Synopsis
His Girl Friday (1940), directed by Howard Hawks, is a razor-sharp screwball comedy starring Cary Grant as Walter Burns, a manipulative newspaper editor who plots to keep his ace reporter and ex-wife Hildy Johnson, played by Rosalind Russell, from leaving journalism and remarrying. Adapted from the stage play 'The Front Page,' the film transforms the lead role into a woman, adding layers of romantic tension and feminist subtext. Celebrated for its breathtaking pace, overlapping dialogue, and sparkling chemistry between its leads, it remains one of the greatest comedies in Hollywood history.
Did You Know?
- The film holds a record for fastest dialogue in Hollywood history.
- Cary Grant ad-libbed 'He looks like that fellow, Archie Leach'—his real name.
- The original play had all male reporters; the lead was gender-swapped.
- Director Howard Hawks encouraged actors to overlap and interrupt each other.
- The film was shot in just 28 days on a tight budget.
Iconic Quotes
- Walter Burns: 'She thinks I'm her long-lost father!'
- Hildy Johnson: 'I'm no suburban bridge player—I'm a newspaper man!'
- Walter Burns: 'You're a newspaper man, that's what you are!'
- Hildy Johnson: 'A big fat lummox like you hiring a lawyer like that!'
- Walter Burns: 'I know, I know—I'm using my head, that's my business!'
