Friday 2 July 2010

Sabrina

Classic (1954) Hollywood fluff, with Hepburn, Holden, and Bogie. And an enjoyable piece of fluff it is.
It is directed by Billy Wilder, but the direction really isn't all that interesting, just very much a straight telling of the story, with a few nice classic Hollywood images. The set designer really deserves more credit for the black and white aesthetic, which is beautiful.
Perhaps Wilder should take credit for the class theme, which is strong for a film of its time. It comes across on occasion as even rather acerbic, coruscating, on the class values of the time. Unexpectedly so. We have an analysis of pathetic bourgeois mediocrity, to an extent, though this isn't an utterly radical film (perhaps against Wilder's wishes?) as Bogart's firm is still portrayed as being the 'driver of happiness'.
For the acting; Holden isn't given much of a character, but is fun enough. Hepburn is beautiful, excellent, fascinating. One can't move one's gaze from her, and that isn't largely a comment about her appearance; she has wonderful physical presence, a terrifically engaged acting style. And then there is Bogart, who frankly seems to come from another planet. You have the feeling something utterly terrible has happened to him. He may be playing a straight romantic lead, but he could still massacre the entire cast at any moment. A great bit of counter casting. Credit also to the father role, which is deployed for some of the best comic moments.
This film isn't any great work of art, the fact that the plot is explained to us in case we're too thick, the laughable view of Paris, and the odd gender/kitchen politics all pin this down as a film that is an entertainment, above anything? And as entertainment, it succeeds wonderfully.
Not in the same league for smoothness and emotional depth as 'Roman Holiday', but a fun, effortless, attractive picture from Hollyowood's late Golden age.

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