hallo, quite surprised to find no comments on this charming film. anyone else find katherine hepburn rather adorable and sweet in this role which was unlike her more sassy roles? thought she was rather pretty as well despite being considered an 'old spinster" in the film!
not a deep sort of film but amusing and humourous nonetheless!
cheers.
I think it may be my favorite Hepburn movie, it is very charming and quite funny and it has a surprisingly contemporary view on sexism.
shareIt IS charming, sweet and gentle! Too many people hack at it because of these qualities, but I have a feeling that they have no sense of history. They have no idea what women lived like, how they were treated, and the way they saw the world. One small impropriety would destroy her reputation, and reputation was of the utmost importance~even up till the Fifties! Those who love this movie understand what society used to be like.
The critics are being especially stupid when they say that a change in hairstyle and clothing isn't enough to disguise someone! When I slip into my Rentaissance faire garb, I must blossom because I've had to explain to flirtatious young men that I'm old enough to be their mother or grandmother, depending on the age. Clothing and hairstyle cause changes in attitude. I'd never flirted in my life till about my third year attending reenactment events. Attitude makes a huge difference! Add changes in appearance~frilly, pretty dresses and a girlish hairstyle~for a younger, vivacious woman.
Also, I'm watching it now, and Phoebe isn't the one who comes up with the niece excuse; Susan does! Also, her comment about his gray hair certainly shifts his eye for age to himself, for HE has aged 10 years, and men generally age faster than women.
By the way: I'd never mistake Estelle Winwood for Marty Feldman! What are these people thinking?! Oh, yes... Let's attack the old movie. *SIGH*
Attitude can make a world of difference, as Kate also proved in "The Rainmaker".
~~MystMoonstruck~~
Sexism; where did that come from?
Woman, man! That's the way it should be Tarzan. [Tarzan and his mate]
Umm, did you watch the film? Phoebe and Vantine are peers and in love at the beginning in their late teens or early twenties, he goes off to war for a decade and returns and now she is now considered an "old maid" (by him as well as their society) while he is still considered a desirable young man able to court Phoebe's bogus much-younger niece. The whole point of the story is to laugh at the idea that men have a longer "shelf life" than women, which certainly is sexism.
shareI was completely charmed by this gentle and delicate tale of mores and manners and love. Tone was terrific. He was quite an actor and doesn't get so much recognition today. I'd rank him right up there with any American acting royalty you'd care to name.
Katharine Hepburn was just lovely. She fit the bill perfectly. I'm kind of puzzled why she should have been branded box office poison. After this movie, she made three more before being drummed out of Hollywood for being box office poison: Stage Door, Bringing Up Baby and Holiday - all three strong films. She'd be gone for a couple of years before her triumphant return with The Philadelphia Story. Seeing Quality Street and many of her other "pre-Philadelphia Story" work, I am, as I mentioned, puzzled by what was so wrong with her.
Set in a time when manners, etiquette and reputation reigned supreme, Quality Street has a rather modern theme running through it, with Phoebe's indignation at Dr. Brown's dismissal of her as old and washed up and she wants show him that she's still got it, just as he does.
I'm actually somewhat frustrated by people who dismiss this as little more than a cute and charming but ultimately light film. Not only did Quality Street provide an opportunity for Katherine Hepburn to exhibit her range by showing a far more modest and restrained character than viewers are used to seeing her play, but it also encouraged women to use their charm and beauty as a means to empower themselves in a world that was largely dominated by men.
More so, aside from just a method to seek revenged on a beau who unintentionally wronged her, I viewed Phoebe's prank on Dr. Brown as a disguised search for her own lost youth and vitality. The 10-year time lapse between Dr. Brown’s departure and his return did not age Phoebe half as much as her own loss of confidence and drive during those years. By showing a 30 year old unmarried woman gaining more male attention than women who are nearly half her age, however, Hepburn showed that aging doesn't have to be seen as a time-bomb and youth is something that exists just as much in years as it does in mindset.
I thought Phoebe was absolutely HOT "10 years later". If I had been the good Doctor coming home from war after 10 years, I would have promised myself to her as soon as I landed on her stoop - bonnet or no!
A great movie. I loved it.
The play Quality Street has never been popular in America unfortunately so I'm not surprised that the (excellent) movie versions aren't particularly popular; it bombed twice on Broadway and with no less than the acclaimed Maude Adams playing Phoebe. It was a huge hit however in England and even spanned a number of merchandising tie-ins way back then, and Quality Street candies are very popular in the UK.
shareShe should have had some aging make up applied for when the 10 years had passed. Having straight hair with a cap over it would not render her unrecognizable to him.
shareThis sounds like a film my movie group will enjoy. I'm planning on showing it Saturday night after THE AWFUL TRUTH which of course came out the same year.
Old age isn't for sissies--Bette Davis
Almost everyone I know as well as myself didn't show any signs of aging between their 20's and 30's. I didn't start seeing a difference until approaching 40 and even then I could pass for mid 20's.
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