Movie-a-Day Challenge: His Girl Friday

His girl friday movie posterThis post is part of my movie-a-day challenge in which I will watch a film every day for 365 days. Today is Day 272! You can see all the posts for this challenge HERE. To see the original Movie-a-Day Challenge post, click HERE.

Hi friends!

So, I finally got around to watching “His Girl Friday,” directed by the legendary Howard Hawks, and man, was it a blast from the past or what? This 1939 flick is a whirlwind of fast talk, sharp wit, and all that classic Hollywood charm you just can’t help but fall for. The dialogue zips faster than a New York minute, and if you’re not paying attention, you might just miss a joke or two.

The film stars the charismatic Cary Grant as Walter Burns, a newspaper editor who could sell ice to Eskimos, and Rosalind Russell as Hildy Johnson, his ace reporter and ex-wife, who’s got more spunk than She’s got more spunk than a wildcat in a windstorm. The chemistry between these two is absolutely electric. Cary Grant brings his A-game with a mix of charm and sly cunningness, while Rosalind Russell matches him beat for beat with her sharp-tongued and equally cunning performance. You can’t help but root for them, even when they’re at each other’s throats.

The plot? Let’s say it’s like trying to keep up with a runaway train. Hildy’s all set to marry her new beau, a bland but sweet insurance man named Bruce Baldwin (played by Ralph Bellamy), and leave the hustle of the news world. But Walter has other plans. He wants her back—not just in the office, but in his life too. So, he concocts a series of outlandish schemes to keep Hildy around, especially when a major story breaks about an impending execution. Classic Walter, right?

What unfolds is a series of hilarious and hectic events that keep you hooked. There’s mistaken identity, rapid-fire banter, and a bunch of quirky side characters that add to the chaos. Oh, and the shouting—so much shouting! But it’s the good kind that keeps the energy up and the pace snappy.

What I loved about this film is how it turns the typical damsel-in-distress trope on its head. Hildy isn’t just there to be wooed; she’s smart, she’s savvy, and she drives much of the film’s plot with her journalistic chops. It’s refreshing, especially for a movie made way back in ’39.

So yeah, if you’re in the mood for a film that’s packed with wit, humor, and some old-school journalistic thrill, “His Girl Friday” is your ticket. Just make sure you’re ready to listen fast—these folks don’t waste any breath!

Catch you on the flip side,
Roger

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