Woman of the Year premiered in 1942 with the Tracy-Hepburn team as journalists for the same newspaper. While Hepburn plays Tess Harding, the sophistical international political news personality, Tracy, as Sam Craig, sticks to character as the comfortable and wise sportswriter. While listening to a radio show where Miss Harding broadcasts that the great American sport of baseball is simply a waste of time, Craig editorially responds in his column with a slap on the wrist. He is then called into his boss's office for a confrontation with the overwhelmingly beautiful newscaster. With birds and bees twirling about his mind, he politely requests that she attend a baseball game and analyze the game for herself. And thus begins a sweet love story which I am certain in many ways mimics their own secreted love. This black and white movie captures the emotions and ambitions of the Woman of the Year who pursues the feminist objective so completely that she almost loses sight of the importance of her personal relationships. This movie will give you a glimpse as to why they fell in love with each other -- he with his charming and undeniably natural style, and she with all the grace and devotion that true love exudes. Well-known comedian of the time, William Bendix (The Life of Riley), has a small role in the movie as well.
The two dramas in this collection are Keeper of the Flame (1942) and The Sea of Grass. In Keeper of the Flame, Tracy plays an ambitious investigative reporter, Steve O'Malley, anxious to write a biography on a national hero who has just plunged to his death off a broken bridge. Hepburn stars as Mrs. Christine Forrest, bereaved widow who wants to keep her husband's memory alive through O'Malley's writing. The widow is mysterious and glamorous, while Tracy sports his casual inquisitive style. This feature is reminescent of the dramatic stage lighting of Citizen Kane and the drama and intensity are compelling.
In 1947, MGM's black and white feature, The Sea of Grass, (Elia Kazan, director) premiered as a story about the marriage of an unlikely impassioned cattleman, Col. Jim Brewton (Spencer Tracy) from Salt Pork, New Mexico, and a gentile lady, Lutie Cameron, (Katharine Hepburn) from St. Louis. The story is a western set in America's grasslands -- a quiet beauty that still retains the silent footsteps of antelope and buffalo, but with a history stained by the bloodshed of Indian conflicts. It is a land dominated and carved into rich and bountiful cattle land, and, as God's caretaker, Jim rules to maintain its bounty, heritage and permanence. Features include the documentary "Give Us the Earth," a Tom & Jerry cartoon called "The Cat Concerto," and Theatrical Trailer.
In 1945, MGM's Without Love premiered as an amusing comedy about two modern intellectuals who, for their own personal reasons, have abandoned love. Since both have a background in science, they decide to combine their energies in helping the war efforts of the day. Deny love as they might, the attraction becomes too great and creates some personal conflicts. Lucille Ball has a small part in this black and white movie, and the features include the following: "Purity Squad" featurette, "Swing Shift Cinderella" cartoon, and the Theatrical Trailer.
Pat and Mike premiered in 1952 for MGM with Katharine Hepburn as an accomplished female athlete, Mrs. Patricia "Pat" Pemberton, and Spencer Tracy as her low-brow manager/promoter, Mike Conovan. After indulgent training and outstanding success on the athletic circuit, Mike notices that Pat has an Achilles' heel; whenever her boyfriend comes around, she falters and slumps into a depressed state of inadequacy which predominately overtakes her confidence and she begins to lose. With big money in the offing, Mike tries to overcome this folly, but accidentally falls in love with his protege. You might recognize several actors in this movie such as Jim Backus, Chuck Connors, Aldo Ray, and Sammy White, and surprisingly the character of Hank Tasling is played by a young Charles Bronson (then known as Charles Buchinski). Also featured are sports stars Gussie Moran, Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Don Budge, Alice Marble, Frank Andrew Parker, Betty Hicks, Beverly Hanson and Helen Dettweiler. Features include Cast and Crew, Behind the Scenes which gives biographical info on the featured movie including how the Adam's Rib stars were selected for these roles, comments on the writing and Oscars merited in this movie, plus the Theatrical Teaser Trailer and Theatrical Trailer.
