27 Days With Billy Wilder And Me

Billy Wilder’s twelfth movie, Sabrina, starring William Holden, Humphrey Bogart, and Audrey Hepburn, was released in 1954. Billy was 48 years old.

Apparently, during the filming of this movie, Humphrey Bogart was a turd. And so was Billy Wilder. All of them exchanged words, with Bogey and William Holden nearly coming to blows.

This is an odd movie. It’s got all the hallmarks of a Wilder film — especially the narration at the start to set the tone and reveal information to the watching audience. It features William Holden (for the third time in a Wilder film!), clever dialogue, and a rollicking, character-driven plot.

But it’s just not all that good. It’s a cross between a drama and a comedy, with an ending that’s not altogether satisfying.

Principle Cast:
Linus Larrabee………………………………….Humphrey Bogart (1899–1957)
Sabrina Fairchild……………………………….Audrey Hepburn (1929–1993)
David Larrabee …………………………………William Holden (1918–1981)

Sabrina was written by Billy Wilder, his new partner Ernest Lehman, and Samuel Taylor, on whose play — “Sabrina Fair” — the movie is loosely based.

It’s strange to see Bogart in a movie that’s supposed to be a light comedy, especially next to people like William Holden and Audrey Hepburn. Bogie’s craggy face, lisp, and dour face are a sharp contrast to the Hollywood-glamour looks of Holden and Hepburn. He looks out of place.

It’s also sad to see Bogart in 1954 knowing that he’ll be dead in just five years. What a legendary actor. An icon. He usually eats up the scenery in every movie he’s in. But, in Sabrina, he looks out like he’s struggling to maintain his own.

Holden looks and sounds like his typically affable self. His characters are often bemused and just slightly world-weary, bordering on cynical. But with a 100-watt smile that makes it all okay.

The story is about a young girl (Heburn) and two brothers — Linus (Bogart) and David (Holden) — who fall for her. She has been in love with David, the younger brother, all her life. But she falls for the much older Linus. However, Linus feels he’s too old for her and plans to send her away to Paris…along with his brother.