Hide Article Text (OCR)
Lt-etid.3dede?aliy.e.idHisGirlQ-ni-yriseFridayQ1ig1-By FRANK MOKRISSHis Girl Friday, which opens in Winnipeg Friday, is ' a petticoat version of that ribald newspaper melodrama. The Front Page. However, it has lost little of its ribald bite in the process and is a fast-moving affair, liberally peppered with laughs,When The Front Page opened on Broadway, Lee Tracy had the role of Hildy Johnsonv the star reporter, whose efforts to get married made ihe basis of the plot. The ^ first film version, made in the early days of the talkies, had Pat O'Brien in the Hildy Johnson role. The newest version gives the Hildy Johnson part to Rosalind Russell.Rosalind Russell JT* may ft-ting complicated,but let us add that in the first filmadaptation, Mary Brian had the role of Hildy’s finareee. The present movie has Ralph Bellamy in this part. Although he has taken these liberties with the original Ben Hecht-Charles MacArlhur script, scenarist Charles Lederer keeps the film always in laughing mood. The roles seem tailor-made for the’players concerned.There are few breathing spells in His Girl Friday. The film starts out at breakneck speed, and continues it all the way through. It moves from one farcical incident to another. Newspaper offices, as a matter of fact, are not the madhouses pictured in this case, but since the film was made for entertainment purposes, why worry about a little thing like that.The plot has Hildy Johnson, play-! ed by Rosalind Russell, trying to get away from the job long enough to marry Bruce Baldwin (Ralph Bellamy) an insurance salesman. Her managing editor and ex-hus-hand (Cary Grant) proceeds to put obstacles in her way,Rosalind Russell gives a knowing and sprightly account of herself as Hildy, and. Cary Grant has never done better work. Mr, Bellamy is likewise excellent and there are nice supporting roles for Gene Lockhart. Helen Mack, John Qual-en, Alma Kruger and others. According to statistics on the film, the characters sometimes talk at a speed of between 175 and 250 words a minute. Average conversational speed is said lu be around 80 words a minute—which gives you an idea.His Girl Friday is sure to go down as one of the best comedy melodramas of the season.
Newspaper Details
Winnipeg Free Press
Winnipeg, Manitoba, CA
Thu, Mar 28, 1940
Page 10
Full Page
Clipped by
Rotten T.
USA 14 Oct 2021
Other Publications Near Winnipeg, Manitoba
Winnipeg Courrier du Nord Ouest
Winnipeg Tribune
Winnipeg Free Press Sunday
Winnipeg Manitoban
Winnipeg Free Press
