Free Web Hosting by Netfirms
 Web Hosting by Netfirms | Free Domain Names by Netfirms

[ Back ] [ Home ] [ Next ]

 

In Memoriam: KATHARINE H. HEPBURN (1907-2003)

 PART TWO
 
PART TWO

 

A full-body publicity portrait from WOMAN OF THE YEAR.

 

 

 

 

 

Beyond her famous partnerships, Hepburn also appeared in a variety of successful films opposite Hollywood's most popular leading men.  In 1951, she played a missionary in her only screen appearance opposite Humphrey Bogart, John Huston’s adventure film THE AFRICAN QUEEN, made on location in Africa. Hepburn titled her 1988 book about it: "The Making of The African Queen: Or How I Went to Africa With Bogart, Bacall and Huston and Almost Lost My Mind."

 

In 1956, Hepburn appeared opposite Burt Lancaster in Hal Wallis  film adaptation of the N. Richard Nash play THE RAINMAKER, about a smooth-talking "Rainmaker" who brings excitement and romance to the life of a plain-faced old maid.

 

Yet More Memorable Quotations:

"Most people's lives, what are they but trails of debris -- each day more debris, more debris ... long, long trails of debris, with nothing to clean it all up but death." --as Mrs. Venable in SUDDENLY, LAST SUMMER (1959).

"Alright.  Alright.  I stand accused of generosity." --as Mrs. Venable in SUDDENLY, LAST SUMMER (1959).

"Say something funny.  Make me stop wanting to cry." --as Mrs. Venable in SUDDENLY, LAST SUMMER (1959).

"Isn't it nice of the drug store to keep me alive." --as Mrs. Venable in SUDDENLY, LAST SUMMER (1959).

"Millions of years ago, dinosaurs fed on the leaves of those trees.  The dinosaurs were vegetarians.  That's why they became extinct -- they were just too gentle for their size.  And then, the carnivorous creatures -- the ones who eat flesh, the killers -- inherited the earth.  But then, they always do, don't they?" --as Mrs. Venable in SUDDENLY, LAST SUMMER (1959).

 

In 1959, Hepburn co-starred opposite two icons of the new breed of Hollywood stars, Montgomery Clift and Elizabeth Taylor (at right) in Joseph L. Mankiewicz’s film adaptation of Tennessee Williams' SUDDENLY, LAST SUMMER (1959) for which both she and Taylor earned Best Actress Oscar nominations.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One of my favorite movies, THE LION IN WINTER (1968), is a biting comedy-drama co-starring Peter O'Toole.  Hepburn won her third Best Actress Academy Award for this fantastic film about the family feuds between King Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine over the successor to the throne of England in the 12th century.

Music Clips from THE LION IN WINTER:

Click here"Main Title" (clip) by John Barry (a .MP3 file courtesy Sony/Columbia).
Click here"Eleanor's Arrival" (clip) by John Bary (a .MP3 file courtesy Sony/Columbia).
Click here"Media Vita in Morte Sumus" (clip) by John Barry (a .MP3 file courtesy Sony/Columbia).

 

 

In 1975, Hepburn joined Hollywood's western icon John Wayne in ROOSTER COGBURN, playing a minister's daughter who joins forces with the local marshal to bring justice to a band of rampaging thugs.  Their approaches to dispensing justice differ somewhat however, making for a comedic clash of personalities in the Old West.

 

 Memorable Quotations:

"Of course he has a knife, he always has a knife, we all have knives! It's 1183 and we're all barbarians!" --as Eleanor of Aquitaine in THE LION IN WINTER (1968).

"Henry's bed is Henry's province, he may people it with sheep if he wishes. Which upon occasion he has done. " -- as Eleanor of Aquitaine in THE LION IN WINTER.

"I made Louis take me on Crusade. I dressed my women as Amazons and we rode bare-breasted halfway to Damascus. Louis had a seizure and I damn near died of windburn... but the troops were dazzled." --as Eleanor of Aquitaine in THE LION IN WINTER.

"She can't be that innocent.  She keeps canaries." --as Countess Aurelia in THE MADWOMAN OF CHAILLOT (1969).

"To be alive is to be fortunate." --as Countess Aurelia in THE MADWOMAN OF CHAILLOT (1969).

"No matter what they say, it's water that gives you gas." --as Countess Aurelia in THE MADWOMAN OF CHAILLOT (1969).

"Gabrielle, where men are concerned, you have no points of reference." --as Countess Aurelia in THE MADWOMAN OF CHAILLOT (1969).

"Will you take your cheery personality and get out of here." --as Ethel Thayer in ON GOLDEN POND (1981).

"You know, Norman. You really are the sweetest man in the world, but I'm the only one who knows it." --as Ethel Thayer in ON GOLDEN POND (1981).

 

In 1981, Hepburn earned her record twelfth Best Actress nomination and her fourth Oscar statuette for her performance in ON GOLDEN POND opposite Henry Fonda in his final screen appearance.  Playing an aging couple worried that the world seems to be passing them by, Hepburn and Fonda both proved that in demanding roles, their ageless talents still hold up.

 [ Back ] [ Home ] [ Next ]