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His Girl Friday Review

For Families provided by Common Sense Media

OK for kids 12+

Sassy screwball classic with a feminist twist.

What Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that while there's no sex or bad language in this film, you do see a character jump out the window to her death and many characters pull guns on one another. There's also a considerable amount of underhanded behavior. For instance, Walter has Bruce arrested twice, gives him counterfeit money, and plans to rig the election with biased reporting.

  • Families can talk about the choices Hildy had to make: Either be a "normal person" and have a family or be a "newspaperman" and have a career. How has it changed today and how is it still similar?

The good stuff
  • message true0

    Messages: A lot of underhanded behavior, including lying, passing counterfeit money, stealing, gambling, bribery, and conniving. There's also considerable sexism: When a woman walks into the newsroom, one of the reporters says, "Take off your shirt." On the plus side, Hildy is a strong female role model, showing tenacity, brains, and compassion.

What to watch for
  • violence false3

    Violence: A surprising amount of violence, including a woman jumping from a window. We see her face-down on the pavement below. Gunshots are aimed at a press room. Many characters aim guns at one another. Characters threaten to hurt one another, saying things like "I'm going to kick you in the teeth."

  • sex false0

    Sex: Some gazing into eyes, but that's it.

  • language false0

    Language: Not an issue

  • consumerism false0

    Consumerism: Not an issue

  • drugsalcoholtobacco false3

    Drinking, drugs and smoking: Everyone smokes cigarettes and Hildy and Walter take their coffee with rum.

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© Common Sense Media Inc. 2010. All rights reserved.

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