What I Don't Like About "Woman of the Year"

I don't like Katherine Hepburn. "Woman of the Year" (1942) is one of the few movies she's in that I can bear to watch. I'm not very fond of Spencer Tracy, either, but I do appreciate his skill as an actor. I get the impression that Hepburn had a lot of control over the parts she played, as well as her directors and producers. I think she got what she wanted because she was held up as a brilliant actress, but I also think she was held up as a brilliant actress because of her well-thought-out and deliberate choices.

Every time I watch this movie, there's something that bugs me ... really, really bugs me, However, there are also things about it that I really enjoy, which is probably why I continue to watch it. I'm watching the movie right now, so what better time than now to talk about these things?


The thing that bugs me is Katherine Hepburn's character, Tess Harding. While I identify with this character, I'm also confused by her actions. For example, when I'm invited to an event that I don't know anything about, such as a baseball game, I read up on it and learn everything I can about it, to avoid looking stupid and foolish, which is something I would think Tess Harding would also want to avoid. Instead, she asks silly questions and doesn't understand any of the concepts that are explained to her. This also happens later in the movie, when she decides she needs to become a bit more domestic and has no idea how to make coffee or separate eggs. I don't see the character as a woman who wouldn't bother to read instructions or call someone, to avoid embarrassment.

I have read that the reason the ending was changed, so that she looked foolish, was over concern that "the average American housewife, seated next to her husband, staring for two hours at this paragon of beauty, intelligence, wit, accomplishment, and everything else, (could not) help but wonder if  her husband (wasn't) comparing her very unfavorably with this goddess he sees on the screen." I'm not able to think like the average American housewife of the 1940s, but I don't believe anyone in Hollywood could think like the average American housewife, either (including Katherine Hepburn). I think Tess's behavior throughout the movie is deplorable enough that the average American housewife (or any woman) would not need to worry about what men would think. Wouldn't men be thinking like Spencer Tracy's character, Sam Craig, who is disgusted with "this paragon of beauty, intelligence, wit, accomplishment, and everything else," and only warms up to her when she's acting coquettish and like a dumb broad?

That being said, here are the things I love about this film:

Fashion - Adrian designed the gowns. I'm not sure if he contributed to the other costumes, but I love everything Hepburn wears in this film. Perhaps I'm a pushover for '40s fashion, but the dresses, hats, and gloves just knock me over.

Script - The only Oscar awarded to the film was for the screenplay. Hepburn was nominated, but lost to Greer Garson for "Mrs. Miniver." Except for the dumb ending, it's a great script.

Supporting Performances - Some of my favorite actors and actresses whose names most people don't remember, although they recognize the faces, are in this film. Fay Bainter, William Bendix, Reginald Owen, Roscoe Karns, and Sara Haden, all have small, but significant, parts in the film.