"Woman of the Year" marked the first of nine big screen pairings of Katherine Hepburn & Spencer Tracy. In it, a down-to-earth sports writer falls for an internationally minded political columnist. Their unlikely attraction results in marriage but things do not go smoothly as Hepburn's character pays more attention to her career than her husband.
The chemistry between Hepburn & Tracy isn't as refined here as it would become in later pictures but one can sense a spark between them. The contrasting characters make for some spirited interplay while Hepburn's deft performance landed her an Oscar nomination. There's little worth remarking upon in the supporting roles, though the actors are all capable.
I found the film's biggest fault to be the screenplay, which nevertheless won an Oscar. The script fails to establish a consistent tone, as if the screenwriters couldn't decide between a comedy or a serious drama. They ought to have committed to one or the other since they make an awkward mix here.
George Stevens' direction is well done and so is the score by Franz Waxman. Neither really warrants any special attention, though.
In the end, "Woman of the Year" isn't entirely unsuccessful but I wouldn't particularly recommend it either. There are better Hepburn/Tracy films that aren't impaired by odd shifts in tone.
The chemistry between Hepburn & Tracy isn't as refined here as it would become in later pictures but one can sense a spark between them. The contrasting characters make for some spirited interplay while Hepburn's deft performance landed her an Oscar nomination. There's little worth remarking upon in the supporting roles, though the actors are all capable.
I found the film's biggest fault to be the screenplay, which nevertheless won an Oscar. The script fails to establish a consistent tone, as if the screenwriters couldn't decide between a comedy or a serious drama. They ought to have committed to one or the other since they make an awkward mix here.
George Stevens' direction is well done and so is the score by Franz Waxman. Neither really warrants any special attention, though.
In the end, "Woman of the Year" isn't entirely unsuccessful but I wouldn't particularly recommend it either. There are better Hepburn/Tracy films that aren't impaired by odd shifts in tone.