Plot: What’s it about?
Walter Burns (Cary Grant) and Hildy Johnson (Rosalind Russell) used to be married, but now they’ve been divorced although she still works at his newspaper office. She is a reporter and a terrific writer and he knows her skills are worth keeping, especially since he still has some feelings for her. But the two argue, fuss, and fight all the time, which makes it hard for him to push out his feelings and see what happens. But when she informs him she has gotten engaged and is leaving his paper, he knows the time has arrived to make his move. So he tries to stall her into writing on last major story for him, as he makes plans to undermine her new beau, insurance agent Bruce Baldwin (Ralph Bellamy). Burns tries all the tricks he has up his sleeves to win her back, but it seems like his web of trouble has begun to spin out of control. Can he manage to retain her services on the paper and in his heart, or will he lose her to this stuffy insurance fellow?
This film is available on more than one label, so I wanted to make sure you readers know this the Columbia/Tristar release of the title. This is in all respects (audio/video/extras) a superior disc, but it does have a little steeper price tag. But trust me on this one, the extra cash is more than worthwhile, as this is a terrific disc for a real comedy classic. This is a film made in 1940 and while older films have a reputation of being slow, this one is as far from that as you can be. The writing is excellent and the actors read their lines a mile a minute, with dead on accuracy and attention to detail. I think the dialogue is among some of the best from film ever and with such a fast paced film like this one, that is a real compliment. This has a quick pace, so I doubt anyone will be bored and the jokes are so sharp, you can’t help but laugh from start to finish. I love the characters in this movie and their mannerisms, so I am pleased such gifted performers (Cary Grant, Rosalind Russell, Ralph Bellamy) were cast to bring them to life. This is a highly recommended film and if you’re a comedy or classic film fan, His Girl Friday is a must see to be sure.
At the helm of His Girl Friday is Howard Hawks, who knew how to make a fast paced, high energy comedy and make it stick. That is more than evident by perusing his resume, but he was also able to master several other genres of film, establishing himself as a skilled director in all respects. In this movie, Hawks and his gifted crew conjure up some hilarious visuals and gags, all while taking on topics not suited best for comedy. I happen to think violent edged slapstick is terrific, but even if you don’t, I promise you that this film will have its moments for you. I recommend you check out other Hawks films also, such as Bringing Up Baby, Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, The Big Sleep, Rio Bravo, I Was A Male War Bride, and El Dorado. This movie centers on the characters of Cary Grant (North By Northwest, Notorious) and Rosalind Russell (Man-Proof, Picnic), both of whom are in fine form and shine within their roles. The dialogue exchanges between the two are incredible at times and their chemistry is outstanding, helping to make this film a true classic. The cast also includes Porter Hall (Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, Going My Way), Ralph Bellamy (The Wolf Man, Rosemary’s Baby), Helen Mack (The Lemon Drop Kid), and Gene Lockhart (A Scandal In Paris).
Video: How does it look?
His Girl Friday is presented in a full frame transfer, which preserves the film’s intended aspect ratio. The image for this release was taken from a print restored from the original negative and man, does it ever show. This is a sparkling visual presentation and I can only hope this level is matched with more Columbia Classics discs. I saw minimal print wear, damage, or specks and I also found no compression flaws, which is impressive to say the least. The black & white image is clean and sharp at all times, while black levels are stark and well balanced. This is how all classic films should look, no complaints at all, given the source materials.
Audio: How does it sound?
The original mono track is used and while it has no bells & whistles, the basics are present and in fine form. The audio has no traces of age related problems I could hear and though mono is limited, the range was quite good given those limits. The music sounds clean and bold, with no distortion and the sound effects come across well also here. The main focus is the dialogue however, which sounds clean and crisp throughout the film, no problems in the least to report. This might not be an explosive mix, but given the age and nature of the movie, this is an impressive offering. You can also find a Spanish language track and subtitles in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Chinese, Korean, and Thai.
Supplements: What are the extras?
The Columbia Classics line is not always known for superb supplemental content, but it seems like they’re headed in the right direction, as this disc has a wealth of bonus materials. You can view some vintage advertising materials such as posters and lobby cards, browse some talent files, or watch the film’s theatrical trailer, but there is also more to be seen on this disc. A nice selection of featurettes has also been included and these cover Cary Grant, Rosalind Russell, Howard Hawks, and the background of this film. These might be brief, but as a whole, they offer a nice glimpse into the forces behind His Girl Friday. The final supplement is an audio commentary track with film critic Todd McCarthy, who offers his thoughts and insight on this movie. McCarthy isn’t very charismatic with his words, but he does offer a lot of information on this movie, which is what counts. I am pleased with this array of extras and I hope future titles in the Columbia Classics are given this much attention.
