Sabrina (1954)

Audrey Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart, William Holden

Directed by Billy Wilder

Available to stream on Amazon Prime

Chauffeur’s daughter Audrey Hepburn returns from Paris cooking school to find herself involved with both brothers of the wealthy family who employ her father.

Humphrey Bogart, Audrey Hepburn, William Holden in Sabrina

Why we love it: Audrey Hepburn is wonderful in her second starring role – so cute in her Givenchy fashions and at her cooking classes in Paris. Also very good as the playboy is William Holden. Humphrey Bogart is good, but in our opinion, he seems way too old for Audrey Hepburn and just not quite right for the role. This keeps the ultimate effect from being as perfect as it would have been. It's still a delightful romantic comedy and an absolute classic!

Audrey Hepburn and William Holden

Fun facts:

• Cary Grant was originally offered the role of Linus, but he was unavailable and Humphrey Bogart was cast instead.

• Bogart had a hard time during filming because he knew he was the director's second choice to play Linus. He didn't get along with Billy Wilder, the director, who seemed to favor William Holden and Audrey Hepburn. He also didn't get along with William Holden and he thought Audrey Hepburn was too young and inexperienced.

Audrey Hepburn in the Givenchy dress with a "Sabrina neckline"

• Audrey's wardrobe in the second part of the movie after she returns from Paris was designed by Hubert de Givenchy, though he was uncredited in the movie. This marked the beginning of their lifelong friendship and fashion collaboration. Edith Head ended up winning the Academy Award for Best Costume Design and accepted without even mentioning Givenchy.

• The film received six Academy Award nominations: Best Actress, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, and Best Costume Design.

Ad from Photoplay 1954

For a review of the movie from time, go to the Fan Magazine Reviews page.

Featured Cocktail:

Manhattan

The classic version of this drink is made with sweet (red) vermouth and rye whiskey. Bourbon or Canadian whiskies are also acceptable.

2 oz (60 ml) rye

22.5 ml (1½ Tbsp) sweet vermouth

1 dash Angostura bitters

Stir ingredients in mixing glass with ice. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with maraschino cherry.

A dry version is made with dry vermouth and garnished a lemon twist.

A “perfect” version is made with equal amounts of dry and sweet vermouth and garnished with both a cherry and a twist of orange.

Cheers to the Classics!