Paramount has begun a new DVD series of classics films called the “Centennial Collection.” They are beginning with three classic films, the third in the series is Sabrina.
As the film opens with “Once upon a time…” there is no question that his is a modern day fairy tale. Sabrina (Audrey Hepburn) is the daughter of the chauffer to the very wealthy Larrabee family. All her life Sabrina has been in love with David (William Holden), the more aloof of the two Larrabee brothers. He’s a playboy and refuses to settle down. The other brother is Linus (Humphrey Bogart), the responsible, respectable brother who runs the family business.
Sabrina’s father sends her off to Paris where she goes to culinary school for two years. She returns a beautiful grown up woman and David, who wouldn’t even give her a second glance before, now can’t take his eyes off of her. There’s only one problem. David is tied up in an engagement that was set up by Linus to help with a business merger he is trying to put through.
When David sits on a pair of champagne glasses temporarily disabling himself, Linus is forced to entertain Sabrina where something unexpected happens: Linus falls for her, even if he doesn’t realize it yet.
This is a classic Hollywood film with all the elements needed to make it so. Master auteur, Billy Wilder, weaves his magical style all throughout the film, with his witty dialogue and stunning cinematography that elevate the film above that of just another run of the mill romantic comedy.
Then there is the superb cast. Following the monumental success of her Oscar-winning performance in Roman Holiday, Audrey Hepburn was still establishing herself as a personality in Hollywood, and she once again shines on screen in her second Hollywood role. And while it might seem like an odd pairing, as he was thirty years her senior, she and Bogart have wonderful on screen chemistry together. Sadly, this would be one of his final performances has he died from throat cancer three years later. Of course you can’t talk about the cast without mentioning the enigmatic William Holden. No stranger to working with Wilder, having stared in Stalag 17 and Sunset Boulevard, Holden fits perfectly in Wilder’s world.
With a perfect cast, brilliant director and classic fairy tale story, Sabrina is the apotheosis of classic Hollywood and is wonderfully enjoyable film.
The film is presented in 1.33:1 fullscreen and the audio is Dolby Digital Mono. You also get French and Spanish Mono soundtracks as well as French and Spanish subtitles. Like all Billy Wilder films this a great looking film and the transfer her is fantastic. It looks and sounds magnificent.
Audrey Hepburn: Fashion Icon: (17 min.) This is a nice piece with interviews with fashion designers and historians talking about Hepburn’s style and how different it was from the blond bombshell’s that were popular at the time. They also talk about how her style has influenced today’s fashion.
Sabrina’s World: (11 min.) This cute little featurette focuses on the reality of the location where the film takes place. It’s a short little history lesson of the New England high society of the time.
Supporting Sabrina: (16 min.) This great featurette focuses on the character actors who fill out the supporting roles of the film. This is really well put together and is a must for any film enthusiast.
William Holden: The Paramount Years: (30 min.) As one might guess from the title, this documentary focuses on the acting career of this great actor. From his childhood to how he was discovered and the quick rise of his star. For only thirty minutes you really have a better understanding of the man and the actor when it’s over.
Sabrina Documentary: (11 min.) Oddly, the title of this featurette is Audrey Hepburn: In Her Own Words when you’re watching the DVD. It’s a short standard little making of that quickly talks about all the different items these things talk about from casting to script writing with some behind the scenes stuff.
Behind The Gates: Camera: (5 min.) A nice short little bit about the camera used to shoot the film and the introduction of widescreen Vistavision.
Paramount in the ’50’s – Retrospective Featurette: (9 min.) Paramount takes a little over nine minutes to tell us about all the wonderful films they released in the ’50’s. Most likely in hopes of getting us to go out and buy more of them.
Galleries
While it’s been said many times, it is certainly worth repeating: Billy Wilder is one of the greatest American filmmakers. While not his best film, Sabrina is very enjoyable film and is certainly worth your time. Add to that the wonderful special features that this “Centennial Collection” has to offer and it makes this DVD a must on for any film aficionado. I can’t wait to see what other films get this “Centennial” treatment.
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Paramount presents Sabrina: Centennial Collection. Directed by Billy Wilder. Starring Audrey Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart and William Holden. Written by Billy Wilder, Samuel Taylor and Ernest Lehman. Based on the play by Samuel Taylor. Running time: 112 minutes. Not Rated. Originally released in 1954. Released on DVD: November 11, 2008. Available at Amazon.
