Sabrina (1954)
A romantic tale of transformation, sprinkled with humor and unforgettable scenes...
Get ready to dive into the world of Sabrina, a delightful romantic comedy directed by the legendary Billy Wilder. Released way back in 1954, this flick stars the ever-charming Audrey Hepburn, alongside Humphrey Bogart and William Holden. It's a sweet tale that mixes love, identity, and social class in the most captivating way.
So, here's the scoop: Sabrina Fairchild (Audrey Hepburn) is the daughter of the Larrabee family's chauffeur (John Williams). She's totally head-over-heels for David Larrabee (William Holden), the younger brother who’s all about living the playboy life. After completing 2 years of culinary studies in Paris, Sabrina comes back home, looking drop-dead gorgeous and super sophisticated. David finds himself enchanted by Sabrina's allure and can't help but gaze at her. Despite this, he is engaged to Elizabeth Tyson (Martha Hyer), the daughter of the well-known owner of Tyson Enterprises. Can David successfully manage this unforeseen twist in his romantic life?
Linus Larrabee, portrayed by Humphrey Bogart, is the serious older brother who always puts business before fun. Worried that family drama might mess up their business empire and a big merger with Tyson Enterprises, Linus steps in. But guess what? Things take an unexpected turn when he starts falling for Sabrina.
Linus hatches a cheeky plan to trick Sabrina by pretending he's joining her on an ocean liner trip back to Paris, but in reality, he plans to stay behind. His goal is to keep her away from David, the family, and the merger. But after spending lots of time with Sabrina, Linus finds himself falling in love with her. When Linus spills the beans to Sabrina about not going with her to Paris, she feels a pang of hurt but gets it and decides to embark on her solo adventure, minus his cash and temptations.
The following morning, Linus makes a daring decision to send David to Paris with Sabrina, disrupting both David's wedding and an important business deal. However, David ultimately chooses Elizabeth, prompting Linus to admit his feelings for Sabrina. With emotions running high, David assists Linus in catching up with Sabrina just as her ship is about to depart. Linus finds Sabrina on board, and they set off on a thrilling journey to Paris together. Don’t you just love those perfect endings?
Sabrina is a gem that combines stellar performances, expert direction, and a captivating story. With Audrey Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart, and William Holden bringing their A-game, this movie is both enchanting and thought-provoking. Billy Wilder’s direction and the beautiful cinematography elevate the tale even more, making Sabrina a timeless story of love and change. For classic movie lovers, this one is a must-see that’ll leave a lasting impression.
Cast:
Humphrey Bogart as Linus Larrabee
Audrey Hepburn as Sabrina Fairchild
William Holden as David Larrabee
Walter Hampden as Oliver Larrabee, Linus and David's father
John Williams as Thomas Fairchild, Sabrina's father
Martha Hyer as Elizabeth Tyson, David's fiancée
Joan Vohs as Gretchen Van Horn
Marcel Dalio as Baron St. Fontanel
Marcel Hillaire as The Professor, Sabrina's culinary instructor
Nella Walker as Maude Larrabee, Linus and David's mother
Francis X. Bushman as Mr. Tyson, Elizabeth's father
Ellen Corby as Miss McCardle, Linus's secretary
Notes of Interest:
The working title of this film was Sabrina Fair.
According to a November 1953 Variety item, Paramount considered changing the film's title to The Chauffeur's Daughter.
Sabrina marked Humphrey Bogart's first film for Paramount, and the last Paramount picture for Wilder, who had made seventeen films at the studio over an eighteen-year period.
Edith Head won an Academy Award for Best Costume Design. In addition to Head's Oscar, Sabrina was nominated for the following Academy Awards: Best Actress, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography (b&w), Best Writing (Screenplay) and Best Director.
Wilder, Taylor and Lehman won the 1954 Writers Guild award for "Best Written American Comedy."
In 1995, Paramount released Sabrina, an updated version of the 1954 film, starring Harrison Ford, Julia Ormond and Greg Kinnear. Directed by Sydney Pollack.
Voted One of the Year's Ten Best Films by the 1954 New York Times Film Critics.
(Notes of Interest courtesy of TCM)
Enjoy!
…Jill
The Forks Part…
Inspired by a charming cooking school scene in Sabrina, here’s a delightful Dutch Baby recipe for you. This recipe is from a family friend who I’ve known since 1971. It is fondly called “John’s Pancakes”. I assume we’ve always referenced it by that name because that’s what John called it even though it looks and tastes nothing like a pancake! It is, however, delicious and easy to make. Enjoy this treat while watching the film—it’s a match made in heaven! Trust me, you'll absolutely love it!
Dutch Baby (aka John’s Pancakes)
What You Need:
2 eggs, large
½ cup milk
½ cup sifted all-purpose flour
1 pinch ground nutmeg
1 pinch salt
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar to dust on top
What To Do:
Place a 10-inch cast iron skillet in the oven and preheat the oven to 475 degrees F (245 degrees C).
Whisk the eggs in a bowl until light. Whisk in the milk and then gradually whisk in flour, nutmeg, and salt.
Remove the skillet from the oven and reduce the heat to 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Place the butter in the hot skillet and swirl to melt over the bottom and sides.
Pour the batter in and return the skillet to the oven.
Bake about 12 minutes, until puffy and lightly browned. Remove from the oven and sift confectioners' sugar over the top.
Serve with raspberries, blueberries, whipped cream, or warm maple syrup. It's delicious in any way!
One of my mother’s and mine favorite movies. Audrey was such a delight. Favorite scene: when she arrives at the party and stands there looking glorious in her white de Givenchy gown “with yards of skirt.”