His Girl Friday (1940)

Directed by: Howard Hawks
Starring: Cary Grant

**1/2

His Girl Friday is a fun, easy to watch movie like many of its genre during that particular time period. Unlike many of the films that came out of that era highly acclaimed, I found nothing particularly great about it. Now, because its such a fun, easy to watch movie, it takes something that isn't so great and makes it good. Seems contrary but its an appropriate critique.

Cary Grant plays Walter Burns. Walter is an arrogant editor for the Morning Post still hung up on his ex-wife Hildy Johnson (Rosalind Russell). Hildy's about to set off and marry Bruce Baldwin but first needs to finalize her divorce with Walter. She knows its not going to be an easy, in and out discussion with Walter but even going in prepared can't prevent her from even knowingly falling into his trap. It starts with a simple lunch and it extends into a major news story where Hildy discovers that perhaps she can't hide the fact that she belongs in the reporting business and that a runaway marriage in Albany may be relaxing, but its not her.

Where this film goes right is in Rosalind Russell's performance. Her fast pace and her energy really move this film in the direction is should have stuck with. Its consistent with the aspect of her character that she's trying to hide with Bruce. The go-go-go lifestyle of reporting for the Morning Post is really where she thrives and what's gained her such respect in the business. Its a surprise to everyone that she's going to give it up. Walter may be a double crosser but deep down, he knows Hildy belongs in the newspaper world. His motives may be selfish and his keeping her in that world may only be so he can be with her but regardless, he is helping her get back where she belongs.

Where this film goes wrong is in its inconsistency. It never fully established itself as fast-paced. Its energy faded in and out and it went as far as being a comedy in some scenes and a flat out drama in others. Never was it really a dramedy even. Those scenes, wherein Russell thrived, the film thrived as a fast-paced, sometimes slapstick, iconic type of comedy from the 30s/40s that we all know and love. It was of the It Happened One Night and My Man Godfry style. The times when it tried too hard to be Citizen Kane and make a statement about capital punishment, communism and insanity pleas, it was weak in its effort. It played off like a movie that wanted these themes in the background rather than as the backbone of a good comedy.

When one hears His Girl Friday, one thinks of a Cary Grant film. Or at the very least, a Howard Hawks film. They are who I credited at the top of this post. However, this movie is far and away a Rosalind Russell film. She steals this show from start to finish. Her resume is extensive but she's not exactly Grace Kelly and its a shame because I can't imagine Kelly pulling the weight that Russell did throughout this movie. Cary Grant is a fine actor but I see no versatility in him. Even his character is stagnant. He's arrogant, he really has no redeeming qualities and his selfishness seems to go rewarded at the films conclusion. However, the stagnant arrogance works in support of Russell. Its inappropriate for me to bill Cary Grant as the star of this movie. He is the "His" in the title, but its the "Girl Friday" that steals the show. I think that's what the title means.