Movie #105 His Girl Friday *1940*

His Girl Friday is a movie staring Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell as a divorced couple.  He the editor of a newspaper and her a former reporter for that paper.  At the start of the movie Russell (Hildy) informs Grant (Walter) that is planing to marry the sweet and simple insurance salesman Bruce, played by Ralph Bellamy.  Walter then puts all his resources to making sure that doesn't happen.  It is unclear if he still possess true feelings for her, or if in the cut-throat world of newspaper journalism, he doesn't want to loose his best writer.

This movie is written in a rapid paced vernacular that is often imitated but rarely duplicated.  The banter between Grant and Russell has no equal in my opinion.  It is zinger after zinger.  It's not just the pace of the speech either.  It is what is being said.  They reveal their true feeling for each other thought flirty side comments and almost hidden cue's.

Another reason this is a great film is the way it represents journalism, particularly in the 30's and 40's.  I mentioned before that it is cut-throat, that statement is not to be taken lightly.  You get a feeling that some of these reporters would literally sell their mothers for the scoop.  As a matter of fact Hildy allows her fiance to be incarcerated 3 times during the course of the movie as well as allowing her would be mother-in-law to be kidnapped.  All this for the story.  It reminded me a lot of what celebrities, athletes and politicians go through both professionally and personally.

This movie is directed by the great Howard Hawks.  It has a few visual flourishes, but for the most part Hawks stays out of the way and lets Grants charm, Grant and Russell's chemistry and a wonderful script do the talking for this movie.  I give His Girl Friday a 4.5/5 stars.  Check out the Trailer Park to see for yourself.