Silver Screen Magic with Katharine Hepburn

During the Golden Age of Hollywood, Katharine Hepburn was named the greatest female icon of Classic Hollywood. She was a major star over five decades and won four Best Actress Oscars.

Director George Stevens directed the 1935 romantic/drama film “Alice Adams." The film was adapted from the novel of the same name by Booth Tarkington. It starred Katharine Hepburn and Fred MacMurray.

The storyline centers on Alice Adams (Katharine Hepburn) as a young woman in a financially struggling family and her pretentious attempts to appear upper class and meets wealthy Arthur Russell (Fred MacMurray) as she tries to conceal her poverty.

Director John Huston directed the 1951 adventure film “The African Queen." The film was adapted from the 1935 novel of the same name by C.S. Forester. The film starred Humphrey Bogart, Katharine Hepburn, and Robert Morley, along with others. This is the only film for which Bogart won the Academy Award for Best Actor.

The storyline is set during WWI and follows a straight-laced English missionary, Rose Sayer (Katharine Hepburn), who convinces a dissolute ship captain, Charlie Allnut (Humphrey Bogart), to traverse a dangerous river and attack a German gunship.

Director Walter Lang directed the 1957 American romantic comedy film “Desk Set." It was based on the play of the same name by William Marchant. The film starred Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn.

The storyline revolves around Bunny Watson (Katharine Hepburn) as a documentalist in charge of the reference library at the Federal Broadcasting Network in midtown Manhattan. She is romantically involved with network executive Mike Cutler (Gig Young). Then meets Richard Sumner (Spencer Tracy), a methods engineer and efficiency expert.

Director Anthony Harvey directed the 1968 British historical drama “The Lion in Winter." It is based on the play of the same name by James Goldman. The film starred Peter O’Toole and Katharine Hepburn with Jane Merrow, John Castle, Anthony Hopkins, and others. Hepburn won the Academy Award for Best Actress.

This is a film centered on Henry II of England and his attempt to establish a line of succession during a family gathering at Christmas in 1183. Attending are his estranged wife Eleanor of Aquitaine (Katharine Hepburn) and their three surviving sons, the King of France Philip II (Timothy Dalton) and Philip’s half-sister Alais (Jane Merrow), who is Henry’s mistress.

Director Mark Rydell directed the 1981 drama film “On Golden Pond." The film starred Katharine Hepburn, Henry Fonda, Jane Fonda, Doug McKeon, Dabney Coleman, and William Lanteau.

In the storyline, in his final film role, Henry Fonda portrays Norman, a crusty, retired professor, grappling with the effects of aging. He has been married for years to upbeat and feisty Ethel (Katharine Hepburn) but has a remote and difficult relationship with their daughter, Chelsea (Jane Fonda). At their summer home on Golden Pond, Norman and Ethel agree to care for Billy, the son of Chelsea’s new boyfriend, and an unexpected relationship blooms.

Director George Cukor directed the 1940 American romantic comedy “The Philadelphia Story." The film was adapted from the 1939 Broadway play of the same name by Philip Barry. It starred Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, James Stewart, and Ruth Hussey.

The storyline revolves around Tracy Lord (Katharine Hepburn), a spoiled socialite whose wedding day is thrown into chaos by the sudden arrival of her ex-husband, C.K. Dexter Haven (Cary Grant).

Director David Lean directed the 1955 romantic comedy/drama film "Summertime." The film starred Katharine Hepburn, Rossano Brazzi, Darren McGavin, and Isa Miranda. It was based on the play “The Time of the Cuckoo” by Arthur Laurents. The film was shot on location in Venice.

The storyline follows a lonely middle-aged American secretary, Jane Hudson (Katharine Hepburn), touring Venice alone for the first time, where she falls in love with an Italian antique dealer, Renato de Rossi (Rossano Brazzi).

Director George Stevens directed the 1942 American romantic comedy/drama film “Woman of the Year." The film starred Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn.

The storyline is about the relationship between Tess Harding (Katharine Hepburn), an international affairs correspondent and chosen Woman of the Year, and Sam Craig (Spencer Tracy), a sportswriter. They meet, marry, and encounter problems as a result of her commitment to her work.