Sabrina (1954)

Sabrina Fair

By Jeffrey M. Anderson

Buy Sabrina on DVD

Sabrina represents a conundrum to me. It's not a successful movie by any means. Writer-director Billy Wilder was unable to reasonably solve the love triangle between Hepburn and her two much older suitors (Humphrey Bogart and William Holden), neither of which was any prize to begin with. Yet, it's a perfect Audrey Hepburn vehicle, with her role as a chauffeur's daughter living over the garage of a huge mansion, and dreamily gazing at its opulent backyard parties. She knows -- and we know -- that she really belongs in one of them, twirling away in some fantastic dress. Sabrina comes in a beautiful, sharp black-and-white transfer, and the disc includes a smart "making-of" documentary, the theatrical trailer, and a collection of photographs, including shots of Wilder at work. Viewers may also choose to dub the film into French, which, as with any Hepburn film, makes her seem even more stylish.

DVD Details: In 2008, Paramount re-released the film as part of its "Centennial Collection." It comes in a two-disc set, complete with featurettes "Audrey Hepburn: Fashion Icon," "Sabrina's World," "Supporting Sabrina," "William Holden: The Paramount Years," and other stuff. As far as I know, the film comes in roughly the same transfer as in the 2001 edition.

Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn, William Holden, Walter Hampden, John Williams, Martha Hyer, Joan Vohs, Marcel Dalio, Marcel Hillaire, Nella Walker, Francis X. Bushman, Ellen Corby
Written by: Billy Wilder, Samuel A. Taylor, Ernest Lehman, based on a play by Samuel A. Taylor
Directed by: Billy Wilder
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Running Time: 113 minutes
Date: April 20, 2001