ADAM'S RIB (George Cukor, MGM, 1949)

The dynamics of a relationship, whether a public or private one, are always rather interesting. How a star works her way into our minds and hearts, our collective psyches is an astonishing exercise. A films power to mark the first overtures in a particular social issue battleground is remarkable. That all three of these statements can be ascertained from watching ADAM'S RIB (George Cukor, MGM, 1949) for the very first time establishes the film as worthy of its consideration as a classic work from Hollywood's golden age. To me the most striking aspect of the film is the relationship between the films two stars Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn. The pair portray Adam and Amanda Bonner, he an assistant D.A. and her a defense attorney. The film being a romantic comedy from the Golden Age, of course the pair ends up on opposite sides of an important and controversial (sensational as well) case involving another fractured husband and wife pairing. Court case aside the film truly revolves around the relationship of Adam and Amanda and the attendant friction spilling over from their daily court battles. And what a remarkable relationship they have. Years after both have passed on, we now know the two carried on a long standing relationship, a secretive one owing to the fact that Tracy was still legally married. Amidst the age we live in now, I find it remarkable that people were unaware of this relationship existing. Watch the two of them on screen and the ease and comfort between the two is amazing. This is particularly evident in the scene in which they are treating each other to rubdowns. Both take turns smacking each other in the ass and Tracy especially smacks Hepburn particularly hard. Now I am sure they didn't actually hit each other but looking back, knowing what we know now? Why wouldn't they have hit each other if only for a more realistic portrayal. Regardless the pair worked well together; they had an amazing chemistry and obviously the love between the two revealed itself on the screen. And loving Hepburn would have been easy. A strikingly beautiful woman (watch her as Tracy Lord in The Philadelphia Story and try not to fall for her) Hepburn is one of those rare actresses that has that special ability to draw you into her world. As a man you fell for her, as a woman you wanted to live her life. Strong, independent and fierce, she is a striking figure in every film. And a leader on the front of a feminist movement brewing in the U.S. After the end of the war, many American women were left wanting. The jobs they had performed during the war were being given to men, they were being asked to meekly return home and raise children. The true roots of feminism were formed earlier but this type of film surely accelerated the process. The narrative to the film is about equal treatment for women and Cukor goes to great lengths showing the inequality of treatment women were under. The courtroom sequence where Cukor changes Doris (Judy Holliday), Warren (Tom Ewell) and Beryl (Jean Hagen) to the opposite sex so the jury and viewer can look upon them in a different light. An effective way to stress his point and also a moment with which he could infuse the courtroom scenes with a little comedy. Great directing by Cukor. Hepburn herself was also an early proponent for feminism and surely her selection of this role cemented her as an early figure in any movement for women. The analogy must be made. As Adam is to Eve, so to is Tracy to Hepburn. That is always how they will be remembered, at least by me.