Dear Katharine Hepburn:
It took us (as in, yours truly) a long time to acknowledge your talent.
You see, you struck us as patrician and not a little self-important. We thought your manner and accent were affected, and we didn’t feel your performances exuded warmth. (Example: The Philadelphia Story.)
Admittedly, we had not seen many of your films, but we weren’t keen to explore your filmography. Sometimes we felt you were competing with everyone else on screen. (Example: 1933’s Little Women.) At times you seemed to compete with the scenery, for pete sake.
That’s how it seemed to us.
People would say you were one of the greatest film actors of All Time, and we rolled our eyes. We figured these folks needed new eyeglasses or more robust vitamins.
But then we saw you in the 1975 western, Rooster Cogburn, the only film you made with John Wayne.
This film made us think we judged you too harshly.
Rooster Cogburn is not a good movie. It’s hammy and lacks the understated prose of the great westerns of the 1950s. Because it resurrects Wayne’s character from his earlier film, True Grit (1969), and recycles your character from The African Queen (1951), it feels like a desperate attempt to revive previous successes – like reheating last week’s filet mignon in the microwave.
This film is also pedestrian and sanctimonious. You and Wayne, representing Old Hollywood, are heroes who believe in the Common Good, while the much-younger villains – they of New Hollywood – are greedy and selfish. Combine that with self-indulgent dialogue between you and Wayne, and it’s almost too much to ask of an audience.
In many ways, the villains are the better actors, especially outlaw leader Richard Jordan. You have charisma, but so does he. Jordan’s acting easily outshines Wayne (who is disappointingly mediocre), and he nearly steals his scenes with you.
It was your first scene in this film that made us take notice. You portray a missionary teacher in a remote settlement somewhere in the western U.S. When Jordan and his gang arrive to Set Up Shop, you approach them with a plea for civility.
You’re polite; he’s belligerent. You call him unpleasant; he fires a pistol at you.
You don’t even wince.
He pulls out a second pistol and shoots twice more at the ground in front of you. Again you don’t flinch. In fact, you start reciting Psalm 23 as Jordan continues to fire in his two-fisted way. The bullets don’t even impede your cadence.
These aren’t real bullets, we know; studios can’t have actors shooting each other with live ammunition. But your focus and concentration in this scene are remarkable. Not once do you break character.
That’s when we decided you may Have Something after all.
We began re-examining your films, such as Stage Door (1937), Adam’s Rib (1949) and Holiday (1938), and noted your timing and empathy. You even had us choking back a sob in the über-schmaltzy Summertime (1955).
As much as it pains us, we concede these films were made better by your presence.
So, these we take back: (1) It wasn’t sheer madness, after all, that nominated you for 12 Oscars; and (2) It is possible your reputation of Box Office Poison in the late 1930s may have been undeserved.
We grudgingly agree you became a legend for a Reason.
We are eating Humble Pie, dear Katharine. But if you want to let us Have It, go right ahead:
This is part of the SPENCER TRACY & KATHARINE HEPBURN Blogathon hosted by In the Good Old Days of Classic Hollywood.
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Ha! Love this! 🙂
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Thanks so much! I had been carrying around these conflicted feelings about Katharine Hepburn and I finally decided to unburden myself. 🙂
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Good for you! Catharsis is always nice. I have a love-meh thing with Hepburn myself (usually it’s only when she laughs, though), so I totally get where you’re coming from. 🙂
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There is always that one role, or one scene, that will turn us around on an actor. I never would have expected to be in Rooster Cogburn, but – well – there you go!
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Haha! Well, you know what they say: There’s no accounting for taste – especially true in my case!
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Very amusing — made me chuckle — but I’m surprised you had such difficulty “discovering” Hepburn (and startled to learn which movie it was that converted you!). Of course, as a Brit living in the UK, as I was back then, I wouldn’t have picked up on the affectedness of the manner and accent that you mention, and nowadays I don’t notice it because it’s just a part of an actress I’ve watched a thousand times.
