Sabrina

"Don't reach for the moon, child"

Billy Wilder would have to go down as one of the great comedy directors in Hollywood history, his films are funny (as all comedies aspire to be) but also pass comment on society by controversially treating some fairly heavy subjects with a lighter touch. Sabrina might not be up there with his emotionally darker films like Stalag 17, Lost Weekend or The Apartment, but there are undercurrents of classism that form the building blocks of this classic romantic comedy that give it some real substance. By focusing on industrial deal-making and dynastic businesses on Long Island, Sabrina finds an American equivalent to the old aristocracies of Europe, and their doting servants become the peasantry underneath them. Wilder uses this paradigm to create a modern fairytale out of a standard love triangle.

Sabrina (Audrey Hepburn) is the daughter of a chauffeur who works for the Larrabee family. She pines for David (William Holden), the younger Larrabee brother, but he lives in a different world to her. After a botched suicide attempt, Sabrina leaves for a Parisian cooking school (her intended initiation into the servant class), where she transforms from childish waif to sophisticated lady. Upon her return she catches David's eye, which causes complications for his family, and so his older brother Linus (Humphrey Bogart) steps in to occupy the naive Sabrina while a business deal goes through.

As is usual with this sort of story (since the days of Pride and Prejudice) there's a sharp contrast between both male leads... David is an irresponsible playboy-type, a ladies man, and an absolute cad, whereas Linus is a serious and sensible businessman - a real bean counter. When I watched this film I found that all the focus was on Sabrina and David, and I was left wanting... why was Bogey in this supporting role? And then Wilder throws a curveball and gives us an unlikely love interest like the memorable romantic leads from Pride and Prejudice or Beauty and the Beast. There's a deliberate fairytale quality to it all, with the opening godmother-like narration and shots of servants egging Sabrina on from behind hedges at a dinner party. Sabrina's transformation from ugly duckling to stunning debutante (complete with ballroom gown) is pure fairytale as well. Wilder doesn't muddle his messages by being subtle either, when Sabrina is in France we know it's in France because the teacher has a French moustache and there's a view of the Eiffel Tower through the window! Good work Billy.

There's some stuff in there about the line between classes, and the respect these classes show each other by not crossing that line, and Hepburn is delightful in her role, getting to display a rather effective talent for comic timing. Anyway, this is one of the romantic classics of the '50s, a beautifully made film by an expert at dramatically-meaningful comedy, and just a whole lot of fun.

DIRECTOR: Billy Wilder
WRITER/SOURCE: Billy Wilder, Samuel A. Taylor and Ernest Lehman. Based on a play by Samuel A. Taylor
KEY ACTORS: Audrey Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart, William Holden, Walter Hampden, John Williams, Martha Hyer, Nella Walker, Ellen Corby

RELATED TEXTS
- The play Sabrina Fair by Samuel A. Taylor.
- Remade in the '90s as Sabrina, with Julia Ormand in the lead role. Harrison Ford took the Bogart role, and Alec Baldwin stepped into Holden's shoes.
- There is also a Hindi remake of the film called Yeh Dillagi.
- Some of Billy Wilder's other romantic comedies: Avanti!, The Apartment, Kiss Me Stupid, Love in the Afternoon and The Seven Year Itch.

AWARDS
Academy Awards - won Best Costume Design. Nominated for Best Actress (Audrey Hepburn), Best Director, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography and Best Screenplay.
BAFTAs - nominated Best British Actress (Hepburn).
Golden Globes - won Best Screenplay.