I consider any criticism about the age gap between Humphrey and Audrey valid. This is an uncomfortable pairing that probably makes this film less a classic and more of a fluff entry in director Billy Wilder's celebrated life.
It's not to say younger women didn't find Bogart worthy of fawning over, it's just that the ruse to get Sabrina to fall for him would've worked as well with someone closer to her age. It is a no wonder that we grew up with this mentality. And still prevails today.
That said... the actual story structure is fantastic. A daydreaming young woman fantasizes about the lifestyle that being with rich playboy David (William Holden) can provide her. She is the daughter of the chauffeur driver. And she just dreams of a better life.
She is sent away to Paris to go to culinary school (because her Mother was a top notch cook) and she comes back a sophisticated lady. So much so it finally catches the eye of David. Unfortunately David is to be married to an heiress. So Linus (Bogart) uses his charm to seduce her away from David.
The conceit is that Bogart has the charm to do so. Again, regardless of the writing, its just too strange to have him do this. Even more strange that she falls for it.
The love triangle is formed.
Now, I can only say, as the film stands, it's very very problematic. IF casted differently, one wonders how much more elevated it would've been. For the remake of Harrison Ford and Greg Kinnear, I still found it odd. The balance they have to make is that the older brother has to be a successful industrialist whilst the younger Larrabee is a party animal. Hard to cast.
As a whole, and a "romantic" comedy, it's fine. Consider the era of which this was made.
It's not to say younger women didn't find Bogart worthy of fawning over, it's just that the ruse to get Sabrina to fall for him would've worked as well with someone closer to her age. It is a no wonder that we grew up with this mentality. And still prevails today.
That said... the actual story structure is fantastic. A daydreaming young woman fantasizes about the lifestyle that being with rich playboy David (William Holden) can provide her. She is the daughter of the chauffeur driver. And she just dreams of a better life.
She is sent away to Paris to go to culinary school (because her Mother was a top notch cook) and she comes back a sophisticated lady. So much so it finally catches the eye of David. Unfortunately David is to be married to an heiress. So Linus (Bogart) uses his charm to seduce her away from David.
The conceit is that Bogart has the charm to do so. Again, regardless of the writing, its just too strange to have him do this. Even more strange that she falls for it.
The love triangle is formed.
Now, I can only say, as the film stands, it's very very problematic. IF casted differently, one wonders how much more elevated it would've been. For the remake of Harrison Ford and Greg Kinnear, I still found it odd. The balance they have to make is that the older brother has to be a successful industrialist whilst the younger Larrabee is a party animal. Hard to cast.
As a whole, and a "romantic" comedy, it's fine. Consider the era of which this was made.