MovieChat Forums > Suddenly, Last Summer Discussion > Hepburn miscast - or mis-directed?

Hepburn miscast - or mis-directed?

posted 12 years ago by nycruise-1
3 replies | jump to latest

She plays the part of an all-purpose rich matron and controlling mother very well. But the character of Violet is also supposed to be a classic Southern Belle, not a New England dowager. I found her lack of effort to maintain a Southern accent disorienting, particularly when she attempted to speak with one whenever one of the other Southern-accented actors spoke (like Mercedes McCambridge). Afterwards, when speaking to Monty Clift, she reverted to her classic Hepburn New England accent.

She tried speaking with more Southern accent intonation in "The Glass Menagerie" many years later, but even then she failed to pull off the role as a genuine faded Southern belle.

Some might say that shouldn't matter, but think about it: if Hepburn had tried "Blanche" in "Streetcar Named Desire" without a Southern accent, would she have gotten away with it?

For that matter, did Hepburn ever play a character whose speech was not rooted in Upper Class New England intonation?

"Don't call me 'honey', mac."
"Don't call me 'mac'... HONEY!"

[–] HarlowMGM 12 years ago

I don't think the movie states though that Violet is a lifelong resident of New Orleans, so she could have moved to the South in her youth. I'm not that troubled by it because I know there are many Southern matriarchs with that imposing attitude that Hepburn has in the film so she's spot on in spirit if not in sound. I think it's one of the most fascinating performances of her career. I know she and Mankiewicz did not get along at all during this film, she reportedly disliked him and he later criticized her as an actress, it's interesting 31 years later they were reunited in the NIGHT OF 100 STARS III charity program in 1990 with only Michael Caine to stand between them.

[–] Zuider_Zee 12 years ago

I didn't find her accent distracting, she spoke as person of wealth would. Also, there are multiple southern accents; it's impossible to pin it down to "a Southern accent".

[–] gribfritz2 12 years ago

I think when she was sometimes speaking to her sister-in-law and nephew she was mocking them by putting on a fake southern accent, which is why she only has the accent a couple of times and only when speaking to them (especially when saying something sarcastic to them).