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Katharine Hepburn's first role as a modern independent woman
After her debut in a pivotal supporting role in "A Bill of Divorcement," Katharine Hepburn (who turned 96 this week) received top billing in this 1933 film. Directed by Dorothy Arzner and Produced by David O. Selznick, "Christopher Strong" was based on the novel by Gilbert Frankau with the screenplay by "scenarist" Zoe Akins and the musical score by Max Steiner. Consequently, this film was a "woman's picture" on several levels and a concerted effort to make Hepburn a major star. Remember, this was the early days of sound pictures and Hepburn, with her Connecticut Yankee via Bryn Mawr accent coupled with her rapid-fire delivery had one of the most unique voices around. However, the film did not do as well at the box office as RKO had hoped.

Hepburn plays Lady Cynthia Darrington, an aviatrix of some renown, who has no time to waste for romance. Because she is a virgin and proud of it, she is dragged to a party as a chance encounter with a group of young adults out on a treasure hunt. There she meets Sir Christopher Strong (Colin Clive), who is the very paragon of the faithful husband to Lady Elaine Strong (Billie Burke, who played Hepburn's mother in "A Bill of Divorcement"). Sir Christopher is a politician, whose daughter Monica (Helen Chandler) is of an age to be married. Of course, Lady Cynthia and Sir Christopher fall for each other, but they go their separate ways rather than hurt his family or his political career. She takes off in her aeroplane for a trip around the world, but when he goes to New York City on business they meet again and give in to their love. Soon afterwards, Lady Cynthia learns that she is pregnant.

"Christopher Strong" is probably best remembered for the stunning "moth" dress Hepburn wears at a costume party, which showed off her athletic figure. Actually, she looks good dressed up in her flying suit as well. Since the actress was going to end up making a whole string of costume period pictures for most of the rest of the 1930s I can make a pretty good argument that Hepburn never looked better in any film in her entire career in terms of costumes. Unfortunately, while Hepburn does a solid job as a career minded woman of the upper class, I cannot see Colin Clive without thinking he is going to start screaming, "It's alive! It's alive!" at any moment. Seriously. That is why I just cannot believe the romance between the two. However, the persona of Hepburn as a 20th-century independent woman, is first developed in this film.

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excellent!
I love this movie. It's romantic and yet sad. How can I get a copy of this film video?