Woman of the Year (1942)
-
90% of critics liked it
(21 reviews) -
78% of users liked it
(6,419 ratings)
Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn costarred for the first time in the delectable romantic comedy Woman of the Year. Tracy plays New York sportswriter Sam Craig, who becomes incensed at comments about the uselessness of sports made by foreign correspondent Tess Harding (Hepburn). Sam and Tess… More Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn costarred for the first time in the delectable romantic comedy Woman of the Year. Tracy plays New York sportswriter Sam Craig, who becomes incensed at comments about the uselessness of sports made by foreign correspondent Tess Harding (Hepburn). Sam and Tess subsequently use their respective columns to carry on a feud-at least, until they finally meet face to face. After Sam takes Tess to her first baseball game (one of the funniest scenes ever committed to celluloid), the two fall in love. Once married, however, their happiness is threatened by their wildly divergent lifestyles (Sam hadn't intended to spend his honeymoon helping to hide a prominent European refugee from the authorities, nor is Tess prepared for her husband's rowdy sports-oriented pals). When Tess is voted "Woman of the Year", a jealous Sam walks out on her. She endeavors to win him back by cooking him breakfast-with disastrous results. Despite their oil-and-water relationship, Sam and Tess are made for each other, and they're back together for the final fadeout. A hands-down winner at the box office, Woman of the Year earned a "best original screenplay" Oscar for Ring Lardner Jr. and Michael Kanin. Nominated for an award was director George Stevens, an RKO contractee brought to MGM at Hepburn's insistence. And need we remind you at this late date of the subsequent lifelong romance between stars Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn? ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi
- Directed By
- George Stevens
- Written By
- Ring Lardner Jr., Michael Kanin
- Genres
- Romance, Classics, Comedy
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Jan 19, 1942 Wide
- Studio
- MGM Home Entertainment
Critic Reviews
-
Penelope Gilliatt, New Yorker
The film earlier has one of the very best Tracy-Hepburn love scenes, full of the sense of private shelter that they uniquely purvey.
-
Variety Staff, Variety
Woman of the Year is an entertaining film with superb work by Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy.
-
, Time Out
Tracy and Hepburn were a great team, and this, their first outing together, set the seal on the pattern to follow into the next decade.
-
Bosley Crowther, New York Times
For the first time in months, this critical spectator feels like tossing his old hat into the air and weaving a joyous snake dance over the typewriter keys in celebration of Metro's triumphant Woman of the Year...
-
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
The premise is promising...But Stevens lacks the courage to make much of the conflict; the film ends with an embarrassing sequence in which Hepburn is tamed and installed in the kitchen.
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)
Currently unavailable on Flixster
Also available on
UltraViolet Retailers
Other Retailers
Subscription Services
Not Available
Not Available
Not Available
Cast
-
Spencer Tracy
as Sam Craig
-
Katharine Hepburn
as Tess Harding
-
Fay Bainter
as Ellen Whitcomb
-
Reginald Owen
as Clayton
-
William Bendix
as Pinkie Peters
-
Dan Tobin
as Gerald
-
Gladys Blake
as Flo Peters
-
Minor Watson
as William Harding
-
Roscoe Karns
as Phil Whittaker
-
William Tannen
as Ellis
-
John Berkes
as Pal
-
Jimmy Conlin
as Reporter
-
Edith Evanson
as Alma
- Connie Gilchrist
-
Sara Haden
as Matron at orphanage
-
Winifred Harris
as Chairlady
-
George Kezas
as Chris
-
Ben Lessy
as Punchy
-
Edward McWade
as Adolph
-
Gerald Mohr
as Radio Emcee
-
Cyril Ring
as Harding's chauffeur
-
Henry Roquemore
as Justice of the Peace
-
Ludwig Stossel
as Dr. Martin Lubbeck
-
Ray Teal
as Reporter
-
Michael Visaroff
as Guest
-
Duke York
as Football player
-
Joe Yule
as Building Superintendent
-
Grant Withers
as Guest
-
William J. Holmes
as Man at Banquet
