Cheap Woman of the Year (DVD) (Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Fay Bainter) (George Stevens) Price

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Customer Reviews of Woman of the Year

Now This Is Chemistry
This is the film that started it all, and movie fans ever since have been grateful. It's the first pairing of the legendary Hepburn and Tracy, and from the moment when he first sets his eyes on her (actually, her legs - a great shot!), you can feel why they were such a perfect match on screen. They star as newspaper columnists coming from different backgrounds and perspectives, who despite the odds, fall in love, even though they have no idea how to fit into each other's worlds. Both stars give their usual top performances, compensating for some slow parts and dated elements in the story. I enjoyed the film, as I have enjoyed all their films that I have seen. Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy were two of the best in the business, so any opportunity to see them together should be taken!

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A high mark the history of film making
What's surprising about this film is it's age. Despite the enormous social changes that have occurred since this film was made (6 decades?) it's funny how these two characters could still be genuinely portrayed today. This character study of a socially and politically sophisticated woman, very well respected locally and globally for her charm, brains and political savvy ways, and her odd love for a regular guy who almost becomes a novelty to her after their marriage is not far cry from what could be made today. Spencer Tracy, as a newspaper sportswriter, crosses into the world of a social sophisticate played by Katherine Hepburn through an argument over some glib comments she makes about baseball which makes it into her radio address. Despite their differences there is a spark. That spark is nurtured by both of them until it becomes a passion leading to a brief but poignant romance. Once married, however, they are too different from each other. This wouldn't be so bad but Hepburn's character, rather than resolving the issues between them decides to resume her life and it's time consuming pace leaving her understanding but frustrated husband to his own pursuits while he evidently would rather have more of her attention. It comes down to a question of what a person wants. Hepburn's "Woman of the Year" is used to doing things her way and doesn't understand her commitment to making a marriage. This comes to head and the film makes a brave attempt to resolve these differences. Katherine's character is not an ice queen but a motivated person who's used to having her own life. Spencer's character is a sincere guy who's married to woman who has a demanding life who doesn't balance her time between home and career. In the end she realizes that she's not the perfect person and tries to bring her marriage back from the brink of failure. He cautions her that life is not as simple as just walking away from commitments and learning how to cook and expects her to make compromises not sacrifices.While there is some silly kitchen scenes at the end it's really an effort by the director to point out the futility of a person suddenly trying to reinvent herself. Her husband doesn't expect too much even if he's not a great motivational speaker. He also doesn't blame her for her plight but lets her know that she has options she has to consider. Reverse these rolls and it's easy to see how this film works on the two levels. If this were a man there would be no doubt that the woman was making sense. This film is almost revolutionary. It turns the tables on social roles at a time when people weren't even aware there was a table.

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Off to a Pretty Good Start
Kate & Spencer began a 25 year on and off the screen romance with Woman of the Year. The movie itself is fine but unspectacular. Basically, the message seems to be that a woman can't have it both ways: work and family. Odd message considering the female lead. WOTY is more important as a piece of film history for the pairing it started. Hepburn was pretty much the only woman as ahead of her times as she was. Fortunately she could put her money where her mouth was and deliver the goods. Several of her films are classics and she is a Hollywood Goddess.