MovieChat Forums > His Girl Friday (1940) Discussion > Almost unwatchable (in one go at least)

Almost unwatchable (in one go at least)

posted 16 years ago by the_piano_dude
34 replies | jump to latest

I read somewhere - i think it was Empire's Movie Guide - that most films that an average of 85/90 wpm (words per minute), and that this film has 240! For an hour a half we're subjected to this machine-gun style of delivery. Why, in the name of all that is holy, is this nessecary?

I don't care if the story and the characters were good (which they were, or they at least had the potential to be), the sheer pace of the dialogue meant I had to watch this film in 10 minute doses - it was wearing me out! It was a serious detriment to the film, I thought - they could have had them talk like that in a few scenes where everyone was panicking, but for the rest of the film why couldn't they talk like normal human beings?

I can see why the film (or the original play) was remade so many times - lots of pople must have thought "there's a good story here, let's try and make a version of it where our actors won't collapse from exaustion!"

I only saw this film because I'm working my way through the Top 250 - now that I've seen it, I don't think it belongs in there, so on the one hand I hope it drops out to make way for a more deserving film (like Arsenic and Old Lace - a far superior screwball comedy) but on the one hand I kind of want it to stay in there so I won't have seen it for nothing!

[–] Howlin Wolf 16 years ago

You must have had that trivia tidbit in your head before you watched... I actually went in expecting the dialogue to be incomprehensible, based on what I read of your comments, but to my surprise it was totally understandable.

Perhaps you just need your ears cleaning?

It's made from bits of real panther, so you know it's good...

[–] Mr_McLaurel 16 years ago

I'm sure most of the replies you've gotten reflect what I'm about to say - but I think the machine-gun dialogue had an excellent effect on the movie. I just finished for the first time and I have a feeling of exhilaration!

What's the Spanish for drunken bum?

[–] KrisRuz 16 years ago

on the one hand I kind of want it to stay in there so I won't have seen it for nothing!

That pretty much says it all.
If your brain can't process a slightly faster paced dialog, maybe you should stick to sesame street.

[–] JackRabbitRutherford 14 years ago

I agree. I'm a huge Cary Grant fan and he's in my top five favorite actors of all time, but this movie/performance just didn't do it for me. I usually enjoy these types of fast-talking, witty comedies, but this one just didn't make me laugh no matter how much I may have wanted it to. At times I was wondering if it was meant to be a drama since I didn't connect to the humor. And the pace really was too hectic, it could've gained from taking a breath or two. Maybe another viewing will improve my rating, but until then, I find it to be quite overrated.

"There's no point living if you can't feel alive."

[–] hbenthow 14 years ago

I found him hilarious. I also sympathized with him, unlike many people who disliked his character, some even considering him a villain. But that may be because his Walter Burns is so much like myself, personality-wise.

Courage, men! We've not sunk before, and we'll not sink now!

[–] franzkabuki 13 years ago

It is quite demanding indeed to keep up with it - certainly requires a rewatch since I reckon about 1/3 of the dialogue flew right past me (among other things, I failed to catch the Grant line about Archie Leech). The damn thing is just relentless. Luckily, it´s also frequently very funny; definitely better than the Billy Wilder version.

"facts are stupid things" - Ronald Reagan

[–] Strausszek 13 years ago

Hard-boiled comedy. Very funny, but it really takes some attention and I can see why some people find it disconcerting or even ugly (the joking about execution and so on appears cold to some folks).

Mr.Hitler has made life very difficult for Shakespearian companies.

[–] Polly_Sigh 11 years ago

@franzkabuki

The correct quote is:
"Facts are STUBBORN things"

[–] Dextrousleftie 11 years ago

I've never had any problems keeping up with the film. It is one of my favorites, partially because it is so fast-paced. No slow moments, no boring segments, just lots of witty banter and snappy dialogue. To watch it in ten minute segments...you might as well not have bothered. Go watch The Seventh Seal or something more suited to the pace of your brain.

[–] 11 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Earl-Janoth 11 years ago

Well, the United States is typically one of the slowest speaking nations in the world. So if you live there, perhaps you're just used to speech that is much slower.

This film is very fast, so is Bringing Up Baby - another classic Howard Hawks screwball comedy.

As other posters said - he specifically directed people to speed things up and to overlap some of their lines. This, he said, made it more natural - 'the way people really speak'.

I think he's right. I think it was genius. It plays very well (when played by uber skilled actors like Cary Grant, Rosalind Russell and Katharine Hepburn, anyway).
The script is literally crammed with wit and it goes at a very fast pace. If you couldn't appreciate that, maybe you're slow as well as the film being fast? Not trying to be rude. But honestly, I don't think it's that fast if you have ears and a well-sharpened intellect.

[–] amdew717 11 years ago

yes i agree with you. i knew it was a classic but it was completely lost on me.