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Sabrina
1954 Comedy / Romance
 Review
Whilst it may fall short of Billy Wilder’s usual standard of
excellence, Sabrina is an
engaging reworking of the Cinderella story which is enlivened by some
witty dialogue and the sparkling performances of its three lead
actors. Who but Wilder could get away with the obvious miscasting
of Humphrey Bogart as the lead in a romantic comedy? Bogart
himself felt he was miscast and reportedly had a very poor working
relationship with Wilder, his animosity no doubt fuelled by the fact
that he was hired only after Cary Grant turned the part down.
Despite this, Bogart not only delivers another superlative performance
but also shows a surprising flair for comedy, albeit of the dead pan
variety. Audrey Hepburn is as gorgeous as ever, perfectly cast in the role for which she is best remembered, the dewy-eyed gamine who appears always to have her head in the clouds and her heart in the palms of Eros (or his mischievous twin brother). William Holden is perhaps a little too long in the tooth for the part of the juvenile playboy but, like his co-stars, he puts in a more than adequate turn that helps elevate a so-so adaptation of a mediocre play to the level of a minor classic. The result is an enjoyable, albeit pretty shallow, viewing experience, memorable for Holden’s very close encounter with two champagne glasses and Hepburn’s aching rendition of the Edith Piaf number La vie en rose. Write a review for this film... User Comments
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Director:
Billy Wilder
Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn, William Holden, Walter Hampden, John Williams Synopsis
Sabrina Fairchild is in love with David Larrabee, but he, the heir to a
business empire, doesn’t notice her because she is merely the daughter
of his family’s chauffeur. After a failed suicide attempt,
Sabrina is sent to Paris to learn cookery. She returns to her
Long Island home a changed woman, more assertive, self-confident and
determined to get her man. Unfortunately, David is now engaged to
the daughter of another business tycoon, as part of a stratagem devised
by his older brother, Linus, to smooth the way for a merger with
another company. Realising that Sabrina threatens his
schemes by pursuing David, Linus decides to distract her by courting
her himself...
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