His Girl Friday (1940)

Featured Audience Ratings

• Alexander D

  
  Fast-paced screwball of a romantic comedy (and widely considered the first ever) elicits more laughs than many comedies today. The best part about HIS GIRL FRIDAY is that not only does it try for humor, it succeeds at almost every try. Look back at today's romantic comedies:… More
  Fast-paced screwball of a romantic comedy (and widely considered the first ever) elicits more laughs than many comedies today. The best part about HIS GIRL FRIDAY is that not only does it try for humor, it succeeds at almost every try. Look back at today's romantic comedies: it's more often than not that one of them fails at much of its humor. In fact, this film makes modern rom-coms look downright dreadful. Full Review: http://wp.me/p1Urcx-y8

• First L

  
  Snappy dialogue and a quick-witted script highlight this film from 1940. Based on a play called "The Front Page", director Howard Hawks' "His Girl Friday" takes a comedically serious look at the sleezy world of yellow journalism. Star reporter Hildy… More
  Snappy dialogue and a quick-witted script highlight this film from 1940. Based on a play called "The Front Page", director Howard Hawks' "His Girl Friday" takes a comedically serious look at the sleezy world of yellow journalism. Star reporter Hildy (Rosalind Russell) is quitting the newspaper business to go lead a respectable life as the wife of insurance salesman Bruce Baldwin (Ralph Bellamy). However, her former boss (and ex-husband) Walter would rather she forget all this respectability business and come back to work for him (and also marry him again). The story he hopes will bring her back is the execution of cop murderer Earl Williams (John Qualen). Walter is fighting to get a pardon for Williams, who killed a "colored" cop and the mayor is only trying to get him executed because of the election coming up (because the colored vote is very strong in that town). Apparently, Williams was driven "crazy" because of all the hard times poor people must face, and when a gun was placed in his hand, he was compelled to use it. I guess all this is logical by 1930s standards, but many of these plot details had me cringing. There's a strange amoral morality at work with these characters. They do horrible things to innocent people to get what they want, but I suppose since they're the heroes of the film, we're supposed to root for them. The story is good however, I wonder if it might've been a better drama than screwball comedy.

• Thomas B

  
  And you thought the Social Network was fast. Full review later.

• Tim S

  
  Witty banter abound in this noirish classic. I can't believe that people can springboard of each other that perfectly, but then again being an actor in that day and age meant really being on top of your game if you were to survive. Thankfully this film has survived many, many… More
  Witty banter abound in this noirish classic. I can't believe that people can springboard of each other that perfectly, but then again being an actor in that day and age meant really being on top of your game if you were to survive. Thankfully this film has survived many, many years later. The plot sort of gets lost and difficult to follow at times, but I was in it for its wit, which is more prevalent than a conventional story of its type usually is.

• xGary X

  
  A hard nosed newspaper woman decides to quit to marry and settle down, but when a death row inmate escapes and lands in her lap things get a little more complicated. His Girl Friday features one of the great screwball partnerships of all time as Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell bicker… More
  A hard nosed newspaper woman decides to quit to marry and settle down, but when a death row inmate escapes and lands in her lap things get a little more complicated. His Girl Friday features one of the great screwball partnerships of all time as Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell bicker and swap wisecracks faster than a pair of Grouchos on amphetamines. Russell is a wonderfully independent female lead, giving as good as she gets from Grant's hilariously immoral and hustling newspaper editor. Beneath the fast paced laughs there is also plenty of black comedy and social satire to be had, poking fun at the media's attitude to what is "newsworthy", political corruption and a veiled commentary on the validity of the death penalty. Which all may go relatively unnoticed as you'll probably find yourself laughing too hard! The slightly flimsy plot gets a little lost underneath all the breathless banter and it's nowhere near as funny when Grant and Russell are not together on screen but as a whole, it's classic comedy.

• Dan S

  
  An overall outstanding, impressive film dealing with a conniving newspaper editor (Cary Grant) who schemes to keep his ex-wife and star reporter (Rosalind Russell) around after she tells him that she plans on leaving town and getting married to her fiance (Ralph Bellamy) the next day.… More
  An overall outstanding, impressive film dealing with a conniving newspaper editor (Cary Grant) who schemes to keep his ex-wife and star reporter (Rosalind Russell) around after she tells him that she plans on leaving town and getting married to her fiance (Ralph Bellamy) the next day. While at times this movie approaches "incomprehensible" territory in the sense that sometimes you have absolutely no idea what is going on because each one the characters is talking at such a rapid speed, it is still an enjoyable ride that movies at a very fast pace. Cary Grant gives a stellar performance as a frustrated, ruthless individual who will do any thing to try to jump-start his relationship with his ex-wife. Russell is equally impressive, and the story is absolutely funny on a consistent basis, thanks mostly to Grant's facial expressions and timing. It is not the four-star classic many feel it is (mainly because much of the dialogue is not understandable, and it doesn't feel natural all the time, it feels sort of forced for the sake of being "different"), but it is still an overall very well done comedy that is certainly worth a view.

