Pretty Good

If the ambition is to provide two hours of instantly forgettable, popcorn-munching escapism, it succeeds.

The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

Don't expect an uproariously slapstick comedy or one in which wise whip-cracks pepper the plot like a swarm of bees in a honey jar. True, the script has some delightfully daffy moments and the dialogue wonderfully witty lines, but the accent is firmly on believable characterization rather than sheer slapstick. The amusement derives from the attractive clash of two opposing temperaments - a formula that was to be repeated again and again in the Hepburn-Tracy comedies. Here in their first meeting, their technique is fresh, yet already marvelously refined. Tracy is delightfully pragmatic, Miss Hepburn amusingly vapid yet opinionated. And they are joined by a truly scintillating support cast. Dan Tobin is brilliantly funny as the glibly jaunty Gerald - easily the most memorable role of his career. He plays with such droll sophistication, even bettering Tracy at times, it's a great pity he was never to find such a part again.William Bendix was rather more fortunate. He has a typical role which he plays with a great sense of timing and enthusiasm. Fay Bainter's fans will not be disappointed - she has an important part - but most of the other players have little more than walk-ons. Nonetheless, Stevens has seen to it, that all excel. The only actor who seems a trifle miscast is Minor Watson who is too rough-and-ready a character for the ultra-queenly Hepburn's diplomat father.It's hard to beat Stevens for stylish direction that gets the most out of every dramatic or comic situation. Only the rather too mellifluous marriage ceremony seems overdone. Almost every other scene is paced, emphasized and edited to perfection.Under Ruttenberg's lighting (and in Adrian costumes), Hepburn never looked more radiant. Waxman has contributed a spirited score and the film is as proficiently polished as we would expect from MGM.

Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn are at it again, but this time they are print journalist at the same newspaper. He is Sam Craig, and he has a sports column. He engages in a feud with political activist Tess Harding (Katherine Hepburn) who is outspoken and has an opinion on everything. She can speak in many different tongues because she know everybody except Hitler. Strangely enough, the down-to-earth Craig is attracted to the highly unconventional Tess who behaves like a buoy in stormy seas. She is much sought after for her views and presence. One day Sam Craig proposes to her and he discovers that she lives in a kind of Grant Central Station. People flock into and out of her life and her personal secretary Gerald Howe (Dan Tobin) is constantly consulting with her. Sam realizes that he has an obstacle course to negotiate. Tess may be married but she doesn't see Sam as the most important person in her life. More often than not she is off gallivanting around at conventions, meetings, etc., to have any time to spend with poor Sam. The straw that breaks the camel's back comes in the form of a little boy that Tess adopts without Sam's consent. Tess has an important meeting to attend and insists that Sam accompany her. Sam is in no mood to accompany Tess much less leave the little boy, Chris (George Kezas), home alone to fend for himself. Sam wants to have a child with Tess, but Tess is too busy. Finally, Sam takes little Chris back to the relief agency where Tess found him and used him as publicity stunt. The problem is that Tess isn't behaving like a mature adult. After Sam returns Chris (and Chris is overjoyed to be reunited with his pals), Sam leaves Tess. As it turns out, Tess' estranged parents, Ellen (Fay Bainter) and William (Minor Watson), are having another wedding. Sam is off at a boxing championship and refuses to budge to see Tess' parents. While she is listening to the wedding ceremony, Tess realizes how insensitive that she has been and goes back to Sam. You can guess what happens in this predictable but entertaining romantic comedy set against the backdrop of World War II. Tracy and Hepburn are perfectly suited for one another.

The Sexist times really wasted the wonderful chemistry of the Hepburn-Tracy romance in this film.Where this film goes wrong is when, after getting nicely drunk, she invites him back to her apartment,but then instead of going to bed with her to quench the burning desire that was evident as soon as he saw her straightening her hose in the bosses office,he sneaks out because the mores of the times and the movie morals squad wouldn't allow it. The rest of the film isn't about that delicious burning desire so much as about why people shouldn't marry just because they have the hots for each other. Its annoying that two intelligent but very different people,blinded by desire, still can't recognize that the only way for them to have a successful marriage is for them to encourage their different lifestyles and come together when and wherever they can, and not try to pigeon hole themselves into gender stereotypes.I know conflict is used to create funny situations in films, but it hurts a film when characters start acting stupidly just to draw out the plot contrivances.The first half of the film is great but weighed down by the second.

I've seen more or less all the films Spencer Tracey and Katherine Hepburn made together but I hadn't seen this, their first pairing, until I stumbled across the DVD in a Sale bin today and after watching it it's a case of save the Best till last. I always thought the young Kate Hepburn was beautiful but never actually Radiant which is exactly what she is in the opening scenes. Either she had a knack for being cast in or else somehow scouted out wonderful feel-good romantic movies like Holiday and this one and how those hick distributors in the Mid-West could label her box-office poison is beyond comprehension. Though perfectly capable of lighting up the screen by herself she really shines with the right co-star like Cary Grant or, as here, Spencer Tracey and though - as others have pointed out - this isn't the greatest plot that ever came down the pike the two leading performances transcend anything and generate a wonderful glow. One to cherish.