Sabrina vs. Sabrina
The other night I made my husband watch the 1995 version of Sabrina
So a lot of people (by "a lot" I mean just a few) argue passionately (by which I mean, discuss briefly) which version of Sabrina is superior: 1995 or 1954. Despite my loyalties to films made before 1970, I have to say I think I prefer the new Sabrina, and here's why:
1. Harrison Ford. Look, Humphry Bogart could never even come close to comparing to the loveliness, manliness, and general awesomeness of Harrison Ford. He is dreamy. Humphry? Old. Kinda ugly. No comparison.
2. The mom. Holy smokes, the mom in the new Sabrina is a riot!
3. Sabrina doesn't try to kill herself. It always very much bothers me when Audrey Hepburn tries to kill herself over David in the old one. It's very extreme and kind of disturbing.
4. Harrison Ford. Yeah, he's that important.
Now I'm not saying I don't love the old Sabrina because I do. And I am an Audrey Hepburn fan, she may be better than the new girl. It's just that, the whole point of a romantic comedy is to feel warm fuzzy at the end. To get us so sucked into the love story that we lose touch with reality and are incapable of having normal relationships in real life on account of the inflated expectations of love and romance that these films provide. The old one just doesn't do that for me.
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3 comments:
I just discovered your entry "Old Movies for Young People" on moviefanfare.com, which led me to this blog. Good stuff and I will check in regularly in the future.
As to Sabrina vs. Sabrina, a good rule of thumb is that the original is ALWAYS better than the remake. While you make a case with Ford v. Bogart, you never mention Greg Kinear instead of William Holden. That piece of casting cancels out any advantage that Ford has over Bogie.
On you next old movie night, try "Double Indemnity" with Barbara Stanwyck and Fred McMurray. This is a true classic.
You might also want to check out my blog, The Grandstander, at www.grandstander.blogspot.com. I do things other than movies, but that is a big part of it.
I am a guy's guy...but I have watched Sabrina 1995...time and time again, I've lost count, and I always have a box of tissues handy...like I said, I'm a guy...but I'm just a sucker for romantic movies.I've had a lot of romance in my life, like you said...you lose yourself in this movie.And yes, Harrison is a much better choice...and Greg pulls it off ever so...and as for Julia, I fall in love with her too...the music, the charm...I love the part when Sabrina first arrives from Paris and David does not recognize her and when they get home...Linus, says "Hello Sabrina" then he realizes but still can't sink in...and all the other scenes obviously. Needless to say one of my all time favorite Romantic movies. Hands down
I understand that you are a big Harrison ford fan, so that made the difference to you in your review.
However, Bogart had to work much harder to make the role believable, because of his age difference from Hepburn.
Speaking of which, there are very few actresses that can compete with with Hepburn performance, and while Julia Ormond does her best, she is no Hepburn.
Sabrina's suicide attempt is what start the two of them being together. It might be a bit out of place, but it is kind of a funny situation.
I have to give the original higher marks, then the remake. The remake may be a better looking film, but there is still plenty of charm in the old black and white pictures too.
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