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I really got off on the wrong foot with Katharine Hepburn – I felt she was just Too Much. And it truly was Rooster Cogburn, of all things, that changed my mind about her. (I’ve seen that dreadful movie twice now, and that is enough.)
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This gave me a much-needed smile! Thanks! Watch Philadelphia Story again. You may notice that Kate’s patrician attitude isn’t exclusive to her, plus she changes subtly as the plot transpires. And you get to see Cary Grant shove her to the floor in the most forceful way! 🙂 Hilarious!
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Thanks, Debbi. I was thinking, while working on this post, that I should watch it again. I know I’ll enjoy it much more this time. As you say, there is that great scene with Cary Grant! 😉
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Awesome!!! Thank you for posting this. I make the exact same admission in my blog post for the Hepburn and Tracey blogathon (not up yet). It took me a long time to warm up to Hepburn exactly because her arrogance and narcissism was so offputting to me (but to give her credit, she was very much aware of these flaws in her character). It was only when I started seeing her later films (from the late 1950’s onward) that I came to really appreciate her enormous talent.
Tam
The Dream Book Blog
http://thedreambook.wordpress.com/
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I agree. She seems to be much more enjoyable in her later films.
I’m really looking forward to your essay. I always learn something from you.
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I so identify! It took me years to appreciate her. It was African Queen for me. She always seemed so affected in comparison to actresses I appreciated like Barbara Stanwyck. But, as you say, she really had something.
That scene you describe from Rooster Cogburn sounds pretty amazing! I’m not sure anyone had more steel in their spine than she did.
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I’m glad I’m not alone! I think that scene from Rooster Cogburn is a remarkable one, although I didn’t research how many takes there were. I thought Katharine H was truly impressive in it.
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It took me a while myself to become a fan of Katharine Hepburn. I think that she acts either in a stiff or over the top way in most of her 1930’s films. From the 1940’s onwards, I think she became more natural and a better screen actress.
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I think you’re right. Some of her really early films are a bit cringing, but like you say, she seems much more natural in her later films, starting in the 1940s.
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That gif is fabulous!
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Isn’t it fab? As soon as I saw it, I knew I had to work it in somehow.
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Well done! 🙂
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I tend to agree that Kate got better as she got older, though I would’ve liked to have seen her in plays. Even in her younger years, she was known for her stage work too.
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Oh yes, to have seen her on the stage would have been something! That is a good point.
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What a great letter. I’ve been contemplating writing a similar one about Carole Lombard. I’ve loved Katharine Hepburn from day one as she was my introduction to classic film. But I can see how you would feel that way about her. I always think of her playing strong women and sometimes I forget how well she could play painful vulnerability. She is multi faceted. I wrote a review last week for The Philadelphia Story at The Silver Petticoat Review and it made me re-think how I interpreted the entire film. I’m glad Kate was able to win you over finally.
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Oh yes, you should write that letter about Carole Lombard, and what changed your mind about her.
Thanks for mentioning The Silver Petticoat Review. I’ll drop by!
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Although Kate has been my number one gal since I first discovered classic film, I can understand how she may have turned you away. Her attitude and personality are, for lack of a better term, a lot. But I think once you dig into her story more, you start to see how remarkable she was. Really wonderful post!
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Thanks so much! Yes, I think I judged Katharine H too soon and too harshly. She did have a lot of talent, which only became better as she grew older.
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Great and brave post! (Love the caption too) It took me a while to love her too, and I didn’t like The Philadelphia Story at all. Still don’t. But Stage Door! I think that’s when I began to fall for her and reassess. And now she impresses me so much.
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Thanks! I also liked Katharine H’s performance in Stage Door. Maybe if I’d seen that one sooner, I would have liked her better…
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What a fun way to express your feelings about Ms. Hepburn! Typically, I enjoy her performances very much and would count myself among her fans. But I do admit that I don’t like THE PHILADELPHIA STORY.
