Woman of the Year (1942)

Woman of the Year is the first on-screen pairing of the legendary actors Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracey and it's too bad the film itself couldn't be as timeless. The story begins with Tracey's no-nonsense sports reporter, Sam, getting into a written (and radio broadcast) argument with Hepburn's Tess, a lofty international news reporter from the same newspaper. When their boss brings them face-to-face for an apology, their chemistry is irrefutable. Sadly, it goes downhill from there.

Tess and Sam get married in typical-movie-way-too-fast-for-the-real-world time and their new conflict arises from combining their lives with the expected husband/wife roles. It isn't just that this part of the story won't resonate with today's audience. Beyond that, it's supposed to be a 1940's comedy but it isn't so funny - frustrating is more apt. Several awkward lighting, directorial, editing, and stylistic choices only disconnect the viewer even more. And to top it off, the ending doesn't quite fit (which makes sense as it was added after test audiences didn't like the original, now lost, ending).

Hepburn and Tracey still manage to shine through the muck. She flies through like a kite while he tries to keep a firm grip to prevent her from being swept away. And a silent close up of Hepburn in the last quarter of the film as her character is hit with a revelation is truly moving not only showing her acting talents, but also reminds us that despite other evidence to the contrary in this film, director George Stevens was a talented director.

Rating: 2/5
Recommended for: Anyone who wants to see the beginnings of the Hepburn/Tracey partnership - and even then the first twenty minutes or so should be sufficient