The movie Tabloids/Girlfriend Friday His Girl Friday (1940) is the Blu-ray Edition cover of the Standard Collection of The Criterion Collection
His Girl Friday (1940) was the 19th most popular comedy film in the United States (2000 edition of the American Film Institute), and was collected by the National Film Register.
The Tabloids is based on The Front Page, a Broadway stage play by Charles MacArthur (1895–1956) and Ben Hecht (1894–1964).
The play was performed on August 14, 1929 at the Times Square Theater, with a total of 276 performances, and became famous. Set against the backdrop of the Great Depression in the United States, the original drama revolves around the case of the unemployed william Williams Williams shooting and killing a police officer, reflecting the pain of life under the economic depression and the political corruption of officials, and also pointing the spearhead of criticism at the "darkness" of the news media industry.
The film Tabloid His Girl Friday (1940), from left to right: Rosalind Russell Gary Grant Cary Grant director Howard Hawks Howard Hawks
In 1940, director Howard Hawks (1896-1977) brought the play to the screen, converting the play into a neuro-comedy, which was a success in Hollywood and further promoted the development of the neuro-comedy genre.
The biggest difference between "Tabloids" and the original Broadway stage play is that one of the protagonists, Hildy Hildy, has changed from male to female, and her boss Walter has become his ex-husband. In this way, on the basis of Hildy's marriage and departure, he added a love triangle, making his film more comedic.
The film retains the social critique theme of the original play, exposing the various misdeeds of the media industry through the deceptive tricks of the male protagonist Walter Walter (played by Gary Grant Cary Grant), the indifference and shamelessness of journalists, and also through the collusion of the mayor and the sheriff, exposing the corruption in the politics of the vote.
Gary Grant's portrayal of Cary Grant in the film Tabloids/Girlfriend Friday His Girl Friday (1940).
As the subtitle to the opening credits of the film "Tabloids" says: "The story takes place in the 'dark ages' of journalism, when journalists did everything but murder in order to 'get the news.'" Perhaps in today's male and female newspapermen in the press, you can still see this scene. ”
Walter in the play is a shrewd and capable media person, but he always does whatever it takes to achieve his personal goals. As soon as the film opens, he temporarily changes the newspaper's political stance in order to obtain a pardon signature from the governor.
In order to get his ex-wife Hildy (Rosalind Russell) back to work at the newspaper, he lied that the reporter in charge of the reporting was on leave.
Scenes from the film Tabloids/Girlfriend Friday His Girl Friday (1940), Rosalind Russell Rosalind Russell and Gary Grant Cary Grant
In order to gain the support of Bruce Bruce (Ralph Bellamy), he lied about buying insurance, but after completing the formalities, he secretly sent thieves to follow Bruce. In order to stop Hildy's trip, he sends people to steal Bruce's wallet, set up a situation for Bruce, pay Hildy fake money, and try to deceive Bruce's mother.
Although the comedic style somewhat weakens the sense of immorality of Walter's behavior, the film satirizes the deceit of journalism through Walter's absurd behavior.
The film criticizes the politics of votes through the actions of mayors and sheriffs. In order to gain the support of the voters, they do not hesitate to kill innocents and exchange the lives of others for their political benefits.
Promotional photo for the movie Tabloids/Girlfriend Friday His Girl Friday (1940), from left to right: Gary Grant Rosalind Russell Ralph Bellamy
While retaining the social critique theme of the original play, the film's screenwriter Charles Lederer (1911–1976) and director Howard Hawkes succeeded in converting the play into a neuro-comedy.
The original drama is all male journalists, and Hildy's addition makes the film version add a love theme. The repair of broken marriages is a common story in neuro-comedy, and this film is no exception.
The film begins with Hildy planning to remarry and ends with a return to Walter's arms. All of Walter's "malicious" actions are aimed at disrupting Hildy's plans to marry Bruce. A pair of quarrelsome couples once again confirms the law of love in neuro-comedy, that is, the affectionate love desire is disguised in the confrontation and conflict between men and women.
A scene from the movie Tabloids/Girlfriend Friday His Girl Friday (1940).
But from a genre point of view, this film is different from the existing neuro-comedy in terms of character relationships, and one of the biggest changes is the distribution of male and female roles.
In early neuro-comedies, such as It Happened One Night (1934) and Parenting Up Baby (1938), the dominant and dominant roles were usually taken by women, but in this film, the role became the male protagonist. In this film, Gary Grant (1904-1986) portrayed walter as a character with outstanding acting skills.
Stills from the movie Tabloids/Girlfriend Friday His Girl Friday (1940).
Screenwriter Charles Ledler designed a super-fast speech rate for Gary Grant, showing his intelligence, sharp teeth, cunning and self-centered personality.
Hildy came to say goodbye to him, and it had been difficult to say that he was ready to get married, but Walter was unconscious, still gushing, thinking that with a little trick, Hildi could get Hildy back to work.
