The Couch Potato's Guide to Old Hollywood: The Legacy of Katherine Hepburn

Unknown author Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer studio publicity photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

By Geoff Carter

Katherine Hepburn was not just an actress; she was a force of nature. Hepburn was a spirited, outspoken, intelligent, and assertive woman who just happened to be one of the most distinctive actresses of her generation. According to Sheridan Morley, one of her biographers, she “broke the mold for women in Hollywood” which is a bit of an understatement. She broke the mold for women everywhere.

As an actress, she performed on stage and screen in every genre from screwball comedy to Shakespearean drama. Her acting style has been criticized for a lack of versatility, and it was said that her strong-willed and independent screen persona was not very different from her real-life personality, so her legacy has become somewhat that of a feminist icon rather than a thespian. Even so, as an actress she was known as a master craftsman, insisting on learning every nuance of her characters.

In some of her earlier movies, particularly the nine romantic comedies in which she starred opposite Spencer Tracy, Hepburn typically portrayed a career woman coming to terms with conflicts between her personal life and ambition. Their onscreen chemistry was delightful. Tracy, who, despite being married, was linked to Hepburn romantically, and in their films he provided the ideal foil to her confident and spirited on-screen persona.

Although she suffered a number of setbacks early in her career, Hepburn refused to buckle under to studio bosses who attempted to put her on the shelf after a series of box-office failures. Hepburn instead returned to Broadway, starring in the smash hit The Philadelphia Story, before triumphantly returning to the silver screen to star in the film version of the play.

During the latter part of her career, Hepburn found a niche playing spinsters, roles that she herself acknowledged as being very close to her own personality. Films such as The Rainmaker, Summertime, and The Iron Petticoat all offered variations of this same role. Later in her career, she also reprised this style of character opposite John Wayne in Rooster Cogburn.

Katherine Hepburn may not have been the most versatile or talented actress during her time, but that didn’t really seem to matter. She was still very good. Her distinctive voice, confident demeanor, and sheer audacity outweighed any lack of versatility. Audiences didn’t want to see just anyone playing Tracy Lord or Eleanor of Aquitaine or Violet Venable. They only wanted yet another incarnation of Katherine Hepburn.

The Top Ten Films of Katherine Hepburn

Bringing Up Baby: A delightfully zany screwball comedy in which Susan Vance, (Hepburn), a scatter-brained heiress, enlists the help of Dr. David Huxley, a mild-mannered paleontologist (Cary Grant) to help her take Baby—her recently acquired pet leopard—to her family home in Connecticut. Misunderstandings, pratfalls, and mistaken identities bedevil Huxley in his attempt to acquire his “intercostal clavicle”, the last bone he needs to complete the skeleton on his brontosaurus. Notable for the electric chemistry and impeccable timing between Grant and Tracy.

Starring: Katherine Hepburn, Cary Grant, May Robson, Charles Ruggles, Walter Catlett, and Barry Fitzgerald. Written by Dudley Nichols and Hagar Wilde. Directed by Howard Hawks.

Stage Door: In this comedy, a group of young aspiring actresses living together in a theatrical boarding house are joined by Terry Randall (Hepburn), a wealthy and somewhat snooty and superior girl (a role tailor-made for Hepburn)—who soon alienates the other girls with her high-handed ways. One of the roommates, Jean (Ginger Rogers), mistakenly assumes that Terry’s expensive clothes come from a sugar daddy. Terry actually comes from wealth, and—in spite of her family’s objections has moved to New York to fulfill her dreams. Notable for Ginger Rogers’ fine performance as Jean, the flippant and cynical roommate.

Starring: Katherine Hepburn, Ginger Rogers, Eve Arden, Anne Miller, Adolphe Menjou, Jack Carson, and Lucille Ball. Screenplay by Morrie Ryskind and Anthony Veller based on the play by Edna Ferber and George S. Kaufman.

The Philadelphia Story: A delightful romantic comedy in which a high society wedding is sabotaged by the brides’s—Tracy Lord (Katherine Hepburn) first husband C. Dexter Haven (Cary Grant). Cynical tabloid reporter Macaulay “Mike” Connor (James Stewart) is assigned to cover the wedding with his wise-cracking photographer (Ruth Hussey). Taken with Mike, Tracy is conflicted about her feelings between him, Dexter, and her fiancé. She and Mike get drunk and take a late-night swim that ultimately forces the issue. This role marked Hepburn’s triumphant comeback to Hollywood after a series of flops. Notable for the great chemistry between Grant, Stewart, and Hepburn.

Starring: James Stewart, Katherine Hepburn, Cary Grant, Ruth Hussey, John Howard, and Roland Young. Written by Donald Ogden Stewart. Directed by George Cukor.

