Christopher Strong is a 1933 RKO film, directed by Dorothy Arzner and starring Katharine Hepburn in her second screen role. The screenplay by Zoë Akins is adapted from the novel by Gilbert Frankau.
Synopsis
Originally intended as a vehicle for Ann Harding and Leslie Howard, Christopher Strong is a tale of illicit love among the English aristocracy. Hepburn plays Lady Cynthia Darrington, a strong-spirited aviatrix, who is over the age of 21 and has never had a lover or an affair because she is too busy. But she has an affair with faithful husband and member of Parliament, Christopher Strong (Colin Clive), much to the distress of his wife, Lady Elaine (Billie Burke) and his daughter, Monica (Helen Chandler), who marries her lover, Harry Rawlinson (Ralph Forbes)), when he divorces his wife because of their affair. While Monica waits for his divorce, she runs off for another affair with an Italian romeo, Carlo (Jack La Rue).
Six months after Monica and Harry are married, they announce their new arrival to elated grandparents-to-be. While Sir Christopher is celebrating with his family, Lady Cynthia learns she is pregnant, and saves Sir Christopher's moral position and political career by committing suicide setting an altitude record in her airplane.
The working title for this film was A Great Desire, and it represents the first opportunity to Hepburn to begin developing her screen image as the independent woman in the 20th-century. This was the only time in her film career than Hepburn played the "other woman," which is somewhat ironic given her infamous affair with Spencer Tracy. One of the most notable scenes in the film had Hepburn's character appearing at a costume party dressed in a stunning, form-fitting moth costume designed by Howard Greer. The musical score for this film is by Max Steiner.
External links
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