'His Girl Friday'

If you read about this film, it's mostly known for its dialogue -- fast-paced, biting, witty and funny.

What I found most interesting is that they tied this somewhat humorous set-up (Hildie meeting with her ex-husband to tell him she's quitting the newspaper business and getting married the next day) with the flowing, excellent dialogue with an extremely dark overall premise (the cop killer getting sent to the gallows).

In fact, they treat the death penalty with general non-chalance and the entire story is taken to a new level with political corruption (when the mayor attempts to ignore a reprieve of the sentenced man and orders the police to "shoot to kill).

Through all this, Rosalind Russell and Cary Grant are going back and forth, smiling. As if all they really want to do is jump each other's bones.