Sabrina (1954) boasts such an all-star lineup it’s hard to see how it could be anything but great. The film is directed by the great Billy Wilder (it was his last film with Paramount Pictures, ending a 12-year working relationship), and stars William Holden, Humphrey Bogart, AND Audrey Hepburn. With firepower like that it’s hard to miss.

Not that the film does. However, given my love for Wilder, Bogart, and Hepburn and thus my huge expectations, I couldn’t help but feel a bit let down. The plot is familiar, a Cinderella story – the daughter of the chauffeur, Sabrina (Hepburn), is in love with the rakish son, David (Holden), who pays her no notice. She goes off to Paris, she becomes cultured and beautiful, she comes back, and she wins his love. But David is no Prince Charming. He has been married several times, and is engaged for a forth time when he “falls for” Sabrina. David is a cad, and we are made to admire his older, serious brother, Linus (Bogart). Now, this is where the film begins to slip a bit. Worried that David marrying Sabrina will ruin a huge business deal Linus has arranged, he attempts to thwart their relationship. He does this by attempting to get Sabrina to fall for him and (surprise!), he begins to fall for her himself. The audience is then meant to root for Linus, and hope that he and Sabrina end up together. The problem is that Sabrina feels affection for both brothers at the same time, and David plans to call off his marriage to be with her. Are we to believe David has changed his ways and Sabrina is going to get her lifelong wish? Are we to root for the underdog in Linus? This leads to a conflict in the viewer. I would say the latter, apart from the fact that Linus plans to manipulate Sabrina’s emotions, have her fall in love with him, only to send her off to Paris and never see her again. That’s a little too cruel for a character i’m meant to root for. In Hepburn’s earlier film, Roman Holiday, she falls in love with Gregory Peck while he is using her for his own personal gain. However, this is forgivable, as Peck does not know her before he begins the relationship. Linus has no such excuse – he has known Sabrina for an extremely long time. You feel conflicted rooting for him when he is shown to be capable of such cruelty and coldness.

Beyond this, the film is very enjoyable. The dialogue is charming and witty, as are the characters. There are some good gags and lavish scenery. This is one of Wilder’s weaker films, but that doesn’t mean much when you have The Apartment, Some Like It Hot, and Sunset BLVD. under your belt. All in all, the film is worth watching, it’s enjoyable, it’s charming. Ultimately, Wilder crafts a story to complex for its own good, but its still very very good.