Cary and Irene (THE AWFUL TRUTH)

Friday, October 22, 2010

Woman of the Year (1942).




Woman of the Year (1942). Cast: Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn with Fay Bainter, Reginald Owen, Minor Watson and William Bendix. It was directed by George Stevens, produced by Joseph L. Mankiewicz and written by Ring Lardner Jr. and Michael Kanin. The music score was by Franz Waxman and the cinematography by Joseph Ruttenberg. The art direction was by Cedric Gibbons and Randall Duell and the costume design by Adrian.

As New York Chronicle sports columnist Sam Craig sits and listens to the radio quiz program.. Information, Please,  he can not believe it, when political columnist Tess Harding, misses a question about baseball. After Sam writes an article criticising her, Tess retaliates. Their editor, orders them to meet in his office and stop their scrabbling. They both become immediately attracted to each other and Sam decides to invite her to a Yankees game to teach her about baseball. Later Tess, invites Sam to a party held at her apartment, along with dozens of her international friends. Despite Tess's busy life, This "romantic odd couple" fall in love and decide to marry. Sam wants a traditional wedding, but because of Tess's busy schedule, the wedding must take place immediately .

Tess's diplomat father and her aunt, are only able to stay a few minutes and Tess is called away for an important call just after the wedding, leaving Sam behind. The wedding night, just as they are about to go to bed,  Yugoslavian political refugee Dr. Lubbeck, shows up with a group of his friends. Sam is not happy with how married life is going. Tess seems to forget how to be a wife and Sam begins to feel neglected. Will their marriage survive?

I always love to watch films which team Spencer Tracy with Katharine Hepburn. Most of all... it is fun, to see Hepburn, showing a sexy side, which we rarely see in her films.























Fay Bainter's, movie debut was in, This Side of Heaven(1934), the same year she performed in, Dodsworth on Broadway and the film: It Happened One Day(1934). Bainter, became the first performer nominated for both the Academy Award for Best Actress, for White Banners (1937), and the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Jezebel (1938), winning for the latter. Since then, only nine other actors have won dual nominations in a single year. She was again nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in The Children's Hour (1961).

2 comments:

Robin@DecoratingTennisGirl said...

Tracy and Hepburn, how great were they. In my opinion, Tracy was the best actor of his time, hands down!

monty said...

Excellent choice Dawn.