I think SABRINA is enchanting except for Bogart who just seems miscast in a romantic comedy, at least at this stage in his career.
According to reference books I had here, Bogart loathed William Holden, too. I think he generally made life on the set miserable for many. Maybe his health was working against him. I don't think he looks especially well in the movie to be honest.
What really works in his favor, though, is that he is the exact opposite of Holden in temperament. I really "felt" that he had been groomed/trained/molded into the heir of his family business. Holden's character was the outsider....much like the disparity between Queen Elizabeth II and her sister Princess Margaret Rose. One was staid/stiff/somber while the other was a playgirl. It hardly seemed feasible, but it was there.
Bogart's Linus seemed tolerant but resentful of his younger brother. Many families have these personality disparities among siblings. One is outgoing and easily attracts friends in youth...and sometimes falls into disrepute in adulthood. Another is responsible, toes the line and studies hard. This one succeeds, but he may not always appear happy or may not be happy.
I approach this as having been unaware of any "set" problems on this film. I don't know if Bogart ever had a "process", but I find myself wondering if perhaps his approach here was to deliberately create this tension to aid/abet his character development.
Re: Hepburn. I imagine she was surrounded by a coterie of people attending to her (having recently won the Oscar). Remember that he and Kate Hepburn had gotten along famously doing "The African Queen". Kate was no-nonsense, no-fuss, down-to-earth and temperamentally suited to be the match of any man against whom she was cast. Audrey seemingly charmed most of her leading men into total adoration of her. There's something "not told" in all of this. I suspect only Lauren Bacall, herself, could shed any light on it.
That said, having seen Hepburn with so many "older" actors in her career, Bogart did not seem nearly as odd/strange/or ludicrous to me as did Cooper in "Love in the Afternoon."
