25 February: His Girl Friday

This week’s film is the hilarious screwball comedy His Girl Friday, directed by trailblazer Howard Hawks.

It follows Walter, an editor of a newspaper, who becomes furious when he learns that his ex-wife and ace reporter, Hildy, is marrying another man. Desperate to win her back, he convinces her to work alongside him on one final investigation, in which they get deeply entangled.

His Girl Friday was released in 1940, and is the second screen adaption of 1928 broadway comedy The Front Page. What sets Hawks’ version apart is impressively quick delivery. The director was determined to break the record for fastest film dialogue, so jokes are delivered rapidly, conversations overlap, and surprises are aplenty. A sound mixer was even used on set so he could prove his film was faster than its predecessor.

Despite being over 80 years old, His Girl Friday remains one of the most critically acclaimed American comedy films ever. The Guardian named it the number 13 comedy film of all time, with writer Killian Fox concluding: “[Y]ou'll have to watch it numerous times to absorb every gag. With great verbal athleticism, the film earns its reputation as one of the fastest-talking comedies ever made.”

Be sure to catch His Girl Friday when it screens to IFS members at the Gala Cinema this Sunday, 25 February at 7pm. If you’re not yet a member of the 2024 season, it’s not too late! Sign up now and secure over 30 films, screened weekly through the year, for just $99.