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Actors: Cary Grant, Rosalind Russell, Ralph Bellamy, Gene Lockhart, Helen Mack, John Qualen
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about His Girl Friday |
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Hildy Johnson (Rosalind Russell) enters the busy newspaper office with fiancé, Bruce Baldwin (Ralph Bellamy) in tow. She is on a mission and it seems no one can stop her. She enters the office of her about to be former boss Walter Burns (Cary Grant) to tell him off.
Walter is having none of it as Hildy is his star reporter. As the two heatedly but comically argue, we also find out that they were once married. Walter still loves her and does not want to loose a possible chance for reconciliation. Not to mention losing the best journalist on his staff. Hildy soon makes it clear that both her career and their relationship are over as she is going to settle down with Bruce. He is a quiet, mild mannered insurance salesman who will offer her a comfortable home life as wife and mother. Walter is shocked at first but then rallies his senses. He asks to meet Bruce and Hildy says he is right outside.
Walter passes Bruce by and goes to an elderly gentleman instead. He is pretending it is Bruce just to be a smarty pants. Bruce doesn't even catch on and the charades continue as Walter insists that he take the newly engaged couple to lunch. Hildy reluctantly agrees and the three wind up in a nice little restaurant. The antics continue and even intensify as Walter finds out the couple are leaving on a train in two hours. He has the waiter phone him and once again pretends. Knowing that Hildy cannot resist a good story, he tells her that another reporter can't make the interview with accused killer Earl Williams (John Qualen). He bargains that he will buy a huge insurance policy from Bruce if Hildy will do the story. She agrees based on a great story as much as the sale.
Hildy goes to the interview expecting to find a nasty caged criminal. Instead she finds a meek, soft spoken accountant who snapped after loosing his long time job. It is obvious that he is easily influenced and he had been listening to radicals in the park. It is also obvious that he is not quite mentally whole anymore. Hildy gathers information that Earl will be examined by a police psychologist who is “on they payroll”. She know that elections for mayor as well as police chief are coming up in a few days. This leads her to suspect that Earl will be hanged for the popular vote and not because he is actually guilty. It spurs her sense of injustice and she rushes back to the court house reporter room to begin the story.
In the meantime, Walter is pulling another con on Bruce. He gets him picked up on a fake police charge to keep him in town a little longer. Hildy finds out and rushes down to get him only to be stopped. She is furious at Walter but soon her nose for news distracts her. She just can't seem to break away and Bruce is left to fend for himself until his mother comes along to bail him out. Hildy calls Walter and tells him to pay back the bail money as the whole thing is his fault.
While the reporters are waiting for another story to break, in walks Molly Malloy (Helen Mack). The press has been very unkind to her for a single act of kindness to Earl Williams. They have made her into a tramp that was in love with him and she is reduced to tears. Hildy feels sorry for her and takes her out. While she is helping Molly, a breaking story comes in. Earl Williams has escaped during the examination. He shot the doctor, wounding him in the rear end and then fled the building. An all points bulletin is issued along with a shoot to kill order and a $500 bonus for the man who gets him. Hildy has no clue this has happened and returns to the reporter room. Earl show up wielding a gun and in a panic. Hildy wants to get the scoop so she talks Earl down, hides him in a roll top desk then calls Walter. Walter is thrilled with the news and says he'll be right over. He hurries out but not before he sets Bruce up again. This time with a masher charge and $400 in counterfeit money. He even has Bruce's mother kidnapped. Molly returns as Hildy is waiting and she helps her protect Earl. All is well for the moment.
It could actually be even better for Earl as the governor has issued a full pardon. The mayor and the police chief receive the message. They are in complete denial and want Earl to hang so they will get re-elected. They attempt to bribe the not so smart messenger who at falls for it.
The whole thing comes to a head when someone discovers Earl in the desk and Molly jumps out the window. The mayor arrives, the police chief arrives, Bruce arrives, Bruce's mother arrives and all of the other reporters arrive.
--Talea, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of His Girl Friday |
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Time/era of movie:
- 1930's-1950's
Crime & Scandal
Yes
Story of
- falsely accused clearing name
Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Profession/status:
- journalist
Age:
- 20's-30's
Eccentric:
Yes
- eccentric
- obsessed
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
Hair color?
- brunette (Brown)
Hair type
- (woman) medium/shoulderlgn straight
Body type
- (woman) average
Events of movie makes character more...
- aggressive
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor?
- Cynical sense of humor
Intelligence
- Very much smarter than other characters
Physique
- average physique
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Hair color
- brunette (Brown)
Hair style
- (man) short/standard straight
Body type
- (man) average build
How much in movie?
- 80%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
Main Adversary
Identity:
- general circumstances
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 90%-100%
Setting
City?
Yes
City:
- New York
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- generic/vague references to death/punishment
Movie makes you feel...
- full of laughter
Check here if B&W
Yes
Any profanity?
- None
Is this movie based on a
- play
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Resident Scholar Profiles
TOP SCHOLAR:
 Talea
SCHOLARS:
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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