Alice Adams (1935)

Katharine Hepburn stars in this 1935 film about a family divided by social aspirations. Father, Virgil, and son, Walter, are complacent with their middle-class status while daughter, Alice, quietly yearns to have the life of her richer friends, and her mother is quite vocal about Alice deserving those "better" things.

Despite a history of being snubbed due to her socio-economic status, Alice manages to attract the attention of the well-to-do Arthur Russell. Alice's mother is determined to impress Arthur to make sure he doesn't run away - even if it means pushing the family past the brink of patience. Hepburn shines in this role and practically floats through the film. It's almost hard to believe any man would walk past her without looking. Despite the strong materialism and fixed gender roles, it's rather easy to have sympathy for Alice; she's trying so hard to be liked. And despite all her efforts, everything hinges around a dinner that leaves everyone sweating - figuratively and literally.

Rating:3.5/5
Recommended for: People ages 18 and up - not because of anything obscene... it just might bore younglings.

Extended Review: The dinner scene makes the film. You know going into it that it won't go that well. Yet as one thing goes wrong on top of another, each makes you cringe a little more. Alice sees it all too and walks the thin line of trying to save the day, and thus the relationship with Arthur, and giving in all together. Because of the time period, it's pretty hard to tell if Arthur's being silent to let her speak or if he really appreciates the out being handed to him. You find out soon enough though.
Nothing special to report on the cinematography. Additionally, the black and white film itself left me wanting more. I felt like the differences between the Adams and the other families cold have really been highlighted with color. Of course, at that time it wasn't really an option and the film succeeds in still physically illustrating the difference.