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I was a bit afraid to talk about “The Philadelphia Story” in this post, but I’ve been surprised by the number of people who aren’t fans.
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What a nice open letter! Unlike you, I was quickly bewitched by Katharine wehn I saw my first movie with her – Adam’s Rib – and the love never stopped growing. And, well, Rooster Cogburn is only even watchable because of her!
Congrats on being so blunt in your piece and voicing your “unpopular opinion”.
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Thanks, Le! I felt I had to unburden myself of my conflicted feelings towards Katharine H. But I’ve really grown to appreciate her films. Like you said, she’s quite charming in Adam’s Rib.
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Wow that was a great idea for the blogathon! I wonder what Katharine herself would have thought of your letter! I must admit a pairing between Katharine Hepburn and John Wayne seems a bit weird O_o. To me they sort of represent very different things.
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You’re right – the Katharine Hepburn/John Wayne pairing is strange. However, they seem to have a warm chemistry on screen. I can’t really recommend it, except if you’re wanting to see every Katharine H movie in her filmography.
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Kate is not my “favorite” of favorites HOWEVER- I do admire her and respect her acting and I do love a handful of her films- she reminds me that you can overcome anything- and you can dare to be different- Ive come to like her a lot more that I originally did.
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You’re right – Kate dared to be different, and that is an empowering message. There is much about her career to be admired; several people (whether in show biz or not) have named her as their inspiration.
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Reblogged this on WILDsound Writing and Film Festival Review.
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I was always smitten. I have never thought she was a great actress but she is a legend and she has made me laugh and cry in equal measures. Welcome to the party!
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Haha! Sarah, I definitely trust your opinion of actors and their abilities, so if you say she’s A-OK, that’s enough for me.
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Katharine Hepburn–and The Philadelphia Story!–have always been favorites of mine. But I’m glad you mentioned Holiday. Her character there is still rich and sharp and so Hepburnish, but she’s also so lonely and vulnerable and FUNNY. Like when she shows Cary Grant the toy giraffe. “Looks like me.” https://i.pinimg.com/736x/21/f2/e4/21f2e497f10c696891679a48b8a4b294–cute-gif-a-giraffe.jpg
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Haha! That photo you linked to is hilarious!
Yes, I quite like “Holiday. It was an unexpected gem. (Don’t you love it when you discover those?)
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Wow!!!! You sure did judge her quite harshly!!! I love her. She was a very bold actress for her time, and afraid of no man. I haven’t seen ‘Rooster Cogburn’ (1975), but reading this, yes, it does feel like a bit of a rehash of ‘The African Queen’ (1951), which I happen to love.
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I’d like to know your thoughts on “Rooster Cogburn”, but I’d hate to subject you to the experience. I’m serious! However, there are things to appreciate about it, and I know you would notice those things.
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Thanks so much for joining the blogathon Ruth, and sorry for the late comment. I’ve had the same experiences with other stars. For instance, I’ve only started to appreciate Audrey Hepburn. Before, I was reluctant, but now I love her. As for “Rooster Cogburn”, I quite enjoy the movie, even though I admit it’s not one of her best. I can’t help but think about how much it resembles “The African Queen”.
Don’t forget to read my late contribution to the blogathon.
https://crystalkalyana.wordpress.com/2017/11/10/bringing-up-baby-1938-2/
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Thanks, Crystal! I’ll stop by for a visit when I’m meat my computer again . 🙂
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No problems. By the way, I’ve just announced another blogathon. I’d love to invite you to join in. Here is the link below.
https://crystalkalyana.wordpress.com/2017/11/10/announcing-the-elizabeth-taylor-blogathon/
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Sadly, I’ll have to pass, but thanks for the invite. 🙂
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It’s hard keeping up with all the blogathons. I’m always getting invited to one, but half of them I have to decline due to various reasons.
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