The Children's Hour (film)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| The Children's Hour | |
|---|---|
 Original film poster |
|
| Directed by | William Wyler |
| Produced by | Associate producer: Robert Wyler Producer: William Wyler for the Mirisch Corporation |
| Written by | Play: Lillian Hellman Adaption: Lillian Hellman Screenplay: John Michael Hayes |
| Starring | Audrey Hepburn Shirley MacLaine James Garner Miriam Hopkins Fay Bainter |
| Music by | Alex North |
| Cinematography | Franz Planer |
| Editing by | Robert Swink |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
| Release date(s) | December 19, 1961 |
| Running time | 107 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | US$ 3,600,000 |
| Allmovie profile | |
| IMDb profile | |
The Children's Hour is a 1961 film adaptation of the play of the same name written by Lillian Hellman. It was directed by William Wyler and stars Audrey Hepburn, Shirley MacLaine, and James Garner in the leading roles.
Contents |
[edit] Plot summary
The two young teachers Martha Dobie (Shirley MacLaine) and Karen Wright (Audrey Hepburn), who met when they were seventeen and where in school together, build up a private school for girls in conservative New England. Martha's aunt Lily, an unemployed, elderly actress, lives with the two of them, and teaches acting. After two years of enagement to Dr. Joe Cardin (James Garner), a reputable gynecologist, Karen is finally looking forward to their wedding. Joe is related to rich Mrs. Amelia Tilford, whose grandchild Mary Tilford is also going to the school of Karen and Martha. Mary is a problematic, conniving child, bullying her classmates. In particular, she blackmails Rosalie Wells, whom she caught at stealing a bracelet.
To get back at the teachers for punishing her, Mary invents a story about the two women being involved in a love affair. Her tale is based on fragments of a quarrel between Martha and her aunt, which were accidentally overheard by her former room mates. Mary tells her grandmother that she observed the two women kissing each other. Mrs. Tilford believes her granddaughter, and immediately informs the other parents. As a result, all girls are withdrawn from the school, without giving Karen or Martha any explanations. Inquiring one father directly, Karen finally learns the real reason behind the sudden action, and angrily confronts Mrs. Tilford together with Joe and Martha. Mary again tells her tale, and forces Rosalie to confirm her statements. The two framed women sue Mrs. Tilford for libel and slander, but fail in court.
The story is circulated in the local media, utterly destroying the reputation of the two teachers. Only Joe still keeps contact to the two women, offering them to leave together and start a new life. However, even his trust in Karen is shaken, and he thus asks her if the rumors are true. In the resulting quarrel, Karen breaks up with him, claiming that she needs time to think everything over. As Martha learns about the break-up, she confides in Karen that she, indeed, always felt more than friendship for her, and that now, after hearing the made-up story, she finally realizes that she is in love with her.
Meanwhile, the mother of Rosalie discovers a stash of stolen things among Rosalie's things, including the bracelet Mary used to blackmail her. The two girls are questioned, and Mrs. Tilford learns that the story was, indeed, made up. She visits the two teachers, and tries to apologize to them, making clear that the court case will be reopened, and the two will not only be cleared of all charges but also well compensated. Karen, however, refuses to accept the apology, as she feels that the damage done to their lives cannot be undone. Afterwards, she briefly talks to Martha about her plans for the future, going somewhere far away together to start a new life. Martha, however, remains quite sullen, and claims she needs to sleep. As Karen then leaves for a short walk, Martha hangs herself. The movie ends as Karen walks away from the funeral alone, while Joe watches her from the distance.
[edit] Production
The play was originally filmed under the title These Three in 1936 but the strictures of the Production Code resulted in an adaptation of the story into a conventional heterosexual love triangle. By 1961 the Code allowed for the alleged lesbian affair between Hepburn's and MacLaine's characters but references to it were allusionary and non-specific.
In an interview for the documentary The Celluloid Closet (1996), Shirley MacLaine said she and Hepburn never talked about their characters' alleged lesbianism. She also claimed Wyler cut some scenes hinting at her character's love for Hepburn because of concerns about press reaction to the film.
The movie was James Garner's first film after suing Warner Bros. to leave the television series Maverick and break into movies. Wyler broke an unspoken blacklist by hiring Garner and the actor appeared steadily in films and television shows over the following decades.
Miriam Hopkins, who plays Aunt Lily Mortar in the 1961 film, had starred as Martha Dobie in These Three, the earlier screen adaptation of the play.
[edit] Cast
- Audrey Hepburn as Karen Wright (the teacher)
- Shirley MacLaine as Martha Dobie
- James Garner as Dr. Joe Cardin
- Miriam Hopkins as Mrs. Lily Mortar
- Fay Bainter as Mrs. Amelia Tilford
- Karen Balkin as Mary Tilford
- Veronica Cartwright as Rosalie Wells
- Mimi Gibson as Evelyn(age 13)
- Debbie Moldow
- Diane Mountford
- William Mims as Mr. Burton
- Sally Brophy as Rosalie's mother
- Hope Summers as Agatha (Tilford's maid)
[edit] Awards and nominations
The film was nominated for five Academy Awards in 1962, including Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, and Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Fay Bainter). It was also nominated for three Golden Globes in the same year, including Best Motion Picture Director and Best Motion Picture Actress - Drama (Shirley MacLaine).
[edit] Excerpt
Martha: There's always been something wrong. Always, just as long as I can remember. But I never knew what it was until all this happened.
Karen: Stop it Martha! Stop this crazy talk!
Martha: You're afraid of hearing it, but I'm more afraid than you.
Karen: I won't listen to you!
Martha: No! You've got to know. I've got to tell you. I can't keep it to myself any longer. I'm guilty!
Karen: You're guilty of nothing!
[edit] External links
- The Children's Hour - a film review
- The Children's Hour at the Internet Movie Database
- After Ellen.com review
- James Garner interview at Archive of American Television
|
||||||||||||||||||||
