His Girl Friday is a hilarious screwball comedy about the world of print journalism. Screwball comedies are marked by witty, fast-paced dialogue. It makes me wonder if that is where the stereotypical old-timey newspaper journalist voices come from (or did journalists actually talk like that way back when?). The speed and braininess of the dialogue reminds me of Aaron Sorkin's writing. It is a wonder how Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell could remember that much dialogue and spit it out in one breath. Especially since all of the dialogue is yelled at the top of their lungs. Journalism seems very hectic.
This movie also presents a rather early portrait of a modern woman. She is married to her work and holds her own against the boys in the brutal press room. She is good at what she does and commands the respect of her male counterparts. She dominates in her relationship with her fiancee and even protects him. It is a very refreshing movie for the 1940s.
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