Adam's Rib (1949) pits Tracy and Hepburn opposing each other as district attorney Adam Bonner and his wife, Amanda, as the defendant lawyer in a scandalous attempted murder trial where a wife shoots her cheating husband when interrupting a clandestine rendezvous. You'll recognize Tom Ewell (The Seven Year Itch) playing the injured husband with his wife played by adorable Judy Holiday (Born Yesterday). This black and white romantic comedy has laughter and tears as Amanda Bonner supports her cause for women's rights, but could possibly lose her marriage in the process.
State of the Union (1948) featured the combined talents of movie greats Tracy and Hepburn in a love triangle involving successful businessman, Grant Matthews, his wife, Mary, and the mistress, Kaye Thorndyke, (Angela Lansbury). Matthews is being promoted as a presidential candidate by his ambitious mistress, and his wife is being brought into the mix to complete the positive image. While forging a path to the White House, Matthews discovers that his values have been compromised. Co-stars include Adolphe Menjou and Van Johnson, however there are no special features.
Desk Set (1957) is a delightful romantic comedy that introduces IBM's brain computer, EMERECK into the business world by its creator, Richard Sumner (Tracy). The research and payroll departments are targeted for the new equipment which threatens to replace employees. Romance evolves between Sumner and research department head, Bunny Watson (Hepburn) amidst all the tensions caused by efficiency changes in the company. Watson's boyfriend, Mike Cutler (Gig Young) seems to pursue his career much more aggressively than his lovelife with Bunny. You'll see the familiar faces of Joan Blondell and Dina Merrill as they play research co-workers. Movie commentary is narrated by Dina Merrill and John Lee and features include a short entitled "Movietone News: Designers Inspired for New Creation by Film Desk Set," a Still Gallery spotlighting photographs on the movie set, and previews of upcoming movies. This was the first CinemaScope production, but the premier of The Robe appeared in theaters first.
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner is the last movie in the Tracy & Hepburn: The Definitive Collection and it sums up the years of entertainment and talent that these two brilliant stars have given its audience. It stars Tracy as Matt Drayton, Hepburn as his wife, Christina, with Sidney Poitier (To Sir With Love) as Dr. John Prentice, their only daughter's intended. The movie is an amusing comedy about the reactions of an inter-racial couple's wedding announcement to their unsuspecting parents. The movie is as poignant today as it was when it was released in 1967. The Draytons are a couple who's daughter is on the threshold of marrying an African American and their mixed emotions run the gamut from exhilaration at the young couple's undeniable love for each other to the problems they will face with their children in the years to come. The technicolor was brilliant, the clarity clear, and the sound splendid. I believe this movie is as relevant today as it was in the day when intergration led a difficult parade through the streets of America. Features include commentaries by notables Steven Spielberg, Tom Brokaw, Quincy Jones and Director Stanley Kramer's widow, Karen, addressing the timeliness of the movie and the dramatic and courageous cultural statement the director so brilliantly envisioned as a contribution to American cinema and social reality.
In The Spencer Tracy Legacy: A Tribute by Katharine Hepburn, the actress scans the movie career of her beloved friend. He was pure, direct and dependable and commentaries applaud his acting sense and success. As a conclusion. Ms. Hepburn reads a letter she wrote to him questioning his difficulty in living his life, when he could step into the shoes of any character and so easily let the audience experience the most intimate sensitivities.
Some of the special features didn't really seem to belong with the movies they were paired with, like the cartoons and several of the featurettes, but perhaps they were just something from the time period. However, the ones targeted for specific films and the Tracy/Hepburn pair made up for it. The Tracy & Hepburn Definitive Collection is a collection that will let you share some of the delicate moments they expressed in the movies they shared and will certainly give you a better feel for their private lives with many delightful hours of entertainment.
