Woman of the Year **** (1942, Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Fay Bainter, Reginald Owen, William Bendix) – Classic Movie Review 3852

Director George Stevens’s intelligent, thoughtful and amusing 1942 romantic comedy stars Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn in their first screen partnership that was to last 25 years and produce nine movies.

The duo kick up a storm as rival reporters Sam and Tess, a sports writer and political expert journalist working for the same newspaper, sparring on their way to true love as their prickly relationship is challenged by her fierce independence. They eventually fall in love and get married but Sam begins to feel neglected when Tess becomes one of the most famous feminists in America and is even elected as the Woman of the Year.

Ring Lardner Jnr and Michael Kanin won the 1942 best original screenplay Oscar for the sparkling, witty and stylish writing. Stevens’s smooth direction and the ingratiating playing from one of the best-loved cinematic duos produce a thoroughly enjoyable light romantic comedy drama salted with some progressive ideas and peppered with hilarious moments.

It was a pet project of Hepburn, who was responsible for its development and then stipulated the writers, co-star and director when she signed her contract with MGM. Garson Kanin proposed the idea for the film to Hepburn in 1941 and she contributed to the screenplay. She presented it to MGM and demanded $250,000 – half for her, half for the authors. MGM agreed and Hepburn got the director and co-star of her choice, Stevens and Tracy.

It proved another success for Hepburn, who had so recently been box office poison. Critics praised the chemistry between the stars, and Hepburn received her fourth Best Actress Academy Award nomination (out of 12, with four wins). During the shoot, Hepburn signed a star contract with MGM.

Also in the cast are Fay Bainter, Reginald Owen, William Bendix, Dan Tobin, Roscoe Karns, William Tannen, Ludwig Stossel, Sara Haden, Edith Evanson, George Kezas, Cyril King, Ben Lessey, Johnny Berkes, Duke York, Winifred Harris, Joe Yule, Edward McWade, William Holmes, Jimmy Conlin, Ray Teal, Michael Visaroff, Gerald Mohr, Connie Gilchrist and Grant Withers.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 3852

Check out more reviews on http://derekwinnert.com