Friday, Mar. 19, 2010
Bruce Baldwin, His Girl Friday
A key wimp trait is the ability to be easily manipulated. Bruce Baldwin in the 1940 film His Girl Friday can be swayed by anyone. As played by Ralph Bellamy, Bruce is a dull but devoted insurance salesman set to marry Hildy Johnson (Rosalind Russell). Hildy, a star reporter working for (and formerly married to) editor Walter Burns (Cary Grant), is sharp-tongued and strong-willed. Though a fawning fiancé sounds like a great deal, Hildy is used to trading barbs with Walter — and Walter is determined to win Hildy back. Walter exploits Bruce's gullibility and eventually frames him for several crimes. Though it's easy to feel sorry for Bruce, it's even harder to resist Cary Grant's charms.