Alice Adams (1935)

Director:

George Stevens

Writers:

Booth Tarkington (novel)
Dorothy Yost (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

30 January 1936 (Denmark)

Genre:

Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Twenty-two and wonderful ... as Booth Tarkington's loveliest heroine!

Plot:

The misadventures of two social-climbing women in small town America.

Plot Keywords:

Male Female Relationship | Love | Pulitzer Prize Source | Business Ethics | Clerk

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars.

Cast

Katharine Hepburn	...	Alice Adams
Fred MacMurray	...	Arthur Russell
Fred Stone	...	Virgil Adams
Evelyn Venable	...	Mildred 'Georgette' Palmer
Frank Albertson	...	Walter Adams
Ann Shoemaker	...	Mrs. Adams
Charley Grapewin	...	J. A. Lamb
Grady Sutton	...	Frank Dowling
Hedda Hopper	...	Mrs. Palmer
Jonathan Hale	...	Mr. Palmer
Hattie McDaniel	...	Malena Burns, Maid Serving Dinner (as Hattie McDaniels)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Walter Brennan	...	(scenes deleted)

Also Known As:

Booth Tarkington's Alice Adams (USA) (complete title)

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #1101) | Argentina:Atp | Portugal:M/12 (DVD rating)

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Trivia:

Katharine Hepburn wanted William Wyler to direct the movie (at the suggestion of George Cukor), but producer Pandro S. Berman favored George Stevens. Rumor has it that it was decided by the toss of a coin. In fact, Berman remembers that Wyler actually won the coin toss, but Stevens had completely won Hepburn over by that time, so when she saw that Wyler won the toss she had a look of disappointment on her face. The coin was tossed again, and this time Stevens won and he directed the picture.

Quotes:

Mrs. Adams: Malena fell down the cellar stairs!
Virgil Adams: Did she break any of our things?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in George Stevens: The Filmmakers Who Knew Him (2001) (V)

Soundtrack:

I CAN'T WALTZ ALONE

Fred MacMurray almost steals the spotlight...

ALICE ADAMS is the film I'd heard about for years as one of Hepburn's best early films so when I had the chance to watch it recently on TCM I took advantage of it.

From a novel by Booth Tarkington, it concerns a young woman anxious to connect socially with the right people who manages to attract the attention of a handsome and well-to-do young man (Fred MacMurray) at a party. Hepburn shines in the title role, looking fresh and attractive, struggling to keep him interested in her--but unfortunately, with all of her trademark mannerisms not always held in check.

She does well in the role but, in my opinion, the real magnet of interest is the under-appreciated Fred MacMurray who does a sincere and effortless job as her suitor in a role that could not have been easy to bring off. Both stars are in their physical prime, but MacMurray's naturalness only makes Hepburn look even more mannered than usual. Fortunately, this works because her character is supposed to be putting on airs. But at times, this is overdone.

The awkwardness of the social situations are exploited--and the highpoint has to be the warm dinner served on a hot evening, complete with maid service (by Hattie McDaniel) in one of the movie's most amusing, if uncomfortable, scenes. Here too, MacMurray displays just the right amount of stability against all odds. Fred Stone provides a number of chuckles as Hepburn's so provincial father.

All of the supporting roles are nicely filled, with special praise for Ann Shoemaker as the concerned mother anxious for her daughter to find the right suitor. But it's Hepburn's showcase under George Stevens' sensitive direction and she is convincing despite the overly mannered performance.

Summing up: Although some of the situations seemed a bit forced and not everyone will appreciate the humor at Hattie McDaniel's expense, it's worth watching for Hepburn and MacMurray alone.