart.They were both brilliant.This is a very well written movie.The comedy and the romance both work just great in this movie.Sabrina was made fifty years ago but that doesn't mean it wouldn't work today.Great romantic tales will always work.

Audrey Hepburn as a mousy chauffeur's daughter? Yes, and she's beguiling trying to gas herself in the garage (before quickly cracking a window) because gorgeous, rich playboy William Holden doesn't notice her. But it's nothing that a little time away in Paris won't cure... Hepburn is absolutely radiant in this picture: dark brows over big Bambi eyes, sensual, flirtatious lips, and that long, long neck. She embodies the spirit of the Cinderella heroine, and director Billy Wilder milks her gamine appeal for all the millions it is worth. Holden is blithe and lively, and Humphrey Bogart manages to make his stuffy unease rather charming. Clever, biting, romantic, sweet, this version of "Sabrina" has it all. ***1/2 from ****