Sabrina (1954 film)
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| Sabrina | |
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 DVD cover |
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| Directed by | Billy Wilder |
| Produced by | Billy Wilder |
| Written by | Samuel Taylor (play Sabrina Fair) Billy Wilder Ernest Lehman |
| Starring | Humphrey Bogart Audrey Hepburn William Holden |
| Music by | Frederick Hollander |
| Cinematography | Charles Lang |
| Distributed by | Paramount Pictures |
| Release date(s) | September 9, 1954 London premiere |
| Running time | 113 min |
| Language | English |
| IMDb profile | |
Sabrina is a 1954 film directed by Billy Wilder, adapted for the screen by Wilder, Samuel Taylor, and Ernest Lehman from Taylor's play Sabrina Fair (in the UK, the movie has the title Sabrina Fair). It stars Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn, and William Holden.
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[edit] Synopsis
Sabrina Fairchild (Hepburn) is the young daughter of the Larrabee family's chauffeur, Thomas (John Williams), and has been in love with David Larrabee (Holden) all her life. David is an oft-married, idle playboy, crazy for women, who has never noticed Sabrina. After Sabrina attends a culinary school in Paris, she returns a very attractive and sophisticated woman, and David is quickly drawn to her. David's workaholic older brother Linus (Bogart) sees this and fears that David's imminent wedding with a very rich woman may be endangered. If the wedding were to be canceled, so would a great corporate deal with the bride's family. So Linus tries to redirect Sabrina's affections to himself and in the process, falls in love with her.
[edit] "La vie en rose"
In this film Hepburn sings "La vie en rose" (French for "life through rose-coloured glasses"), the signature song of French singer Édith Piaf - which had been highly popular in the English-speaking world as well as in France, since Piaf came out with it in 1946. The occasion for Hepburn to sing it is at the episode of Sabrina's return from Paris, when she is far more assertive than before setting out, and her life does turn more rosy.
[edit] Behind the scenes
Cary Grant was initially considered for the role of Linus but passed due to scheduling conflicts, and the role was taken by Bogart.
During production of the film, Hepburn and Holden entered into a brief but passionate, and much-publicized, love affair. Bogart, meanwhile, complained that Hepburn required too many takes to get her dialogue right and pointed out her inexperience. However, his behavior towards Hepburn was better than his behavior towards other members of the cast and crew.
Although Edith Head won an Oscar for Best Costumes, most of Hepburn's outfits were in fact created by Hubert de Givenchy and chosen by the star herself. Edith Head refused to be shown alongside Givenchy in the credits, so she was given credit for the costumes, although the Academy's votes were obviously for Hepburn's attire. Edith Head did not refuse the Oscar, however. The film began a life-long association between Givenchy and Hepburn.
[edit] Awards and Recognition
Sabrina was nominated for six Academy Awards. In 2002 the United States Library of Congress deemed this version of the film "culturally significant" and selected it for preservation in the National Film Registry.
[edit] Academy Awards - 1954
Wins:
Nominations:
- Best Director - Billy Wilder
- Best Actress - Audrey Hepburn
- Best Art Direction (Black-and-White) - (Art Direction) Hal Pereira and Walter Tyler; (Set Decoration) Sam Comer and Ray Moyer
- Best Cinematography (Black-and-White) - Charles Lang, Jr.
[edit] Remake
In 1995, a remake of Sabrina was produced, starring Harrison Ford, Julia Ormond and Greg Kinnear in the roles originally played by Bogart, Hepburn and Holden, respectively.
[edit] External links
- Sabrina at the Internet Movie Database
Feature films: Dutch in Seven Lessons (1948) • Laughter in Paradise (1951) • Young Wives' Tale (1951) • One Wild Oat (1951) • The Lavender Hill Mob (1951) • Monte Carlo Baby (1951) • We Will All Go to Monte Carlo (1952) • The Secret People (1952) • Roman Holiday (1953) • Sabrina (1954) • War and Peace (1956) • Funny Face (1957) • Love in the Afternoon (1957) • Green Mansions (1959) • The Nun's Story (1959) • The Unforgiven (1960) • Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961) • The Children's Hour (1961) • Charade (1963) • Paris, When It Sizzles (1964) • My Fair Lady (1964) • How to Steal a Million (1966) • Two For The Road (1967) • Wait Until Dark (1967) • Robin and Marian (1976) • Bloodline (1979) • They All Laughed (1981) • Always (1989) (cameo)
Television: Mayerling (1957) • Love Among Thieves (1987) • Gardens of the World with Audrey Hepburn (1993)
