I didn't get it.

I know this is supposed to be a screwball comedy but it looks more like satire to me. I can't answer your question about why it is so great as I found it to be average, perhaps a percentage or two above average but that's about it. I agree with you about the dialog style. I watched it on television with the use of closed captioning. This helped but even closed caption couldn't capture all of the dialog.

You might want to look at this: http://www.filmsite.org/hisg.html

According to that site, this film is "hysterically funny" and contains Rosalind Russell's "greatest comedic portrayal". I have to disagree with them. I found the film to be mildly amusing, not "hysterical" and Russel turned in a much better comedic performance as Mame Dennis.

Yeah, I was wondering the same thing. I love screwball comedies. This one just wasn't that good to me.

I've seen many screwball comedies but this one didn't seem very... screwball.

I personally love the film and this film is the reason I fell in love with Grants acting. I agree with the incomprehension of some dialogue... I probably would have been a bit lost as well, but that's why I used closed caption -4 use it a lot when I watch films of this era with lots of fast talking and quick references that'd I'd otherwise miss! I think why I love the film so much is the apparent chemistry between grant and rosalind. This is my favorite grant film. Yes it wasn't hysterical laughing but I thought definitely funny and I guess the chemistry and all that makes it (for me) a Film that's unforgettable. Mind you I never heard of this film or its reviews before I watched it on Netflix a couple of years ago and of course I had heard of grant but never really watched his films, I probably did but had not remembered them. But this film made an impression on me and I started watching his other films. I'm 29 so I'm not familiar with tons of Old films and actors. But this film is my 2nd favorite older film, followed by "Pygmalion" with Leslie Howard (who is my favorite golden age actor - behind grant) . However an even funnier film of Grant's is "Topper"
Please check it out if u haven't seen it, I bet u won't b disappointed :)

I'm in the same boat as you, OP. I enjoy screwball comedies and I adore Cary Grant films. Bringing Up Baby is one of my favorites. I just couldn't get into His Girl Friday as much.

Okay, maybe the problem is that everyone is sort of talking fast and you might miss some stuff. But I think you can get the idea of what the story is about if you pay attention. Also, if you turn your close captioned on, you can see the words, or close to it to help you. Finally, if you read The Front Page, the play this is based on, you will see a lot of the dialogue so it would help you.

I agree that the plot can be too convoluted and the dialogue occasionally incomprehensible. I didn't think the film was anything funny (especially compared to Ball of Fire), but I don't think a movie being funny is necessary to appreciate its quality. The movie was incredibly entertaining and witty regardless.

Well, first of all Grant and Russell are on fire together in this film. It even feels like Russell is pushing Grant. Cary Grant did a lot of different genres. I like him in some, but "screwball" is where I like him least most of the time. I think he's better when his character isn't wishy washy. He's actually more attractive just being a jerk, or at least acting petulent, then being wishy washy. I hate him when he tries to appease. When he reacts to his characters difficult situations by getting more annoyed and arrogant, he's much funnier. That's really a testament to how powerful he was on screen.

I don't know about "screwball" with this film though. This is a pretty smart comedy (incredibly cynical) and the characters have pretty interesting motivations and back story. It's pretty diabolical actually.
The dynamic is quite interesting. Hildy is basically a drug addict who accidentally tires one more hit before quitting forever. There are exactly zero truly likable characters in this film. You root for Hildy but she chooses the dark side in the end.

The dialogue is really very enlightening to the audience in regard to the characters while also being funny. I absolutely does not stoop to the lowest common denominator. There are no cheap gags.
"Oh Hildy, we could take the six o'clock train if it'd save a man's life"

I mean, c'mon! When I first saw this film I was absolutely in shock at how subversive and biting it was for the time it was made. I don't think Tarantino is the greatest director ever. I think he's an A+ film student who steals mercilessly without being very original but he's got a good eye for great cinema.

And Rosalind Russell is absolutely on point in this film. I have read the studio didn't know what to do with her and I can't figure that out. She is clearly a very gifted comedy actress.