Sabrina (1995)

Director:

Sydney Pollack

Writers (WGA):

Samuel A. Taylor (play)
Billy Wilder (earlier screenplay) ...

Release Date:

15 December 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance | Drama

Tagline:

You are cordially invited to the most surprising merger of the year.

Plot:

An ugly duckling having undergone a remarkable change, still harbors feelings for her crush: a carefree playboy, but not before his business-focused brother has something to say about it.

Plot Keywords:

Chauffeur | Vogue Magazine | Playboy | Color Remake Of Black And White Film | Reference To Bill Bojangles Robinson

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 1 win & 4 nominations

Cast

Harrison Ford	...	Linus Larrabee
Julia Ormond	...	Sabrina Fairchild
Greg Kinnear	...	David Larrabee
Nancy Marchand	...	Maude Larrabee
John Wood	...	Tom Fairchild
Richard Crenna	...	Patrick Tyson
Angie Dickinson	...	Mrs. Ingrid Tyson
Lauren Holly	...	Elizabeth Tyson, MD
Dana Ivey	...	Mack
Miriam Colon	...	Rosa
Elizabeth Franz	...	Joanna
Fanny Ardant	...	Irène
Valérie Lemercier	...	Martine
Patrick Bruel	...	Louis
Becky Ann Baker	...	Linda

Also Known As:

Sabrina (Germany)
Сабрина (Russia) [ru]
Sabrina (Turkey: Turkish title) [tr]
Sabrina (Denmark) [da]
Sabrina (Canada: French title) [fr]
Sabrina (Slovenia) [sl]
Sabrina (Austria) [de]
Sabrina (y sus amores) (Spain) [es]

MPAA:

Rated PG for some mild language.

Runtime:

127 min

Country:

Germany | USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Canada:G (Quebec) | Canada:PG (Manitoba/Nova Scotia/Ontario) | Australia:PG (TV rating) | Iceland:L | South Korea:15 | Argentina:Atp | Chile:TE | Finland:S | Germany:6 (bw) | Portugal:M/12 | Spain:T | Sweden:7 | UK:PG | USA:PG | Australia:G | Singapore:PG | Canada:PG

Filming Locations:

399 Park Avenue, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Constellation Entertainment

Trivia:

The lead role was originally offered to Winona Ryder.

Goofs:

Continuity: When David is confronting Linus in his office, David enters, Ron and Ron leave, David slams the door. When he does this Linus leans back in his chair. The camera pans back to David for a line and then returns to Linus who is still leaning forward at his desk, not having had time to get back to that position

Quotes:

[first lines]
Sabrina: Once upon a time, on the north shore of Long Island, not far from New York, there was a very very large mansion, almost a castle, where there lived a family by the name of Larrabee. There were servants inside the mansion, and servants outside the mansion; boatmen to tend the boats...

Movie Connections:

References "House of Style" (1989)

Soundtrack:

For All We Know

A romantic comedy doesn't get better than this

I saw the original "Sabrina" before ever seeing the remake. I adored Audrey Hepburn in all of her movies, and this was not an exception. Her comedic timing was perfect. She was completely believable as a young ingenue, and of course, she would not be Audrey Hepburn if she weren't absolutely breakthtaking on screen. But while I enjoyed the original, I have seen it only once, whereas I have seen the remake so many times I have lost count!

The 1995 "Sabrina" is a gem of a film. I keep hearing myself describe it as funny, but sometimes I wonder if that's even the right word. That's because except for that rather unexpected burst of laughter from Linus' secretary, which cracks me up EVERY time I get to that part, I have never found myself laughing aloud while watching this movie. But the humor is so cleverly written, it is impossible to ignore just how charming and comical this movie is.

The script is wonderfully brought to life by the outstanding cast. Harrison Ford is superb as Linus Larrabee. He plays Linus as a serious and almost ruthless businessman, and yet gains our sympathy as he gradually shows a tender and vulnerable side to Linus' cool exterior. Greg Kinnear is well-cast as Linus' dish of a younger brother, David. True, David is self-centered, careless, and carefree. But Greg Kinnear plays him with utter charm that we understand why Sabrina and women in general are so taken with him. And what of Julia Ormond? Well, I think she was absolutely perfect as Sabrina. If she had felt any trepidation essaying the role that had been so closely identified with an icon like Audrey Hepburn, none of her nerves translated on to the screen. She IS Sabrina. I think it's a wonderful combination of her beauty and acting skills that helped her succeed in this role. The sincerity of her performance makes Sabrina so appealing and completely lovable.

The performances of the three leads are complemented by a fine supporting cast made up of John Wood, Nancy Marchand, Dana Ivey, Richard Crenna, and Angie Dickinson. Some of the film's funniest moments involve their characters. And then there is the exquisite soundtrack composed by John Williams. The score is at once dreamy and intoxicating. Two songs that were written for the movie, "(In the) Moonlight" and "How Can I Remember?", are just as memorable and perfectly capture the feelings of romance and longing.

Hollywood has made a number of successful romantic movies, and I think "Sabrina" ranks as one of its best. Its charm never wears off. It sweeps you off your feet and makes your heart soar. It is a marvelous, marvelous film!