I think this movie was great, but I have one problem. Why was she found not guilty? She did shoot her husband. We saw it, he had a gunshot would, he says she shot him, his mistress says she shot him, the wife even admits to walking into the room shooting. That's attempted murder, guilty. Did I miss something?
shareBecause Amanda maintained three very effective lines of defence
1) comparing the wife shooting at the woman affecting her "home" to a man defending his "home" from attack
2) suggesting that if this were a man shooting in rage at his wife's lover then this would be seen as more just and lead to acquittal (the dialogue hinted that other cases had been decided this way I thought)
3) making the case less about the facts, and more about championing the equality of women, and the attitude that it was worse for a woman to cheat than a man
All were really elaborate attempts at jury nullification, but apparently between them they worked.
Amanda said to the jury "your here to decide one thing, did she intend to kill her husband." Since there was no actual murder she was not guilty of one and she proved she did not even attempt to kill either simply frighten them, and that was the only way she knew how.
shareAnd it's all nonsense. This movie is terrible, especially the courtroom scenes. I thought Judy Holliday and Jean Hagen were terrific (two very smart dumb blondes in the same movie, love that) but Katherine Hepburn was annoying and for being so 'smart'was a dumb lawyer and a lousy wife. The real crime is that at the time this movie was made, it was very difficult for a woman to get a divorce, or just leave the bum, especially if she had children. The husband could deny financial support and even get custody. As most women had gone back to the household after WW II, they were at the financial mercy of their husbands. This is the backdrop for the wife's jealousy and insecurity fear she and her children could be left homeless and penniless, she took the only action available to women, kill the husband. But this gets lost in all the sterotypical b.s.and over the top acting by the two leads, who no nothing about being lawyers.
For being classified a "romantic comedy" I find it neither romantic or a comedy. Let's face it, this movie is really not so great. Between the awful courtroom scenes and dialogue (when Hepburn is examining the cheating husband, after posing her question she barks 'tell the truth!" for me was annoying and ridiculous. By the 3rd time (she must have said it 7 or 8), any half-decent prosecutor - which Tracy was not (husband or not) would have objected saying the witness..."has already taken an oath to tell the truth, counsel doesn't need to keep making him re-swear in." Or words to that effect. If this movie is being made to show that women deserve equal rights, it falls flat. The real issue is the law and society are biased against women in favor of men, which is unfair and unconstitutional. As this woman was forced to deal with the mental trauma of a cheating husband and no power to stop him or the pain it caused her and their children, she felt compelled to take drastic action. Nevertheless, the wife premeditated her crime and attempted to carry it out and she's acquitted? So because the defense lawyer is a woman, she wins? If anything, this movie sets the women's movement back 10 years. At the time this movie was made, women had been in the workforce for a number of years supporting the war effort. It was time for the law to catch up, instead it pandered to the helpless female. That reaching for power or equality will cost you dearly.
she could have divorced her husband for adultery, and he would not have got custody, the law was very strict on that point. Adulterous spouses were not awarded custody in those days.
and in fact quite a lot of married women did work in those days, though not as many as nowadays.
shooting her husband was not a solution to anybody, and would certainly not have helped her children.
It's backwards. Adam says it best. Kate had no respect for the law... or logic for that matter. All she can think about is her feelings and her womanhood.
What's right is right. Was he a sh!tty husband? Sure. Was he a cheat? YES. Was his crime so severe that he should be shot dead for it? And she unloaded on him and his girlfriend. Lucky for them, she was a horrible shot.
Let's not forget though, the wife was pretty sh!tty to him too. I kind of feel sorry for those kids more than anyone.
Get off your soapbox while I play you a tune on the tiniest violin.