Sabrina

Composite Score: 84

Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn, William Holden, Walter Hampden, John Williams, Martha Hyer, Joan Vohs, and Marcel Dalio

Director: Billy Wilder

Writers: Billy Wilder, Samuel A. Taylor, and Ernest Lehman

Genres: Comedy, Drama, Romance

MPAA Rating: Passed

Box Office: $4.00 million worldwide

Why should you Watch This Film?

                Sabrina is the 1954 film adaptation of Samuel A. Taylor’s play Sabrina Fair, cowritten by Taylor, director Billy Wilder, and Ernest Lehman. The film follows the story of Sabrina Fairchild (Audrey Hepburn) and her intertwined life with the Larrabee family for whom her father works as a chauffeur. The love triangle that forms between she and the Larrabee brothers – Linus (Humphrey Bogart) and David (William Holden) – forms the basis for the film’s romantic comedy aspects. The film is a classic romantic comedy that stands the test of time thanks to its many styles of humor, focus on classism in America, and performance from Hepburn, which was nominated for an Oscar alongside its adapted screenplay, director, cinematography, art direction, and costume design (which it won).

Why shouldn’t you Watch This Film?

                Sabrina is one of those films that relies fairly heavily on gaslighting its leading lady to create a satisfying romantic tale (in the same vein as 10 Things I Hate About You or You’ve Got Mail). I don’t want to go so far as to say that these types of romantic comedies are bad, in fact I love Sabrina and the other two films I just mentioned quite a bit; it’s more that the morality and practice that lies at their heart is not the best way to treat women in general. Yes, things work out in the end, but that doesn’t mean that simply telling the truth from the start would not have been better. I will say, in favor of Sabrina, that the film does a good job of giving her agency outside of the deception, allowing her to choose whether to stay or go and which man to fall in love with even as she is being lied to about the rest of reality. The other piece that helps Sabrina is the fact that the lie is more the implication that Linus is falling in love with Sabrina, which does end up happening by the time it’s all said and done. It’s messier than some people probably like their romantic comedies, but it’s also not the worst instance of gaslit romances in film history.

So wait, why should you Watch This Film?

                The love triangle at Sabrina’s heart helps make it such a success. Hepburn, Bogart, and Holden each do their part to make the story stand out as original and memorable. Holden works so well as the sleazy David, jumping from woman to woman with the practiced air of the younger son of a wealthy family who knows how attractive his money makes him, particularly when he’s got just enough charm and looks to be above average to begin with. He’s the believable crush that soon becomes laughable when his flaws are brought into the light, and Holden plays him with just enough self-awareness that you can’t totally loathe him. Bogart plays Linus as the polar opposite of David, and it works to perfection – endearing the character to the audience even as he endears himself to Sabrina. Bogart’s performance allows the triangle to never really feel like a competition, rather more like Sabrina discovering that the idealized version of David that she had created in her mind actually existed already in his older, less attractive brother. Finally, Hepburn’s portrayal of the titular heroine is powerful, exuding flirtation and growing confidence throughout the film. Her love for both men is passionate once ignited, and she manages to portray it admirably, in a manner deserving of her Oscar nomination.

                The characters of David, Linus, and Sabrina, and their romantic love triangle as portrayed skillfully by Holden, Bogart, and Hepburn have turned Sabrina from a classic rom-com into a true all-time great, worthy of its place on this blog. The gaslighting of Sabrina that turns to romance is a frustrating trope that still manages to work, thanks to some increased agency for the leading lady, and shouldn’t turn off too many audience members who come to watch it. It is currently available to stream via Paramount+ or to rent on most other streaming platforms.