His Girl Friday (1940) | Directed by Howard Hawks - Full Movie

A newspaper editor uses every trick in the book to keep his ace reporter ex-wife from remarrying.

His Girl Friday is a 1940 American screwball comedy directed by Howard Hawks, starring Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell and featuring Ralph Bellamy and Gene Lockhart. It was released by Columbia Pictures. The plot centers on a newspaper editor named Walter Burns who is about to lose his ace reporter and ex-wife Hildy Johnson, newly engaged to another man. Burns suggests they cover one more story together, getting themselves entangled in the case of murderer Earl Williams as Burns desperately tries to win back his wife. The screenplay was adapted from the 1928 play The Front Page by Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur. This was the second time the play had been adapted for the screen, the first occasion being the 1931 film also titled The Front Page.

The script was written by Charles Lederer and Ben Hecht, who is not credited for his contributions. The major change in this version, introduced by Hawks, is that the role of Hildy Johnson is a woman. Filming began in September 1939 and finished in November, seven days behind schedule. Production was delayed because the frequent improvisation and numerous ensemble scenes required many retakes. Hawks encouraged his actors to be aggressive and spontaneous, creating several moments in which the characters break the fourth wall. His Girl Friday has been noted for its surprises, comedy, and rapid, overlapping dialogue. Hawks was determined to break the record for the fastest film dialogue, at the time held by The Front Page. He used a sound mixer on the set to increase the speed of dialogue and held a showing of the two films next to each other to prove how fast his film was.

Directed by: Howard Hawks
Screenplay by: Charles Lederer, Ben Hecht (uncredited)
Based on The Front Page 1928 play by Ben Hecht, Charles MacArthur
Produced by: Howard Hawks
Starring: Cary Grant, Rosalind Russell
Cinematography: Joseph Walker
Edited by: Gene Havlick
Color process: Black and white
Production company: Columbia Pictures
Distributed by: Columbia Pictures
Release date: January 18, 1940
Running time: 92 minutes
Country: United States
Language: English