In the Moonlight

Sabrina (1995) is the modern retelling of a 50’s classic. Nothing can top the prestige of director Billy Wilder, Audrey Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart, and William Holden. Yet director Sydney Pollack, Julia Ormond, Harrison Ford, and Greg Kinnear all put forth the same effort. Though Sabrina (1995) bombed, it did receive 2 Oscar nominations for Best Original Score John Williams and Best Original Song “Moonlight” by Sting. Sabrina (1995) does make a few decent changes like actually shooting on location. The story is sort of updated for the 90’s, but Sabrina (1954) is pretty timeless. I don’t know Ormond nearly as much as Hepburn, but she fits the role. Her transformation is more drastic with glasses and messy hair.

Though Sabrina doesn’t immediately consider suicide, she does have an awkward encounter with Linus before leaving for Paris. Much more time is spent in Paris, but for some reason her cooking lessons are replaced by a fashion photography internship. Sabrina also has a quick fling despite continuing to think about David. In his first starring role, Kinnear makes David a little more childish. Ford is much more closed off with a sneaky sense of humor as Linus. Though he didn’t think he was right for the role, Ford already proved he could play a romantic businessman. The biggest difference is the Larrabee brothers answering to their mother instead of their father. Nancy Marchand plays Maude Larrabee who ends up sympathizing with Sabrina more. As a result, Richard Crenna and Angie Dickinson are more vocal about David being with a chauffeur’s daughter. They play the parents of Elizabeth Tyson played by Lauren Holly.

David’s fiancée is now a doctor and isn’t around during his conquest of Sabrina. Sabrina returns with a similar short haircut and elegant outfits. This time the Tyson family owns an electronics company. After David suffers the same accident, Linus steps in for a dance in a solarium instead of a tennis court. Though Sabrina and Linus fall for each other, they aren’t romantic right away. When Linus realizes his feelings, it’s a plane he catches instead of a boat. Only at the end does Linus get approval from Sabrina’s father played by John Wood. Dana Ivey and Míriam Colón also get a bit more attention as Linus’ secretary and the maid. I’d also like to point out Paul Giamatti in an early role. Sabrina and Linus meet in Paris, but it’d be a lot more romantic if they didn’t have to talk. Sabrina (1995) does as well as a remake of an already perfect film can do.

Sabrina shares a dance with Linus

Remake of: Sabrina (1954)