Woman of the Year (1942)

Woman of the Year Poster

Rival reporters Sam and Tess fall in love and get married, only to find their relationship strained when Sam comes to resent Tess' hectic lifestyle.

Introduction
"Woman of the Year" is a romantic comedy movie launched in 1942. Directed by George Stevens, the motion picture features Hollywood stars Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy in the leading functions. The film functions as a comedic entertainment while attending to concerns related to gender role disputes and expectations in society. The script was co-written by Michael Kanin and Ring Lardner Jr., for which they won an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay.

Plot and Theme
A light-hearted romance, "Woman of the Year" takes viewers into the world of Tess Harding (played by Katharine Hepburn), a highly educated, multilingual political affairs columnist. She satisfies and falls in love with Sam Craig (played by Spencer Tracy), an easygoing sports author for the very same paper. Their professional rivalry and contrasting characters form the preliminary plotline of the film, causing witty small talk and funny circumstances.

Weding Tess, Sam soon understands the large distinctions in their lives. Tess is a global figure, always hustling, going to diplomatic dinners, and actively taking part in social causes. Sam prefers a relaxed lifestyle, typically restricting himself to viewing sports and laying low.

Gender Role Reversal
"Woman of the Year" also adjusts the traditional marital and gender stereotypes of the period. Tess, as an effective, enthusiastic, and independent woman, takes the dominant function, which was generally related to guys at the time. On the other hand, Sam is more associated with the homely, supporting character, normally booked for women. Their clashes arise from these turned roles in the marriage, resulting in a divorce.

Conclusion and Criticism
The concluding arc of the film has sparked criticism among audiences, especially feminists. After their divorce, Tess attempts to win Sam back by serving as a traditional better half, cooking breakfast for him and metaphorically submitting to a supportive role. This ending has actually been analyzed as suggesting that a female, in order to maintain a pleased marital relationship, need to suppress her aspirations and aspirations to deal with a man's needs.

Regardless of the debate over its ending, "Woman of the Year" was favored by audiences and critics, marking the beginning of Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy's popular on-screen pairing.

Ticket Office and Recognition
"Woman of the Year" was a box-office success and made numerous prestigious nominations, consisting of an Academy Award for Best Actress for Hepburn. Spencer Tracy's performance was also extremely well-known, and this film marked the beginning of a long and effective partnership in between Hepburn and Tracy, who went on to co-star in eight more films together over 25 years. The film writers, Lardner Jr. and Kanin, won the Academy Award for Best Story for this movie, paying homage to the brilliant script that addressed considerable problems with humor and charm.

Top Cast

  • Spencer Tracy (small)
    Spencer Tracy
    Sam Craig
  • Katharine Hepburn (small)
    Katharine Hepburn
    Tess Harding
  • Fay Bainter (small)
    Fay Bainter
    Ellen Whitcomb
  • Reginald Owen (small)
    Reginald Owen
    Clayton
  • Minor Watson (small)
    Minor Watson
    William J. Harding
  • William Bendix (small)
    William Bendix
    Pinkie Peters
  • Gladys Blake (small)
    Gladys Blake
    Flo Peters
  • Dan Tobin (small)
    Dan Tobin
    Gerald Howe
  • Roscoe Karns (small)
    Roscoe Karns
    Phil Whittaker
  • William Tannen (small)
    William Tannen
    Ellis
  • Ludwig Stössel (small)
    Ludwig Stössel
    Dr. Lubbeck