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Sabrina (1954)
Billy Wilder puts his own stylish touch on the well worn cinematic premise of a romantic triangle in the 1954 classic Sabrina.
The setting is the Larrabee Estate on Long Island where we meet Sabrina (Audrey Hepburn) the daughter of the family chauffeur (John Williams) who has had a crush on younger Larrabee brother David (William Holden) forever, a thrice married playboy who doesn't know Sabrina is alive. Sabrina actually half-heartedly tries to commit suicide but is stopped by David's older brother, Linus (Humphrey Bogart). To help her get over David, her father sends her to school in Paris for two years.
Sabrina returns to the Larrabee estate a more mature and glamorous woman who David falls for instantly, despite being engaged to the wealthy daughter of a business associate (Martha Hyer). When David gets sidelined, Linus begins dating Sabrina as a ruse to save an important business merger but, as expected, the lines between business and romance begin to blur.
As director and co-screenwriter, Billy Wilder has taken the romantic triangle to a sophisticated level we don't see coming because all the feelings that come out of this triangle are or become genuine. Sabrina definitely cares for David who definitely cares for Sabrina who finds herself caring about Linus who finds himself caring about Sabrina. Usually in a story like this, one part of the triangle is pretty much out in the cold but in this story Sabrina does care about both of these brothers, despite the fact that one of the brothers is much older than Sabrina.
Wilder's casting instincts are also on the money here, casting three actors at the top of their game. Audrey Hepburn received an Oscar nomination for her accustomed enchanting performance in the title role and William Holden is completely winning as young David. Humphrey Bogart works very hard to be a convincing romantic lead, but comedy was never Bogey's thing and there are times where he just doesn't seem to know what he's doing, but he does seem to understand Linus and that's something. Williams is lovely as Sabrina's father and I also loved Walter Hampden as Linus and David's father.
The movie features first rate production values including lush black and white photography and marvelous set direction. The Larrabee estate and Linus' office are classic yet contemporary and Edith Head's costumes for Hepburn won her an Oscar for black and white costume design. Anyway you slice it, a classic. The film was remade in 1995 with Julia Ormond in the title role.
Billy Wilder puts his own stylish touch on the well worn cinematic premise of a romantic triangle in the 1954 classic Sabrina.
The setting is the Larrabee Estate on Long Island where we meet Sabrina (Audrey Hepburn) the daughter of the family chauffeur (John Williams) who has had a crush on younger Larrabee brother David (William Holden) forever, a thrice married playboy who doesn't know Sabrina is alive. Sabrina actually half-heartedly tries to commit suicide but is stopped by David's older brother, Linus (Humphrey Bogart). To help her get over David, her father sends her to school in Paris for two years.
Sabrina returns to the Larrabee estate a more mature and glamorous woman who David falls for instantly, despite being engaged to the wealthy daughter of a business associate (Martha Hyer). When David gets sidelined, Linus begins dating Sabrina as a ruse to save an important business merger but, as expected, the lines between business and romance begin to blur.
As director and co-screenwriter, Billy Wilder has taken the romantic triangle to a sophisticated level we don't see coming because all the feelings that come out of this triangle are or become genuine. Sabrina definitely cares for David who definitely cares for Sabrina who finds herself caring about Linus who finds himself caring about Sabrina. Usually in a story like this, one part of the triangle is pretty much out in the cold but in this story Sabrina does care about both of these brothers, despite the fact that one of the brothers is much older than Sabrina.
Wilder's casting instincts are also on the money here, casting three actors at the top of their game. Audrey Hepburn received an Oscar nomination for her accustomed enchanting performance in the title role and William Holden is completely winning as young David. Humphrey Bogart works very hard to be a convincing romantic lead, but comedy was never Bogey's thing and there are times where he just doesn't seem to know what he's doing, but he does seem to understand Linus and that's something. Williams is lovely as Sabrina's father and I also loved Walter Hampden as Linus and David's father.
The movie features first rate production values including lush black and white photography and marvelous set direction. The Larrabee estate and Linus' office are classic yet contemporary and Edith Head's costumes for Hepburn won her an Oscar for black and white costume design. Anyway you slice it, a classic. The film was remade in 1995 with Julia Ormond in the title role.