His expression is rich and rapid, both oily and slippery, with a hint of stubbornness and childishness. On the other hand, the film shows his kind heart from the side through his efforts to pardon Williams Williams (played by John Qualen by John Quilen).
At that time, the famous Hollywood comedy actress Rosalind Russell (1907-1976) created a mature and charismatic professional woman, injecting some feminist themes into this neuro-comedy.
Hildy is a brilliant female journalist who has worked with Walter on a successful news reporting mission. But on the other hand, she can't stand Walter's fascination with work and longs for a stable, warm family life, so she chooses Bruce, an ordinary but stable insurance salesman, and prepares to return to his hometown with him.
When the film appears, she wears a striped coat and a top hat, but the low-hanging brim makes her feminine in addition to her professional appearance.
Stills from the movie Tabloids/Girlfriend Friday His Girl Friday (1940), Rosalind Russell
She is as astute as Walter, so she quickly recognizes Walter's lies and is wary of Walter's schemes. But, in the end, she still did not get rid of the temptation of work and made a deal with Walter.
In fact, it is not so much that Walter impressed Hildy with the purchase of insurance, but rather that his love of journalism made Hildy accept Walter's temptation.
When Hildy appeared in the courtroom's media room, the brim of her hat was rolled up, highlighting her professional, masculine side. She was well versed in the rules of journalism, and used money to buy off jailers, interviewed Williams, and used money to buy off prison guards to find out the truth about Vilianmus's shooting and escape.
But on the other hand, she also showed the delicacy and tenderness of women, showed strong sympathy when interviewing Villiamus, thus winning the trust of the other party, and when the reporters treated Molly coldly, she helped to create a strong and soft professional woman image.
At the end of the film, she writes about Williams with Walter, and is completely attracted to the work of reporting, leaving Bruce and the family life she craves behind.
However, it should be pointed out that the film finally allows Hildy to return to Walter's side, and this plot treatment greatly weakens the sense of independence of women, so that the film still does not escape the patriarchal trap of classic Hollywood films.
Poster for the American version of the movie Tabloid His Girl Friday (1940).
In addition to the two heroes and heroines, Bruce played by Ralph Bellamy (1904-1991) played an important role in foiling. He has a loyal personality and is a down-to-earth man. As an outsider, he does not understand the "darkness" of the media industry, and he did not expect Walter to be so "treacherous", repeatedly framed but still ignorant, his simplicity and innocence just reflect Walter's slippery oil, and Walter's bad atmosphere in the press. The three characters form a good contrast and contrast, they set off each other, making the character image more vivid and full.
The whole film is basically composed of a few indoor scenes such as newspapers, court media rooms, and taverns, but due to the fast dialogue, concise lines, and humorous scenes, the film is full of strength and makes the audience feel interesting.
Stills from the movie Tabloids/Girlfriend Friday His Girl Friday (1940), from left to right: Ralph Bellamy Gary Grant Rosalind Russell
In addition to the comedy scenes, the reaction shots are also used in serious plots to convey the position of the choreographer.
For example, in the scene where Molly Mollie (Helen Helen Mack) reprimands reporters, although molly is present, the reporters are both dismissive and indifferent, but when Molly is taken away by Hildy, all the reporters present are silent, and the whole atmosphere is very solemn.
This scene is a reaction to Molly's rebuke of the reporters earlier, and their attitude is to show that everything Molly said is not wrong and irrefutable.
Through the use of a large number of reaction lenses, the film constructs a layer of discourse in addition to lines, actions, and plots, which play different roles, or annotate the picture, or express the position of the choreographer, or create a comedic atmosphere, which well reflects the multi-faceted characteristics of the film narrative.
In fact, watching this film does not have to force reasonable logic, just look at Gary Grant and Rosalind Russell two you are cheating on me is enough, in order to achieve the goal, the two met sparks, do everything at the same time, the journalist industry interview method is also unique, there are a few crazy paragraphs, Gary Grant in order to repel love enemies, poor fiancé Ralph Bellamy and his mother are repeatedly framed, but you sympathize with him and feel funny, in fact, the supporting roles in the film can not be underestimated.
For example, newspaper reporters, suspects and even an ordinary supporting role can make you laugh, the so-called peony is good but also supported by green leaves, that unique humor tendency is exaggerated and nonsensical, and it is not outdated today.
For the first time to let the audience see Gary Grant as a rogue on the screen, of course, the heroine Rosalind Russell is not a vegetarian, appreciate the role of Rosalind Russell is smart enough but not annoying, some movies in order to create a confrontation between the male and female protagonists, many times sacrificed the wisdom of women, so that women like a hedgehog, obviously set the woman's background more talented, but in order to fight the scene to look good hard to lower their EQ ... Rosalind Russell is not such a woman, she is very insightful of Gary Grant's routine, and will not be complacent because of this, smart women should be like this!
American stills poster for the movie Tabloids/Girlfriend Friday His Girl Friday (1940).
