Her return to Long Island sets the main plot into action. Sabrina's new found sophistication is illustrated by the great Edith Head costumes that she wears. She immediately attracts the attention of David, who is already betrothed to another socialite. Linus steps in to entertain Sabrina while David recovers from an injury and tries to extricate himself from his impending nuptials. In the meantime, the worst kept secret from the viewers is that Linus is falling in love with Sabrina. He may not want to admit it but it's unmistakable and really could've been acted a little better.
The film finishes with a flourish as Sabrina is headed to Paris - either alone or with one of the the Larrabee brothers. Since this is Hollywood in the 1950s, you know that it won't be alone, but what brother will win out in the end? The one thing that keeps this film from becoming a sappy, run-of-the-mill 1950s Hollywood romance is Billy Wilder's directing. Wilder is in the middle of an incredible run of films in this decade. He's just come off Sunset Boulevard (starring William Holden) and the incredible Stalag 17 (also with Holden) and he's going to follow this up with The Seven Year Itch, Witness For the Prosecution and Some Like It Hot before the '50s end.
Wilder believes in the power of words over style. His direction is simple and very effective in a story like this. The black and white environment of Long Island and of the business world of New York are very rich in texture. But the shots are not obtrusive. The camera rarely moves and holds on characters long enough to see dialog and reaction. In a romance, this can be of utmost importance. And that's where Hepburn completely outshines her co-stars. Holden and Bogart feel a little cast against type. This is not the Holden from Stalag 17 nor Sunset Boulevard, he seems a little one-dimensional as the playboy brother. Bogart feels way out of his league as the hard businessman with a sensitive soul. But somehow Hepburn's combination of innocence and sophistication brings out the best in both men, in the end. Audrey Hepburn shines in a way that few actresses ever do and you can't take your eyes off of her in any scene. Her vibrancy makes her attempted suicide seem even more out of character.
Article comments