His Girl Friday (1939, released 1940, Howard Hawks)

"Can't you hang him at five instead of seven so we can make the first edition?" Clearly showing its theatrical origins - ultra-cynical play written by the legendary Ben Hecht and Charles MacArthur, adapted by Charles Lederer. Fast-talking, frequently interrupting Cary Grant and Rosalind Russell are perfect in classic role reversal switch on the original. Simple Hawks filming with his distinctive character groupings.

I think my favourite moment is after Helen Mack has shamed the newsroom and there's a moment where none of the cynical press can speak or even look at each other. Great ensemble cast at work here, including Porter Hall, Roscoe Karns, Cliff Edwards, Frank Jenks, Regis Toomey (some of this extremely rapidly edited by Gene Havlick); Gene Lockhart (Miracle on 34th Street) the ineffectual sheriff and Clarence Kolb the mayor, John Qualen, Abner Biberman and Ralph Bellamy (so funny to see him the day after Pretty Woman - this has happened before - "he's the one outside who looks like Ralph Bellamy").

Shot by Joe Walker for Columbia.