Rosalind Russell's role in The Tabloids was portrayed by "Queen of Comedy" Carole Lombard (1908–1942), Catherine Hepburn Katharine Hepburn (1907–2003), Jean Arthur (1900–1991) and Lauren Bacall (1924–2014). Wait for a number of hollywood big-name actresses to refuse to star before coming up.
Rosalind Russell knew before the audition that the actresses refused, and she was also extremely upset, so she wore pajamas to audition, obviously not wanting to take the play.
As a result, director Howard Hawkes just saw her reluctant state before the audition, leaving her to "submit to it".
Rosalind Russell's styling for the film Tabloids/Girlfriend Friday His Girl Friday (1940).
"Tabloid Trickster" is brightly paced, the biggest feature is the smooth dialogue, the sense of comedy almost comes from the actor's extremely fast dialogue, although the film is full of sexual innuendo, but the attraction lies in its professionalism, and gary Grant and Rosalind Russell's ball of dialogue. Director Howard Hawkes's ability to create energy, rhythm and timing dwarfs Quentin Tarantino.
Hollywood critics at the time pointed out that the subtle and obscure techniques in "Tabloids" set the standard for future sex movies. They say the sexiest moment in the film is when Gary Grant asks Rosalind Russell, "Want my fingerprints?" Rosalind Russell replied lazily: "Oh no thanks!" I still have it! "At the time.
Who can steal the scene like crazy in front of Gary Grant? Catherine Hepburn? No; Ingrid Bergman Ingrid Bergman (1915-1982)? No; Grace Grace Kelly (1929-1982)? Audrey Hepburn (1929-1993)? No...... There is only one answer: Rosalind Russell!
Rumor has it that when Rosalind Russell discovered that Gary Grant had almost all of her best lines, she was slightly disgruntled and paid screenwriter Charles Ledler $200 a week to add a rebuttal to Gary Grant's lines in the play, making her character more fleshed out.
Gary Grant Cary Grant Rosalind Russell's funny look on set in the movie Tabloid His Girl Friday (1940).
As a result, her witty conversations with Gary Grant are classic, but you can always feel that Rosalind Russell is in the ascendancy, which is what we see now as the oppressive Rosalind Russell.
Then again, actors without considerable experience can't do this, especially for Gary Grant, who is also a housekeeper, and many reviews say that this film is the fastest dialogue film in film history, and perhaps only Woody Allen can achieve such an effect among the younger generations.
Rosalind Russell's acting basics are fully reflected in her supersonic lines, but the most amazing thing is her cleverness and a little bit of stupidity in it – the best effect of comedy performances.
Look at the scene where she answers the phone, everything seems to happen in a second; and when after the accident, everyone runs to watch, but she stands still in the same place, and it takes a long time to react; and in order to grab the news, she wears high heels and chases a man, and finally catches up, and pounces on it! What an extreme journalist.
It is worth mentioning that the Broadway stage play "Front Page" has as many as four film adaptations. In 1931, The Crime City Front Page (1931), which was first adapted to the big screen by Lewis Milestone (1895-1980), was a critically acclaimed and nominated for the Oscars for Best Film, Best Director and Best Actor. Director Howard Hawkes's "Tabloids" is the second film adaptation, which is naturally more interesting than the version directed by Lewis Milestone.
Stills from the movie The Front Page (1974), Jack Lemon Jack Lemmon (right) Walter Matthau
Billy Wilder (1906–2002), released in 1974 as The Front Page (1974), was the third film adaptation of the front page, this time with Rosalind Russell's character changed back to male, and was replaced by Billy Wilder's royal actors Jack Lemon Lemmon (1925–2001) and Walter Matthew Walter Matthau (1920-2000) starred, but the film's sets, lines, cinematography, and even details were almost copied from Howard Hawkes's Tabloids.
Promotional photo for the movie Big News/Sandwiching Channels (1988), from left to right: Christopher Reeve Catherine Turner Burt Reynolds
In 1988, the front page was adapted by director Ted Kotcheff and made its fourth appearance on the silver screen as "Headlines/Sandwiching Channels", and the scene was changed from newspaper to television. The stars are Christopher Reeve (1952–2004), Burt Reynolds (1936–2018) and Kathleen Turner.
Of course, it must also be emphasized that this is a film directed by Howard Hawkes. It's been hard to pinpoint the label on Howard Hawkes, who is so versatile and tries out so many different types of movies.
Stills from the movie Tabloids/Girlfriend Friday His Girl Friday (1940), Gary Grant Cary Grant Rosalind Russell
It's hard to imagine the black thrillers Starring Humphrey Bogart (1899–1957) and Lauren Bacall (1924–2014), John Wayne (1907–1979), and Montgomery Clift (1944), John Wayne (1907–1979) and Montgomery Clift The Western action film Red River (1948) starring 1920–1966 and Marilyn Monroe(1926–1962) starring Marilyn Monroe in the song and dance film Gentleman Loves Beauty/Gentleman Loves Blondes Goldlemen Prefer Blondes (1953) were both written by Howard Hawkes.
However, "Tabloids" will definitely make your blood pressure rise when watching, so be careful!
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