Director: Howard Hawks
Stars: Cary Grant, Rosalind Russell, Ralph Bellamy
A newspaperman stops at nothing to get his wife back when he realizes that she’s planning to get married to a dull insurance salesman. While he’s in pursuit of her a murder happens, and they find themselves chasing the story.
I’m surprised it took me this long to watch His Girl Friday because I enjoyed it immensely. The repartee and quick-fire dialog between Grant and Russell is superb. The script is sharp and there are a good number of verbal and visual gags. The murder mystery adds some black comedy to the mix, along with some tragedy that, if I’m honest, does feel a little out of place. If you’re a cinephile then the outcome of the movie is never in doubt, but the route the film takes to get there is entertaining.
It’s fast paced, and there are some great one liners, and everything seems like it’s in perpetual motion. The film feels alive, and this is due to Hawks’ direction. It’s a classic Hollywood love triangle that is performed brilliantly.