"His girl Friday" is a 1940 American screwball comedy film directed by Howard Hawks, starring Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell. The movie revolves around a newspaper editor who uses various tactics to prevent his ace reporter ex-wife from remarrying. Rosalind Russell's performance as the reporter Hildy Johnson is highlighted for its strength and humor, making her character stand out in the fast-paced newsroom setting. The film is known for its witty dialogue, fast-paced scenes, and the dynamic between Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell, making it a classic in the comedy genre.
Plot
In the film "His Girl Friday," the plot revolves around newspaper editor Walter Burns, played by Grant, who tries to convince his ex-wife and ace reporter, Hildy Johnson, portrayed by Rosalind Russell, to cover one last story involving a murderer named Earl Williams. Walter aims to prevent Hildy from remarrying and leaving her journalism career behind. Throughout the movie, set in one day, Walter employs various tactics to win Hildy back, including interfering with her plans to marry Bruce Baldwin. The story unfolds with a mix of witty dialogue, fast-paced scenes, and the dynamic relationship between Walter and Hildy.
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Cast
- Cary Grant as Walter Burns
- Rosalind Russell as Hildy Johnson
- Ralph Bellamy as Bruce Baldwin
- Gene Lockhart as Sheriff Hartwell
- Porter Hall as Murphy
Director: Howard Hawks
writer: Ben Hecht, Charles MacArthur, Charles Lederer
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
Genre: Comedy
Release Date (Theaters): Jan 11, 1940
Release Date (Streaming): Jul 30, 2014
Theme
Power of Journalism: The movie delves into the world of journalism, highlighting the competition among journalists to break the best stories. Hildy's dedication to getting the story and The Hustle of the newsroom environment are central themes.
Gender Dynamics: A significant theme in the film is gender, portraying a battle of the sexes within a lighthearted heterosexual romance. The character of Hildy challenges traditional gender roles by excelling in a male-dominated field while still embracing her femininity.
Love and Relationships: Beneath the fast-paced newsroom setting lies a love story between Walter and Hildy. Despite Walter's unconventional ways of showing affection, the film presents love as a meeting of equals and a compatibility of interests between the two characters.
Justice and Judgment: Initially concerned with justice in trying to prevent Earl Williams' execution, the film later shifts focus to the entertaining dynamic between Walter and Hildy, where justice becomes secondary to their relationship. Questions about morality, justice for Earl Williams, and whether ends justify means are subtly explored throughout the movie.
Myths of Femininity and Manliness: The film challenges traditional myths surrounding femininity, manliness, domesticity, and adventure. It presents a new perspective on gender roles, showcasing a strong-willed and talented woman reporter like Hildy Johnson who defies conventional expectations.
Reception
The reception of the film "His Girl Friday" has been mixed. While some viewers appreciate its fast-paced and witty dialogue, others have criticized aspects of the movie. One review on IMDb describes it as "loud, fast, and annoying," expressing disappointment in the characters' likability and the overwhelming pace of the film.
On the other hand, The Criterion Collection praises the movie as one of the fastest, funniest, and most quotable films ever made, highlighting Rosalind Russell's portrayal of Hildy Johnson as a standout among powerful women in cinema and Cary Grant's charismatic performance as Walter Burns.
Production Challenge
The production of the film "His Girl Friday" faced several challenges, including adapting the original play "The Front Page" into a successful film. One of the main challenges was transforming the male lead character from the play into a female character for the movie adaptation. This change required adjustments to the script and character dynamics to fit Rosalind Russell's portrayal of Hildy Johnson.
Additionally, the fast-paced dialogue and overlapping lines in the film posed a significant challenge during production. The actors had to deliver their lines quickly and precisely to maintain the comedic timing and energy of the scenes. This required extensive rehearsals and coordination to ensure that the dialogue-driven nature of the film was executed effectively.
Despite these challenges, the filmmakers successfully navigated the adaptation process and managed to create a classic comedy that is still celebrated for its sharp wit, dynamic performances, and unique take on gender roles in journalism and relationships.
Setting
The settings in the film "His Girl Friday" primarily revolve around a bustling newsroom environment where the characters, particularly Walter Burns and Hildy Johnson, navigate the fast-paced world of journalism. The newsroom serves as a backdrop for the witty banter, intense discussions, and competitive nature of the reporters as they chase stories and deadlines.
Additionally, key settings include locations like the courthouse, where much of the action surrounding Earl Williams' case unfolds, adding a layer of urgency and drama to the plot.
The contrast between the newsroom chaos and more formal settings like the courthouse creates a dynamic backdrop for the characters' interactions and the development of the storyline. These settings not only contribute to the film's comedic elements but also play a crucial role in highlighting themes of justice, morality, and the complexities of relationships within a high-pressure work environment.
Visual Styles & Techniques
Fast-Paced Dialogue: The movie is known for its rapid-fire dialogue and overlapping conversations, creating a sense of urgency and energy throughout the film. This technique adds to the comedic timing and dynamic between the characters.
Gender Dynamics: Through visual storytelling, the film challenges traditional gender roles by portraying Hildy Johnson as a strong-willed and talented woman reporter who defies societal expectations. This visual representation adds depth to the theme of femininity and manliness in the movie.
Production Design: The sets in "His Girl Friday," such as The Morning post office, newsroom, courthouse, and jailhouse, are meticulously designed to reflect a realistic portrayal of the environments where the characters interact. The attention to detail in the production design contributes to the authenticity of the settings.
Cinematography: The film utilizes classic Hollywood cinematography techniques, including shot-reverse shots, cross cuts, and point-of-view shots, to engage viewers and enhance the narrative flow. These techniques help maintain continuity and smooth transitions between scenes.
Costume Design: Special mention is made of Rosalind Russell's costume in the film, particularly her striped suit and cocked hat, which not only reflect the character's style but also add visual interest to her portrayal of Hildy Johnson.
Editing Techniques: "His Girl Friday" follows the conventions of invisible/continuity editing, ensuring seamless transitions between shots to maintain a smooth visual flow. The editing style contributes to the fast-paced nature of the film and helps build suspense and comedic timing.
Fun facts & trivia
Fast-Paced Dialogue: The film is known for its rapid-fire dialogue, with an estimated delivery rate of 240 words per minute, which is significantly faster than the normal rate of 90 words per minute in most films.
Ad-libbing and Cary Grant's Awareness: Rosalind Russell, who played Hildy Johnson, hired an advertisement writer to create more clever lines for her character. Cary Grant, who portrayed Walter Burns, was aware of her efforts and would ask her every morning, "What have you got today?".
Cary Grant's Birth Name: In one scene, Walter says, "The last man that said that to me was Archie Leach just a week before he cut his throat." Archie Leach was Cary Grant's birth name.
Inspiration for the Gender Change: The idea for changing the gender of the lead character from the original play "The Front Page" to a woman came from a dinner party conversation where Howard Hawks realized the dialogue sounded better with a female reader.
Adaptation from a Children's Story: The film's title, "His Girl Friday," is inspired by an 1867 children's story called "Will Crusoe and His Girl Friday," which features a boy and a girl planning to reenact Robinson Crusoe's tale.
Critical Acclaim: "His Girl Friday" is considered a classic screwball comedy, standing out among other films in the genre.
