Audrey Hepburn followed up her Oscar Winning role as a sweet princess in "Roman Holiday" with the perfect Cinderella story, one with the wittiest script, and filled with romance in spite of the fact that her leading men seem far too old for her. She is the daughter of the chauffeur (John Williams, actor; NOT composer) to the wealthy Larrabee family, narrating the film in its unique prologue as she describes the Larrabee estate. From there, the audience meets the Larrabee family which includes the aging old codger of a patriarch (Walter Hampden) and a society matron (Nella Walker) not in the Billie Burke dizzy mode, and their sons: Stuffy Humphrey Bogart and practically worthless playboy William Holden. As she is heading to Paris to attend an esteemed cooking school, she fears that she'll loose Holden (who barely notices her) to one of his silly debutante girlfriends, and after Bogart rescues her from a case of carbon monoxide poisoning, Hepburn faces her future and heads off where she learns how to cook and comes back a glamorous beauty. Holden notices her now, and Bogart steps in to prevent Holden from ruining a business deal by breaking off with his newest fiancee by going after Hepburn himself.
Having seen this many years ago and perhaps not in 20 years, I had many memories of the souffle scene, the plastic table testing scene, and of course the opening narration where Hepburn describes the purpose of each of the Larrabee's and the unseen staff. Among that staff is maid Nancy Kulp a decade before "The Beverly Hillbillies" (Miss Jane on Long Island rather than in Bel Aire!) and Ellen Corby close to two decades before "The Waltons". Each of the cast gets a chance to gain a laugh or two, yet the romantic plot-line is very well played out with intelligent dialog and situations that helps this rise above your typical romantic comedy. Bogart gets the chance to play a character of his own background and even makes a comment regarding Paris that will instantly bring back memories of his biggest hit, "Casablanca". Holden's big moment is reacting to having sat on two champagne glasses, and papas Williams and Hampden each shine in their individual moments as well, particularly Hampden when he makes fun of one of Holden's former romantic distractions by imitating her participation in a TV commercial.
With director Billy Wilder among the writers, this ends up being one of his best works, quite different than "Double Indemnity" and "Sunset Boulevard" and not as farcical as "Some Like It Hot". The first half is appropriately humorous and charming with the second half more bitter sweet and profound. The art direction, photography, editing, use of a new music score combined with some popular standards ("Isn't It Romantic?", "Yes We Have No Bananas") aiding the film greatly. This film has sustained the test of time, and produced a remake that while unnecessary I didn't mind all that much. (Featured actress Nancy Marchand stands out as the family matriarch in that version....) As far as "Cinderella" stories go, this is one of the most unique, and one that its audiences will gratefully never forget.
Having seen this many years ago and perhaps not in 20 years, I had many memories of the souffle scene, the plastic table testing scene, and of course the opening narration where Hepburn describes the purpose of each of the Larrabee's and the unseen staff. Among that staff is maid Nancy Kulp a decade before "The Beverly Hillbillies" (Miss Jane on Long Island rather than in Bel Aire!) and Ellen Corby close to two decades before "The Waltons". Each of the cast gets a chance to gain a laugh or two, yet the romantic plot-line is very well played out with intelligent dialog and situations that helps this rise above your typical romantic comedy. Bogart gets the chance to play a character of his own background and even makes a comment regarding Paris that will instantly bring back memories of his biggest hit, "Casablanca". Holden's big moment is reacting to having sat on two champagne glasses, and papas Williams and Hampden each shine in their individual moments as well, particularly Hampden when he makes fun of one of Holden's former romantic distractions by imitating her participation in a TV commercial.
With director Billy Wilder among the writers, this ends up being one of his best works, quite different than "Double Indemnity" and "Sunset Boulevard" and not as farcical as "Some Like It Hot". The first half is appropriately humorous and charming with the second half more bitter sweet and profound. The art direction, photography, editing, use of a new music score combined with some popular standards ("Isn't It Romantic?", "Yes We Have No Bananas") aiding the film greatly. This film has sustained the test of time, and produced a remake that while unnecessary I didn't mind all that much. (Featured actress Nancy Marchand stands out as the family matriarch in that version....) As far as "Cinderella" stories go, this is one of the most unique, and one that its audiences will gratefully never forget.