Sabrina vs Sabrina

There are two cinematic versions of Sabrina, a story about a chauffeur’s daughter that is courted by both sons of a wealthy family. I’ll call the 1954 version Sabrina One, stars Humphrey Bogart and Audrey Hepburn. I’ll call the 1995 version Sabrina Two, stars Harrison Ford and Julia Ormond. I prefer the 1954 version whereas my wife prefers the 1995 version. Could it be because I find Audrey much more attractive than Julia while my wife find Harrison more attractive than Humphrey? Could be.

When Sabrina One was released, Bogart was 55. Harrison was 53 when Sabrina Two was released, so both men were about the same age. I’m no authority on a man’s attractiveness quotient but my opinion is that Bogie, as he’s affectionately known, did a better job. Bogart really did seem to be a cold-hearted businessman and ruled over his brother, staff, and parents. Ford, on the other hand just seemed like a suave gentleman flowing with the situation and doing his best to resolve the issues at hand. For example, when Audrey commented on the apparent coldness and solitary lifestyle, Bogart seemed genuinely hurt and saddened by a mysterious lost love. When Julia, cracked about Ford’s status as the only living heart donor, Ford seemed only irritated. Bogart certainly didn’t have Ford’s physical presence and good looks but he seemed harder and more commanding. As he succumbed to Audrey’s irresistible charms you could see the cracks appearing in his stone-like facade. I’m sorry to say, but with Ford, he appeared to me as a suave playboy, pretending to be a cold-hearted businessman.

Comparing Audrey and Julia is a little riskier. Audrey was 25 and Julia was 30 when their respective films were released. Looks aside, being much more subjective, I think Audrey did a better job at playing the part of an effervescent young woman made sophisticated by a 2 year stint in Paris. And Audrey’s French is much better. When happy, Audrey seemed truly giddy. When sailing, she seemed to genuinely accept the much older Bogart with a complex combination of respect, admiration, and sympathy over Bogart’s aborted romance and suicide attempt. Julia, well, what can I say. I just couldn’t believe her as a teen nor as a sophisticated young woman familiar with the Parisian lifestyle.

In the fifties, it was still quite acceptable, even plausible, for a young woman of 25 to fall for an older man of 50. Now-a-days, I don’t think the same is true. In fact, it seems to me that most people have a difficult time appreciating anyone of the opposite sex when there is an age difference of more than a few years. So, Sabrina One wins my vote for the best actors and most plausible circumstances. Watch them both and we’ll compare notes.

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