Die Frau von der man spricht (1942)

Die Frau von der man spricht: Directed by George Stevens. With Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Fay Bainter, Reginald Owen. Rival reporters Sam and Tess fall in love and get married, only to find their relationship strained when Sam comes to resent Tess’ hectic lifestyle.

“Aside from the historical value of first teaming Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn (she had wanted Tracy in the previous yearu0026#39;s THE PHILADELPHIA STORY, but scheduling conflicts had prevented it), WOMAN OF THE YEAR holds its own as a bright, smart u0026#39;Odd Coupleu0026#39; romantic comedy/drama, with witty dialog, a rich, textured performance by the reliable Tracy, and Hepburn showing a sexiness that she rarely gets to project on film.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eThe scenario is simple; Beautiful, brilliant Claire Booth Luce-type journalist(Hepburn) and practical, salt-of-the-earth sportswriter (Tracy) clash over whether athletic events should be suspended for the duration of the war (she finds them too frivolous in such serious times, he believes them essential for morale). After she makes some insensitive comments on the radio, he criticizes her in his sports column. Despite the paper-selling feud that results, their editor brings them together to make peace…and the pair, seeing one another in person for the first time, fall in love! Despite their busy schedules, he takes her to a ball game (which she loves) and she introduces him to her international friends (which he doesnu0026#39;t). Nonetheless, they marry, but he quickly discovers she is so busy u0026#39;saving the worldu0026#39; that she canu0026#39;t make time for him…and then she u0026#39;adoptsu0026#39; a war orphan, without consulting him, or considering how little time for u0026#39;motherhoodu0026#39; sheu0026#39;s willing to give. He realizes a drastic step must be taken, as she is clueless about what being a u0026#39;wifeu0026#39; and u0026#39;motheru0026#39; means…u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWhile the domesticity scene concluding the film seems out of place (the story goes that MGM added it to make Tracy the u0026#39;winneru0026#39; of the u0026#39;battle of the sexesu0026#39;, to a much more chauvinistic 40s audience), so many scenes ring true that the film goes beyond simple comedy/drama to a timeless statement about commitment, priorities, and accountability for oneu0026#39;s actions. And despite the serious issues raised, it makes you laugh, too! Hepburnu0026#39;s reactions at the ball game, and Tracy, trying to be inconspicuous at the womenu0026#39;s club meeting, are among the comic highlights. The star duo are so natural together that itu0026#39;s hard to believe this was their first teaming, and the chemistry carried over into their private lives as well, beginning a romance that lasted 25 years. u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eWOMAN OF THE YEAR is, deservedly, a classic!”