Adam’s Rib: One of the nine legendary Tracy-Hepburn romantic comedy film pairings that have become cultural icons. In this film, the duo plays married lawyers who eventually face each as opponents in court. Amanda Bonner (Hepburn) defends a woman accused a woman of shooting her husband after finding him in bed with his lover. Grounding her case in the belief that men and women should be treated equal, Amanda alienates her husband Adam (Tracy) who says he doesn’t want to be married to a liberated woman and they subsequently split up. Love does, however, triumph. Notable for the hilarious supporting performances by Tom Ewell and Judy Holliday.

Starring: Katherine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, Tom Ewell, Judy Holliday, David Wayne, and Clarence Kolb. Written by Ruth Gordon and Garson Kanin. Directed by George Cukor.

The African Queen: Rose Sayer (Hepburn) and her brother, African missionaries, find themselves pursued by hostile German forces at the advent of World War I. After her brother is killed, Rose is left alone at the mission. A coarse but good-hearted river boat captain, Charlie Allnut (Humphrey Bogart), offers Rose safe passage on his boat, The African Queen, to escape the Germans. Over the course to their journey to freedom in which they face rapids, hostile forces, and the elements—and before attacking a German gunboat—the two fall in love. Notable for the great chemistry between the two leads.

Starring: Katherine Hepburn, Humphrey Bogart, Robert Morley, Peter Bull, Theodore Bikel, and Walter Gotell. Written by John Huston and James Agee. Directed by John Huston

Suddenly, Last Summer: In this adaptation of Tennessee Williams’ play, Hepburn plays Violet Venable, a middle-aged widow so determined to protect the name of Sebastian, her recently murdered son, that she is willing to permanently institutionalize—and lobotomize—her son’s cousin Catherine Holley (Elizabeth Taylor). Catherine has been so traumatized by the circumstances of Sebastian’s death that she is under a doctor’s care. A young psychiatrist, Dr. Cukrowicz (Montgomery Clift) suspects that Violet is desperately seeking to hide the truth and finally discovers the truth about Sebastian’s death from Catherine. Notable for Elizabeth Taylor’s outstanding supporting performance.

Starring: Katherine Hepburn, Elizabeth Taylor, Montgomery Clift, Mercedes McCambridge, Albert Dekker, and Gary Raymond. Written by Gore Vidal and Tennessee Williams. Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz.

The Lion in Winter: The historical drama the epic struggles of King Henry II (Peter O’Toole) to maintain control of the English throne—even after he will have left this world. The king assembles his family at the Chinon estate during Christmas, 1183 in order to settle matters. He is joined by his estranged wife Eleanor of Aquitaine (Hepburn), his sons Richard I, Geoffrey, and John to determine once and all who will be the once and future king. The reunion is marked by bitter accusations, violent sibling rivalries, and constant unrelenting and merciless power plays. Notable for Anthony Hopkins’ early performance as Richard and for O’Toole and Hepburn’s epic performances.

Starring: Katherine Hepburn, Peter O’Toole, Anthony Hopkins, John Castle, Nigel Terry, Timothy Dalton, and John Castle.

Little Women: In this early rendition of Louise May Alcott’s beloved classic, Hepburn plays the indomitable and outspoken Jo March. This was probably one of the first roles that established Hepburn’s screen persona as a strong, independent, and intelligent woman unafraid to pursue her ambitions in a world of men. Contrasted with her more traditionally minded sisters, Amy (Joan Bennett), Meg (Frances Dee) and Beth (Jean Parker) Hepburn’s persona as a fierce independent seems to leap off the screen.

Starring: Katherine Hepburn, Jean Parker, Frances Dee, Joan Bennett, Douglas Montgomery, Paul Lukas, and Spring Byington. Written by David Hempstead and directed by George Cukor.

Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner: The Draytons (Hepburn and Tracy), a well-to-do liberal San Francisco couple welcome home their daughter who informs them she will be bringing home her brand new fiance—who happens to be an African American. While the daughter Joey (Katherine Houghton) is head over heels stupid-in-love with Dr. John Wade Prentice (Sidney Poitier) the Draytons and the Prentices try to come to grips with the realities of their children being in a mixed marriage during the sixties. Notable for being Spencer Tracy’s last film. He died shortly filming ended.

Starring: Spencer Tracy, Katherine Hepburn, Katherine Houghton, Sidney Poitier, Beah Richards, and Roy E. Glenn, Sr. Written by Williams Rose. Directed by Stanley Kramer.

On Golden Pond: A heartwarming family drama about the unexpected reconciliation of a dysfunctional family. Norman (Henry Fonda) and Ethel Thayer (Hepburn) return to Golden Pond, their annual summer retreat. They are soon joined by Norman’s estranged daughter Chelsea (Jane Fonda), her new boyfriend Bill (Dabney Coleman) and their thirteen-year-old son Billy (Doug McKeown). The young couple leaves Billy with the older couple and an unexpected friendship begins to grow. Notable as Fonda’s final screen appearance and the time he was in a movie with his daughter Jane.

Starring: Katherine Hepburn, Henry Fonda, Jane Fonda, Dabney Coleman, Doug McKeown, and William Lanteau. Written by Ernest Thompson and directed by Mark Rydell.