Sabrina – 1954 – Romance, Comedy, Drama
Directed by: Billy Wilder
Written by: Billy Wilder; Samuel A. Taylor; Ernest Lehman
Main Players: Audrey Hepburn; Humphrey Bogart; William Holden; Walter Hampden; John Williams; Martha Hyer
Once upon a time on the north shore of long island, there lived a small girl on a very large estate, full of servants including everything from gardeners to boatmen. A whole outdoor tennis court and swimming pool were matched by indoor versions, and the rich family who lived there wanted for nothing. This young girl, Sabrina Fairchild (Hepburn), was living a good life, but she was the chauffeur's daughter, and despite a spot on the estate she was not part of the owning Larrabee family.
The Larrabees were all about pleasant life and heaps of money. Sabrina watched their fancy dinner dance events from a tree in the garden, dreaming of an even better life. She tried to quell her crush on total shithead David Larrabee (Holden), while her father Thomas (Williams) would bring her back to Earth. Sabrina couldn’t help but feel like a nobody, as dipshit David flirted with rich girl after rich girl, overlooking her entirely while focusing on finding his fourth wife.
Sabrina was to leave the next day for La Cordon Bleu, the best cooking school in the world, but this girl could not help but lament David and his many girls. Her spirit was crushed, and she became depressed. Maybe a quick suicide in the garage would solve her problems? As Linus Larrabee (Bogart) saved her from this fate, she headed to Paris after all. So, what will happen when she returns back to this setting two years later, sophisticated and older, and the Larrabee boys begin to notice her?
Sabrina features a great cast, and some strong Billy Wilder dialogue and direction. While it is serious at times, mostly it is fun. The romance is strong, but so are the societal and human behavior observations. The characters are all fun to watch, and the classic sense of life presented creates a good atmosphere.
A bit of an unconventional romance, Sabrina is a solid time. Watching the stars shine in their roles is worth the price of admission, and the only legitimate question is who could ever overlook Audrey Hepburn?!
"No, father, the moon’s reaching for me!"
See This If You Liked:
Sabrina (1995); Roman Holiday (1953); Breakfast at Tiffany’s; Love in the Afternoon (1957); The Lady Eve; Charade (1963); How to Steal a Million; The Seven Year Itch; Before Sunrise; The Apartment (1960); Garden State
Score:
8.0