Movie Marathon: The '50s

Sabrina (1954) and Funny Face (1957), both starring Audrey Hepburn.

Sabrina directed by Billy Wilder, released in 1954. Stars Audrey Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart and William Holden. I love this movie! It is romantic in the best sense of the word. I love when Audrey Hepburn sings "La Vie En Rose".

The songs featured could stand for the three characters: Sabrina is "La Vie En Rose," moody and low, delicate. David is "Isn't It Romantic?" boldly wooing, broad, with gusto. Linus is partly "Yes, We Have No Bananas," because on the surface he is old-fashioned and slightly ridiculous, a tune that gets under Sabrina's skin, when she sings it to herself at the end of the boat outing with Linus. The melody is also reincarnated in parts of the score towards the end of the film. My only complaint is that I never entirely find Humphrey Bogart a convincing lover for Audrey Hepburn, but he is so easy to watch and identify with that I never mind much.

Favorite quotes:

Sabrina- Once upon a time on the north shore of Long Island, some fifty miles from New York, there lived a small girl on a large estate.

Sabrina- I have learnt how to live... How to be in the world and of the world, and not just to stand aside and watch. And i will never, never again run away from life. Or from love, either.

Thomas Fairchild- He's still David Larrabee, and you're still the chauffeur's daughter. And you're still reaching for the moon.
Sabrina- No Father. The moon is reaching for me.

Oliver Larrabee- All columnists should be beaten to a pulp and converted back into paper.


Funny Face directed by Stanley Donen, starring Audrey Hepburn and Fred Astaire. A classic musical. Songs: Think Pink; How Long Has This Been Going On?; Bonjour, Paris!; Let's Kiss and Make Up; He Loves and She Loves; On How to Be Lovely; Clap Yo' Hands; 'S Wonderful.

A fun little musical, light fare, perhaps. Audrey, of course, is wonderful, and has a nice little voice. There is a slight ick-factor in the romance between her and Fred Astaire, considering Astaire is quite a bit older than her, but if you can get past that, the rest of the movie is a delight. Audrey is a good, albeit quirky dancer, and also has a lovely voice. My favorite song is either "How Long Has This Been Going On," which features her solo, or "Bonjour, Paris" featuring all three main characters.

Dick Avery- You are mad, aren't you?
Jo Stockton- I'm not mad. I'm hurt and disappointed, and. . . and mad.

Jo- Isn't it time you realized that dancing's nothing more than a form of expression, of release? There's no need to be formal or cute about it. As a matter of fact, I rather feel like expressing myself now. And I could certainly use the release!