Sabrina on PAL Laserdisc

Jeremy Clarke reviews Sabrina Distributed by
Pioneer LDCE

• Cat.no: PLFEB 35281
• Cert: PG
• Running time: 122 minutes
• Sides: 2 (CLV)
• Year: 1995
• Pressing: UK, 1997
• Chaptered: YES
• Sound: Dolby Surround
• Widescreen: 1.85:1
• Price: £24.99
  

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  Director:

  Sydney Pollack

  Starring:

  Harrison Ford
  Julia Ormond
  Greg Kinnear

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Two worlds exist on Long Island. In the one, life is a non-stop, jet set, womanising garden party for young man David Larabee (Kinnear) and a never ending schedule of business deals, ruthless takeovers and related corporate activities for his elder, harder-headed brother Linus (Ford, see also Witness…). In the other world, Fairchild the Chauffeur (John Wood) polishes the family limo while his gawky-eyed and idealistic teenage daughter Sabrina (Ormond) climbs trees to oggle David’s hothouse seductions at the Estate’s aforementioned non-stop garden party.

Determined to cure her of this hopeless crush, her brisk and butlerish father banishes her to a job in Paris where he (somehow) has a contact at Vogue. This glamorous world weaves its spell and she returns to Long Island transformed into a ravishing creature that David (unaware of her identity) will pick up in his car at the drop of a hat. But David’s current fiancée (Lauren Holly) just happens to be the daughter of a major rival dynasty, so it falls to Linus to divert Sabrina before she ruins a successful business marriage.

Remaking the 1954 film, Sabrina is at once a repackage of Harrison Ford and a showcase for Julia Ormond. On the first count, it doesn’t really hack it: Ford has all the boyish charm and the necessary insecurity, but the role also requires us to believe that underneath the pleasant façade he’s actually a complete and utter bastard who values the family business above all else. But he’s just too nice here. (Whatever happened to the brutish heavy he played in 1974’s The Conversation?) On the second count, though, hack it the movie does: Ormond – finally given a role that has more to it than merely playing second fiddle to Sean Connery (First Knight) or Brad Pitt, (Legends Of The Fall) steals the film from under Harrison Ford’s nose with an utterly beguiling and thoroughly assured performance.

On Laserdisc, both the improved picture and the CD quality sound make quite a difference over the VHS version; however, widescreen presentation makes less of an impact. This movie has been shot with 1.33:1 television screens very much in mind and although 1.85:1 looks better (particularly in opening shots of the Larabee mansions and estate and later footage of Parisian fountains), there’s little gain in terms of information otherwise lost off telly sides in the VHS pan and scan version.

The disc also boasts some decidedly odd chaptering. If Chapter 7 begins where you’d want it to with Sabrina/Ormond getting off the bus on her return from Paris – in the middle of the likeable main music theme – Chapter 2 (the real oddity) starts not before the establishing shots of the Seine and the offices of Paris Vogue (where you want it), but just after. This chapter doesn’t even wait until the music stops – no rhyme or reason there at all. While the side change is sensible (if a bit brusque), Pioneer have managed to squeeze 122 minutes on to two CLV sides, making the disc extremely good value for money as far as running length goes.

Sabrina is, in the end, a charming romantic fable – enjoyable enough entertainment if not especially challenging to the grey matter. This PAL disc is undoubtedly the best way to see it in the home.

Film 4/5 Picture 4/5 Sound 5/5 Review copyright © Jeremy Clarke, 1997. Email Jeremy Clarke

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