Morning Glory (1933)
-
75% of critics liked it
(8 reviews) -
47% of users liked it
(764 ratings)
Katharine Hepburn won her first Oscar for her portrayal of Eva Lovelace, a small-town community-theatre actress who comes to New York dreaming of theatrical stardom. She amuses producer Adolphe Menjou and playwright Douglas Fairbanks Jr. with her naively pretentious prattle, but neither man takes… More Katharine Hepburn won her first Oscar for her portrayal of Eva Lovelace, a small-town community-theatre actress who comes to New York dreaming of theatrical stardom. She amuses producer Adolphe Menjou and playwright Douglas Fairbanks Jr. with her naively pretentious prattle, but neither man takes her too seriously. Both, however are attracted to Eva: Menjou has a brief affair with her, but she yearns for the more reserved Fairbanks. Partly out of sympathy, Fairbanks arranges for Eva to understudy the troublesome star (Mary Duncan) of Menjou's latest production. When the star walks out on opening night, Eva goes on in her stead, and is universally hailed as a brilliant new find. Backstage after her triumph, Eva is warned not to let her sudden success go to her head lest she become a "morning glory": a briefly spectacular "bloomer" that withers and dies within a very short time. Proof of this warning is Eva's maid, a middle-aged woman who had also been an instant star years earlier. But Eva is too intoxicated by the thrill of realizing her life's dream; embracing her weeping maid, Eva declares to the world that she doesn't care if she is a morning glory. The film fades as Eva shouts defiantly "I'm not afraid! I'm not afraid!" Adapted from a stage play by Zoe Akins, Morning Glory was remade in 1957 as Stage Struck, with Susan Strasberg as Eva Lovelace. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- Lowell Sherman
- Genres
- Drama, Classics
- In Theaters
- Aug 18, 1933 Wide
- Studio
- Media Home Entertainment
Critic Reviews
-
Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
I was more taken down by the, at best, second-rate serviceable story than I was uplifted with Hepburn's bravo performance.
-
Diana Saenger, Classic Movie Guide
Morning Glory is a great story with Hollywood glamour and exceptional performances.
-
Douglas Pratt, DVDLaser
it is a lousy movie and Hepburn's performance, after some strikingly enigmatic opening moments, is embarrassingly bad.
-
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Hepburn won the first of her four Oscars for playing a brash, aspiring actress from Vermont determined to succeed at all costs, just like she was in real life at the time.
-
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Antique Hepburn vehicle that holds up only moderately.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Featured Audience Ratings
Currently unavailable on Flixster
Also available on
UltraViolet Retailers
Other Retailers
Subscription Services
Cast
-
Katharine Hepburn
as Ada Love/"Eva Lovelace"
-
Douglas Fairbanks Jr.
as Joseph Sheridan
-
Adolphe Menjou
as Louis Easton
-
Mary Duncan
as Rita Vernon
-
C. Aubrey Smith
as Robert Harley Hedges
-
Don Alvarado
as Pepe Velez the Gigolo
-
Richard Carle
as Henry Lawrence Elderly Critic
-
Tyler Brooke
as Charles Van Dusen Alcoholic Writer
-
Geneva Mitchell
as Gwendolyn Hall
-
Robert A'Dair
as Roberts the Butler
-
Helen Ware
as Nellie Lovelace's Dresser
-
Fred Santley
as Will Seymour Easton's Assistant
-
Arthur Rankin
as Frank Easton's Front Desk Clerk
-
Mildred Washington
as Emma Rita's Dresser