• Stella D

  
  this might be my favorite screwball comedy, just as funny as ever, with a sharp underpinning of social commentary. grant's flow is fantastic here and russell is with him every step of the way. shame this was their only film together; they're a great pair. lines fly so… More
  this might be my favorite screwball comedy, just as funny as ever, with a sharp underpinning of social commentary. grant's flow is fantastic here and russell is with him every step of the way. shame this was their only film together; they're a great pair. lines fly so thick and fast several viewings are essential. far superior to the remake with matthau and lemmon called the front page

• AJ V

  
  This fast paced comedy feels a bit rushed at times, but they're only trying to give you the same feeling that the reporters have about having to rush all the time, which is cool. Great cast. This is a must see movie.

• Spencer S

  
  More famous for Gypsy and Mame, Rosalind Russell plays bumbling perfectly. Cary Grant, as always is male, ego driven, and chauvinistic, in the best possible way. Howard Hawks directs the masterpiece.

• Jennifer D

  
  Best screwball comedy I have seen yet. Howard Hawks is utterly brilliant and before his time in this. Grant is phenomenal. I could watch this movie every day for the rest of my life and still laugh at all the jokes.

• Conner R

  
  Probably one of the greatest films ever made. The fact that it was so relevant and judgmental of the time is why it stands apart from most screwball comedies. The chemistry is amazing and Cary Grant delivers one of his many knockout performances as Walter Burns. The newspaper aspect… More
  Probably one of the greatest films ever made. The fact that it was so relevant and judgmental of the time is why it stands apart from most screwball comedies. The chemistry is amazing and Cary Grant delivers one of his many knockout performances as Walter Burns. The newspaper aspect is perfect for the fast dialogue and quick witted humor. While it’s funny, it’s also got a very tragic and serious note to it. The political scandal in which an innocent man is framed and a woman is drawn to suicide is really makes it a more effective movie. I would say that it’s the most well done romantic comedy ever without any debate.

• Kalel J

  
  Sharp to the point and streaming with chuckles, His Girl Friday rests on the sturdy shoulders of Grant and the commanding presence of Russel; befitting a film that focus on the notions of dishonesty - be it Grant's immoral newspaper editor or the crime caper happening behind the… More
  Sharp to the point and streaming with chuckles, His Girl Friday rests on the sturdy shoulders of Grant and the commanding presence of Russel; befitting a film that focus on the notions of dishonesty - be it Grant's immoral newspaper editor or the crime caper happening behind the hilarious relationship quibbles. Though the script tends to meander in a line a little too straight at times, it is Grant's timing of delivery that makes the film a joy to watch.

• Jennifer X

  
  Fun and snaptastic, but this is the worst quality movie I've ever seen. Cary Grant is at his best, with perfect comic timing.

• moon r

  
  i hear they speeded-up the dialogue to perk up the film's pacing...which has resulted in my own personal inferiority complex, angry that i could never even think as fast as these people do and talk and act all at the same time. the movie where roz russell achieves… More
  i hear they speeded-up the dialogue to perk up the film's pacing...which has resulted in my own personal inferiority complex, angry that i could never even think as fast as these people do and talk and act all at the same time. the movie where roz russell achieves beauty...reason alone to watch.

• Michael G

  
  Lightning fast snappy dialogue. Grand and Russell are great together.

• Mike T

  
  A rapid-fire comedy masterfully directed by Howard Hawks and jam-packed with outstanding performances. As hilarious as it is intelligent, this is one of the best movies of the 1940s.

• Joey N

  
  Most famous for how fast the characters talk. Seriously, they're really fast. Enjoyable diversion that only wears out its welcome towards the end. It's nice to see a woman hold her own for a movie made in 1940.

• Juli R

  
  This movie is in the public domain. It's a movie about one-liners.

• Lauren D

  
  I think it would've been ok if they had replaced Rosalind Russell's character with... well, anything except her. I didn't find her believable at her and I'm not sure if that's a fault of the horrific dialogue written or her acting skills, but I couldn't… More
  I think it would've been ok if they had replaced Rosalind Russell's character with... well, anything except her. I didn't find her believable at her and I'm not sure if that's a fault of the horrific dialogue written or her acting skills, but I couldn't stand her. Grant was ok as usual. I don't really like him, but I don't hate him either. The plot was kind of gay too, I hate how they're so quick to get back together with their ex, etc.

• Anastasia B

  
  This film is an absolute triumph for everyone involved in the production. Even by today's rapid standards the dialogue snaps too fast for you to notice every joke. Based on an amazing play by Ben Hecht, Howard Hawks directs an insurmountable adaptation that's a comedy of… More
  This film is an absolute triumph for everyone involved in the production. Even by today's rapid standards the dialogue snaps too fast for you to notice every joke. Based on an amazing play by Ben Hecht, Howard Hawks directs an insurmountable adaptation that's a comedy of substance, style, and performing perfection, all at the same time. Cary Grant and Rossalind Russell make sure of it. It would take forever to mention every secondary character ... and their characteristic comic contribution to the film. It's a bunch of fast-talking, fast-thinking rogue journalists that would have sold their mothers to the zoo if they were certain that they would get a few good laughs out of it. In juxtaposition to all these suspicious types, stands Ralph Bellamy, as the naive "prince", Bruce Baldwin, who promises to take Rosalind Russell's Hildy Johnson away to his lovely and quiet "castle", promising a life of splendid, yet life-ending (read: boring as hell) domesticity. It's not a wonder that Hildy will do anything to get "that last story" written up, on the way falling accidentally on the lap of Cary Grant's irresistible Walter Burns...

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