Aaron and Josh Sarnecky are ringing in the New Year with a new podcast. This time they’re celebrating the 85th anniversary of His Girl Friday.
His Girl Friday is a screwball comedy directed by Howard Hawks. It is the second film adaptation of the play The Front Page. It opened in theaters on January 18, 1940.
In the film, Hildy Johnson (Rosalind Russell), former star reporter of The Morning Post, arrives at the paper to tell her former editor and ex-husband Walter Burns (Cary Grant) she’s engaged to marry her fiancé Bruce Baldwin (Ralph Bellamy). Walter asks Hildy to help stop the execution of a condemned man, Earl Williams (John Qualen), before she leaves. However, Walter’s motives are less than noble, and the story is more trouble than previously expected.
His Girl Friday is a seminal film in the screwball comedy genre, notable for its biting wit and rapid-fire, overlapping dialogue. In 1993, it was selected for the Library of Congress’ National Film Registry, for films that are “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
The film and the play it’s based on are in the public domain. The entire movie can be watched in high definition on Wikipedia.
Aaron talks about seeing His Girl Friday in college before he and Josh go over the movie’s plot, performances, humor, and legacy. Aaron also recommends more Cary Grant movies to Josh and listeners.
For more classic films, you can listen to Josh and Aaron’s podcasts on Singin’ in the Rain and A Hard Day’s Night.
