His Girl Friday is a 1940 American screwball comedy film directed by Howard Hawks, from an adaptation by Charles Lederer, Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur of the play The Front Page by Hecht and MacArthur. This was the second time the play had been adapted for the screen, the first occasion being the 1931 film also called The Front Page.The major change in this version, introduced by Hawks, is that the role of Hildy Johnson is a woman.
The film stars Cary Grant as Walter Burns and Rosalind Russell as Hildy Johnson and features Ralph Bellamy as Bruce Baldwin.
The film was #19 on American Film Institute’s 100 Years…100 Laughs and has been selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry.
IMDb Rating:8/10
Watch Classic Movie His Girl Friday.
Walter Burns (Cary Grant) is a hard-boiled editor for The Morning Post who learns his ex-wife and former star reporter, Hildegard “Hildy” Johnson (Rosalind Russell), is about to marry bland insurance man Bruce Baldwin (Ralph Bellamy) and settle down to a quiet life as a wife and mother in Albany, New York. Walter determines to sabotage these plans, enticing the reluctant Hildy to cover one last story, the upcoming execution of convicted murderer Earl Williams (John Qualen).
Walter does everything he can to keep Hildy from leaving, including setting Bruce up so he gets arrested over and over again on trumped-up charges. He even kidnaps Hildy’s stern mother-in-law-to-be (Alma Kruger). When Williams escapes from the bumbling sheriff (Gene Lockhart) and practically falls into Hildy’s lap, the lure of a big scoop proves too much for her. She is so consumed with writing the story that she hardly notices as Bruce realizes his cause is hopeless and returns to Albany.
The crooked mayor (Clarence Kolb) and sheriff need the publicity from the execution to keep their jobs in an upcoming election, so when a messenger (Billy Gilbert) brings them a reprieve from the governor, they try to bribe the man to go away and return later, when it will be too late. Walter and Hildy find out in time to save Walter from being arrested for kidnapping.
Afterward, Walter offers to remarry Hildy, promising to take her on the honeymoon they never had in Niagara Falls, but then Walter learns that there is a newsworthy strike in Albany, which is on the way to Niagara Falls by train.
Starring: Cary Grant, Rosalind Russell, Ralph Bellamy, Gene Lockhart
Director: Howard Hawks
Producer: Howard Hawks
Screenplay: Charles Lederer
Based on The Front Page 1928 play by Ben Hecht, Charles MacArthur
Music: Sidney Cutner, Felix Mills
Cinematography: Joseph Walker
Editor: Gene Havlick
Distributor: Columbia Pictures
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5:18
Hildy Johnson: "Walter, you're wonderful, in a loathsome sort of way."
it's brillant , very well played with quick dialogues a great rythm but for god sake why do the head of the actors are so cut ??!!! It's unbearable and is it possible to have that version with french subtitles ? What a pity !!!! Thanks.
I think I understood why the heads are cut ! It was may be made on purpose by H.H to show us the attraction between them , wasn't it???!!!
Great film, but won't watch it here. Cut off heads and that sily thing on top.
tjhis is absolutely the funniest and most witty old Hollywood movie I have ever seen. you really have to pay attention to the fast paced action.
Worst version of this movie, yet!
I uploaded "His Girl Friday" a few months ago and got a World Wide Ban on it you are 1 of 5 people that I saw had this movie on YT before I uploaded and was wondering how you got the problem corrected? I disputed the claim and they rejected it.
Thanks for any help.
Cary Grant is a great leading man. Great channel. Hope you'll subscribe to mine.
I like to sleep with these movies turned on
love screwballs