Sabrina (A- or 3.5/4 stars)
Based on a play, 'Sabrina' (directed & co-written by the great Billy Wilder) tells a modern-day fairy tale; the transformation of a shy, naive girl into a stylish, sophisticated young woman who wins the heart of 2 millionaire brothers. The 1st brother of note is David Larrabee (William Holden), a cheerful, if irresponsible playboy who has already been married 3 times. Sabrina Fairchild (Audrey Hepburn), the family chauffeur's daughter, is hopelessly in love with charming, blonde David, but he barely acknowledges her existence; chasing after socialites instead. Then there is the older Larrabee brother, Linus (Humphrey Bogart), an austere tycoon who is completely devoted to the family's multi-million dollar business. He has no personal life whatsoever & spends his entire days at the office.
After a botched suicide attempt by Sabrina {yes, you just read that}, and in an effort to expand his daughter's perspectives, her father, the Larrabees's chauffeur (John Williams), sends her away to Paris for 2 years. While there, she blossoms as a cultured princess would be, but never lets go of her crush on David. When she returns to the Larrabee Estate in Glen Cove, Long Island, David is stunned by her transformation & puts his engagement to a wealthy heiress (Martha Hyer) on the backburner. Linus, however, who orchestrated David's soon-to-be-marriage for business reasons, is hell bent on not seeing his $20 million deal evaporate. And so, in an act of desperation, Linus works hard to woo Sabrina away from David. Romantic entanglements occur when, of course, Linus falls for her, as well.
Despite some rumors of on-the-set problems, the chemistry btwn. the 3 leads works beautifully. Fresh from her Oscar win in Roman Holiday, Audrey Hepburn is absolutely radiant in the titular role (and not as mannered as I found her to be in some of her later films). William Holden, fresh from his own Oscar-win in Stalag 17, is great as the fun-loving playboy, object of lust, & foil who unwittingly brings Linus & Sabrina together. And Humphrey Bogart plays very well against type as a romantic/comedic lead. You know, while the pairing of Hepburn & Bogart might seem unlikely, they ultimately make for a very realistic & pleasant couple. Linus internalizes his love for Sabrina. Through Bogart's astute acting skills, you can tell that Linus has a hard time admitting that love ... even to himself.
'Sabrina' was nominated for 6 Academy Awards. It made many critics' Top 10 lists. And it was a box office success. I'm not surprised by any of this. Sure, the script is a tad lightweight, frothy, & undemanding. But guess what ... that doesn't matter when it's executed as exceedingly well as it is. I really enjoyed this movie. And movies are meant, in most cases, for enjoyment. 'Sabrina' is a great representation of Hollywood in its glory years. It's the kind of atmospheric film that's perfectly suited for romantic black-&-white cinematography. The sets, locales, costumes (by Edith Head, of course), sweeping music, & overall goodwill of the story go a long way, as well. I was even cognizant of a smile that came across my face as "The End" came across the screen; it's just THAT type of movie.
After a botched suicide attempt by Sabrina {yes, you just read that}, and in an effort to expand his daughter's perspectives, her father, the Larrabees's chauffeur (John Williams), sends her away to Paris for 2 years. While there, she blossoms as a cultured princess would be, but never lets go of her crush on David. When she returns to the Larrabee Estate in Glen Cove, Long Island, David is stunned by her transformation & puts his engagement to a wealthy heiress (Martha Hyer) on the backburner. Linus, however, who orchestrated David's soon-to-be-marriage for business reasons, is hell bent on not seeing his $20 million deal evaporate. And so, in an act of desperation, Linus works hard to woo Sabrina away from David. Romantic entanglements occur when, of course, Linus falls for her, as well.
Despite some rumors of on-the-set problems, the chemistry btwn. the 3 leads works beautifully. Fresh from her Oscar win in Roman Holiday, Audrey Hepburn is absolutely radiant in the titular role (and not as mannered as I found her to be in some of her later films). William Holden, fresh from his own Oscar-win in Stalag 17, is great as the fun-loving playboy, object of lust, & foil who unwittingly brings Linus & Sabrina together. And Humphrey Bogart plays very well against type as a romantic/comedic lead. You know, while the pairing of Hepburn & Bogart might seem unlikely, they ultimately make for a very realistic & pleasant couple. Linus internalizes his love for Sabrina. Through Bogart's astute acting skills, you can tell that Linus has a hard time admitting that love ... even to himself.
'Sabrina' was nominated for 6 Academy Awards. It made many critics' Top 10 lists. And it was a box office success. I'm not surprised by any of this. Sure, the script is a tad lightweight, frothy, & undemanding. But guess what ... that doesn't matter when it's executed as exceedingly well as it is. I really enjoyed this movie. And movies are meant, in most cases, for enjoyment. 'Sabrina' is a great representation of Hollywood in its glory years. It's the kind of atmospheric film that's perfectly suited for romantic black-&-white cinematography. The sets, locales, costumes (by Edith Head, of course), sweeping music, & overall goodwill of the story go a long way, as well. I was even cognizant of a smile that came across my face as "The End" came across the screen; it's just THAT type of movie.