Alice Adams (1935)
There’s a famous scene in Alice Adams where Katharine Hepburn cries at her bedroom window. Reportedly, she wasn’t able to act convincingly in the scene until director George Stevens yelled at her. Humiliated, she was thrust in front of the camera and sobbed. I always thought that was terribly mean of George Stevens, but if you dig deep enough, you’ll learn countless Hollywood horror stories. I’ve since read more about his directing methods, and I can’t say I’m a fan.
In this literal tearjerker, Katharine Hepburn plays the title character, a girl from a poor family who wants a better life. She tries terribly hard to act as though she’s wealthier and classier than she actually is, and when she’s noticed by the truly wealthy and classy Fred MacMurray, she enlists her family in the effort to pretend they’re well-to-do. This is the premise for many old comedies, but Alice Adams is a drama. It’s heartbreaking at times, and one of my favorite Katharine performances. She isn’t strong and tough; she’s frightened of poverty and constantly hides where she comes from. If you like Stella Dallas or Pocketful of Miracles, you’ll like Alice Adams.
As much as I love this movie, I actually don’t watch it very often. It’s very tough to watch. Kate’s father, Fred Stone, is unemployed and his wife Ann Shoemaker always argue about his lack of initiative. While Kate idolizes her father and takes his side all the time, she positively refuses to see her suffering mother’s point of view. Fred knows he’s not worthy of the hero worship, and he hates himself for not being able to give his children what they deserve.
In the novel, Alice Adams spends all day picking violets to wear to a dance, so she’ll look like she fits in. In the movie, when the violets wilt and Katharine Hepburn tries to salvage her pride, she just makes you want to cry. Another heartbreaking scene contrasts Kate and Fred’s background when he’s invited over for dinner. His parents, Hedda Hopper and Jonathan Hale, live in a beautiful house with plenty of servants. At Kate’s house, her mother tries to put on a good impression by talking their cook, Hattie McDaniel, into wearing an apron and serving a fancy soup. Instead of the perfect dinner, it’s far too hot to eat the soup, Hattie makes it clear she doesn’t usually wear a uniform, and Kate’s brother, Frank Albertson, embarrasses them all.
Keep your Kleenex box handy and watch the movie that won Katharine Hepburn her second Rag Award. Even Bette Davis, who was nominated for won the Oscar that year for Dangerous said the award should have gone to Hepburn! Don’t read the novel, though; it has a completely different meaning to the story.
Want to watch it? Click here to watch it on ok.ru. And thanks "Classic Movies Kristine Rose" for posting!
More Katharine Hepburn movies here!
More Hattie McDaniel movies here!
Be sure to check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of the original novel Alice Adams here!
In this literal tearjerker, Katharine Hepburn plays the title character, a girl from a poor family who wants a better life. She tries terribly hard to act as though she’s wealthier and classier than she actually is, and when she’s noticed by the truly wealthy and classy Fred MacMurray, she enlists her family in the effort to pretend they’re well-to-do. This is the premise for many old comedies, but Alice Adams is a drama. It’s heartbreaking at times, and one of my favorite Katharine performances. She isn’t strong and tough; she’s frightened of poverty and constantly hides where she comes from. If you like Stella Dallas or Pocketful of Miracles, you’ll like Alice Adams.
As much as I love this movie, I actually don’t watch it very often. It’s very tough to watch. Kate’s father, Fred Stone, is unemployed and his wife Ann Shoemaker always argue about his lack of initiative. While Kate idolizes her father and takes his side all the time, she positively refuses to see her suffering mother’s point of view. Fred knows he’s not worthy of the hero worship, and he hates himself for not being able to give his children what they deserve.
In the novel, Alice Adams spends all day picking violets to wear to a dance, so she’ll look like she fits in. In the movie, when the violets wilt and Katharine Hepburn tries to salvage her pride, she just makes you want to cry. Another heartbreaking scene contrasts Kate and Fred’s background when he’s invited over for dinner. His parents, Hedda Hopper and Jonathan Hale, live in a beautiful house with plenty of servants. At Kate’s house, her mother tries to put on a good impression by talking their cook, Hattie McDaniel, into wearing an apron and serving a fancy soup. Instead of the perfect dinner, it’s far too hot to eat the soup, Hattie makes it clear she doesn’t usually wear a uniform, and Kate’s brother, Frank Albertson, embarrasses them all.
Keep your Kleenex box handy and watch the movie that won Katharine Hepburn her second Rag Award. Even Bette Davis, who was nominated for won the Oscar that year for Dangerous said the award should have gone to Hepburn! Don’t read the novel, though; it has a completely different meaning to the story.
Want to watch it? Click here to watch it on ok.ru. And thanks "Classic Movies Kristine Rose" for posting!
More Katharine Hepburn movies here!
More Hattie McDaniel movies here!
Be sure to check out Hot Toasty Rag's review of the original novel Alice Adams here!