Without Love (1945) (1945)

72% of users liked it
(698 ratings)

In their third film together, Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn created one of the box-office sensations of 1945, a sparklingly witty wartime comedy about a marriage entered on the theory that love only gums up a relationship. Invited by a drunken Quintin Ladd (Keenan Wynn), devoted scientist… More In their third film together, Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn created one of the box-office sensations of 1945, a sparklingly witty wartime comedy about a marriage entered on the theory that love only gums up a relationship. Invited by a drunken Quintin Ladd (Keenan Wynn), devoted scientist Patrick Jamieson (Tracy) moves into the Washington mansion belonging to Ladd's cousin Mrs. Jamie Rowan (Hepburn), a widow, who, it soon appears, shares Pat's distaste of romantic love. Highly interested in the scientist's attempt to develop a high-altitude oxygen helmet for the war department, and tired of being hit on by men, an emboldened Jamie proposes marriage to Pat, insisting that theirs should be a union uncomplicated by love. Pat readily agrees and the two settle into a seemingly well-functioning life of shared passion for the oxygen experiments. But when Pat's former girlfriend turns up, Jamie discovers that she has fallen in love with her husband after all and attempts to win him back. The ploy, however, seems to backfire -- or does it? Originally written for Katharine Hepburn by her frequent collaborator Philip Barry, Without Love had enjoyed a moderately successful run on Broadway from 1942-1943 with Elliott Nugent as the scientist. The much more successful screen version became the final film of MGM contract director Harold S. Bouquet, who died of cancer soon after. ~ Hans J. Wollstein, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 53 min.
Directed By: Harold S. Bucquet
Written By: Donald Ogden Stewart
Genres: Drama, Romance, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Jan 1, 1945 Wide
On DVD: May 29, 2007
Studio: MGM (Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer)

Critic Reviews

Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Fails to convert to the cinema.
Nell Minow, Movie Mom at Yahoo! Movies
Underrated top-quality romance with wonderfully literate dialogue and a crackerjack performance by Lucille Ball.

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

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Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

A great Hepburn and Tracy movie. He's a scientist who doesn't have time for love, she starts to help him out with his experiments, and they unintentionally fall for each other without realizing it. A fun movie.
jay n

Not their best but a good film from the pair. Lucy and Keenan offer excellent support.

Cast

            Spencer Tracy as Pat Jamieson

            Katharine Hepburn as Jamie Rowan

            Keenan Wynn as Quentin Ladd

            Gloria Grahame as Flower Girl

            Patricia Morison as Edwina Collins

            Carl Esmond as Paul Carrell

            Lucille Ball as Kitty Trimble

            Felix Bressart as Prof. Grinza

            Emily Massey as Anna

            George Davis as Caretaker

            George Chandler as Elevator Boy

            Clancy Cooper as Sergeant

            Eddie Acuff as Driver

            Charles Arnt as Col. Braden

            Hazel Brooks as Girl on Elevator

            Ralph Brooks as Pageboy

            Wallis Clark as Prof. Thompson

            Franco Corsaro as Headwaiter

            Donald Curtis as Prof. Ellis

            Joe Devlin as Soldier

            James Flavin as Sergeant

            William Forrest as Doctor

            Clarence Muse as Porter

            William Newell as Soldier

            Gary Owen as Soldier
See full cast