Let's All Be Manly!

My next film is another I've been meaning to get to. It stars two of the very greatest of the greats - Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy. It is their funny and thought-provoking Adam's Rib. This film was directed by George Cukor, who also directed Hepburn's The Philadelphia Story (hilarious), Judy Garland's legendary A Star is Born, and the wonderful Audrey Hepburn's My Fair Lady. In her book Me: Stories of My Life, Katharine Hepburn says that Cukor was one of her very favorite directors to work with. Indeed, many of her films that I adore were directed by Cukor.

At any rate, this movie was released in November of 1949, and briefly follows the lives of two married lawyers, Adam (Tracy) and Amanda (Hepburn). In the beginning of the movie, the two have a friendly debate about what the role of women should be in the modern society. Amanda states, "We don't want advantages, we don't want prejudices." I think that this is precisely the crux of the feminist movement: pure equality - no advantages, no disadvantages because of our sex. I am so proud to hear my favorite actress declare my views on feminism so succinctly - in the 1940s no less.

Anyway, I'll get off of my soapbox.

As a direct outcome of this debate, the two take opposing sides in a case that pits husband - Warren (Tom Ewell) - against wife - Doris (Judy Holliday). Doris came in on Warren canoodling with another young lady, and took several unaimed shots at them both. What was clear was that she shot at them. What the trial was trying to determine was whether or not it was justified. It's a bit complicated, since we don't live in this mentality (for the most part) anymore, but if a man were to do the same thing, Amanda's position was that he would get a slap on the wrist from society, but her client was on trial for attempted murder. Adam, with Warren as client, was just trying to convict Doris of the crime.

This creates, as one might imagine, some trouble at home between Adam and Amanda. Their fights and makeups - hilarious and yet almost painfully realistic - make up the bulk of the film. The dialogue is smart, fast, and from the heart. Like with most movies with these two, it seems very natural and real.

I loved this movie so much that I don't have the space to include all of the notes I took on it. So here are a few tidbits quickly plucked out:

At the beginning, the two each drop pencils at the same time off of the table during jury selections, and flirt with each other silently under the table. This is adorable, and mirrored later with a similar tactic, only with Amanda sticking out her tongue at Adam instead of lifting her dress for what must have been a mildly scandalous view of the bottom of her slip.

There is a scene where Amanda, Adam, and their neighbor Kip are all fighting in the hall. All three scream, and yell, and gesture for a good three minutes. The dialogue is unintelligible, but it is so because it suggests what it's like in a real fight - no one is listening to anyone else. It's very well done.

Finally, when Amanda starts weeping over a fight she and Adam are having, he rails on her, saying, "A few female tears, stronger than any acid!" I have heard from men that this is true. Ah, but he turns the tables on dear Amanda when at the end, he sheds a few tears and wins back her compassion. The following dialogue ensues:

Adam (in reference to crying) - "Us boys can do it too, we just don't think to."

Amanda - "There's no difference between the sexes. Men, women - the same."

Adam - "They are, huh?"

Amanda - "Well, maybe there is a difference, but it's a little difference."

Adam (laughs) - "Well, you know, as the French say - "

Amanda - "What do they say?"

Adam - "Vive la difference!"

Amanda - "Which means?"

Adam - "Which means hooray for that little difference!" (closes the bedcurtains)

All in all, a lovely film, a joy and a laugh. I recommend it with a devilish little grin.