His Girl Friday (1940) | |
| Director(s) | Howard Hawks |
| Producer(s) | Howard Hawks (uncredited) |
| Top Genres | Comedy, Drama, Romance |
| Top Topics | Based on Play, Battle of the Sexes, Newspapers, Reporters, Romance (Comic), Screwball Comedy |
Featured Cast:
His Girl Friday Overview:
His Girl Friday (1940) was a Comedy - Drama Film directed by Howard Hawks and produced by Howard Hawks.
SYNOPSIS
Arguably one of the funniest screen comedies, but indisputably the fastest. How the leads managed to get their lines out at the pace Hawks set is a marvel. This witty adaptation of the Hecht and MacArthur stage hit The Front Page (also the basis of the 1931 film) gives the ace reporter role to Russell, who takes it and runs. The action begins when Russell informs Grant, her suave managing editor and new ex-husband, that she's leaving the paper and planning to remarry. Grant, a handsome, hard-boiled type, wouldn't dare show his true feelings for Hildy, but he gets his way through the only true love of his ex's life: a breaking, front-page headline story. Her intended, Bellamy, stands by with hat in hand, his accustomed Hollywood role. Remade again in 1974, and, as Switching Channels, in 1988 set in a TV news environment.
(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).
.His Girl Friday was inducted into the National Film Registry in 1993.
BlogHub Articles:
Featured in Box Set Celebrating Columbia's Centennial and HIS GIRL FRIDAY
on Jan 4, 2024 From GlamAmorHappy New Year! 2024 is the 100th anniversary of Columbia Pictures and I'm excited to announce I have my own featurette included in a 4K boxed set that will be released February 13 to celebrate the studio's centennial. I spoke about His Girl Friday (1940) and its costume designer Robert Kalloch. It'... Read full article
Five Fun Facts about His Girl Friday (1940)
By Annmarie Gatti on Apr 18, 2022 From Classic Movie Hub BlogFive Fun Facts about His Girl Friday ….. 1) Hildy was originally a man His Girl Friday was adapted from the 1928 Broadway play, The Front Page, which, in turn, was adapted into the 1931 film The Front Page. All three versions revolve around the same storyline, more or less, with o... Read full article
Rosalind Russell and Cary Grant in “His Girl Friday”
By Stephen Reginald on Sep 8, 2021 From Classic Movie ManRosalind Russell and Cary Grant in “His Girl Friday” His Girl Friday (1940) is an American screwball comedy directed by Howard Hawks and starring Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell. Based on the play The Front Page (1928) by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur, Hawks decided to turn Hildy ... Read full article
What?s Streaming in June on the CMH Channel at BCE? His Girl Friday, The Outlaw, and Father’s Little Dividend
By Annmarie Gatti on Jun 16, 2021 From Classic Movie Hub BlogOur June Picks on the Classic Movie Hub ChannelJune Birthdays and Fond Memories! Here we go? This month?s free streaming picks for our Classic Movie Hub Channel at Best Classics Ever (BCE) ? the mega streaming channel for classic movies and TV shows! These titles will be available for FREE STR... Read full article
What?s Streaming in Jan on the CMH Channel at Best Classics Ever? His Girl Friday, Cyrano de Bergerac, Road to Bali.
By Annmarie Gatti on Jan 4, 2021 From Classic Movie Hub BlogOur January Picks on the Classic Movie Hub ChannelJanuary Birthdays and Chasing Away the Winter Blues! It?s that time again? We have our monthly free streaming picks for our Classic Movie Hub Channel at Best Classics Ever (BCE) ? the mega streaming channel for classic movies and TV shows! That... Read full article
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Quotes from
Hildy Johnson: All right, we'll honeymoon in Albany.
Walter Burns: Okay, Duffy.
[to Hildy]
Walter Burns: Well, isn't that a coincidence, we're going to Albany! I wonder if Bruce can put us up.
Bruce Baldwin: Mighty nice little town, Albany. They've got the state capitol there, you know.
Walter Burns: [on the phone] Well Butch, where are you?... Well, what are you doing there? Haven't you even started?... Listen, it's a matter of life and death!... Well, you can't stop for a dame now! I don't care if you've been after her for six years. Butch - our whole lives are at stake! Are you going to let a woman come between us after all we've been through?... Butch, I'd put my arm in fire for you, up to here. Now you can't double-cross me... Put her on, I'll talk to her.
[talking to the woman]
Walter Burns: Oh, good evening madam. Now listen, you ten-cent glamour girl. You can't keep Butch away from his duty!... What's that?... You say that again, I'll come over there and kick you in the teeth!... Say, what kind of language is that? Now look here you. -
[makes a noise like a horse, hangs up]
Walter Burns: She hung up! What did I say?
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Facts about
Rosalind Russell was borrowed from MGM for this film.
In the play the film was based on ("The Front Page"), the part of Hildy was played by a man. When director Howard Hawks was planning to make the film, he was going to cast a man. While auditioning actors, a secretary would read the lines belonging to Hildy. Hawks loved the words coming from a woman so much, they decided to rewrite the part for a woman.
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