Hollywood Couples documentary - Spencer Tracy & Katharine Hepburn

the movie is woman of the year the Stars Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn both had at one time or another in touted as the top of their profession as two of the greatest actors to ever grace the silver screen both were also known for their eccentric manners and strong-willed nature's naturally with two distinct personalities colliding like this sparks were expected to fly cast and crew were quite surprised then when sparks of a different kind flew for on the set of Woman of the Year their first ever on-screen teaming Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn fell in love it marked the beginning of one of the best-kept secrets in Tinseltown history and one of the most enduring Hollywood couples it was remarkable that in a time when gossip mongers like Hedda Hopper and Louella Parsons reigned in Tinseltown a decades-long affair between two stars could be kept secret and yet the media universally chose not to report on the romantic relationship between Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn Tracy have fallen out of love with his wife Louise years earlier and had carried on affairs with scores of top Hollywood actresses if he never divorced his wife partly due to his Catholic beliefs but also because he felt guilty about leaving her to care for their son in fact he would not even consider divorcing his wife until his son was fully grown and able to care for himself John Tracy was born deaf something Spencer perceived as punishment for his own sins unable to cope with his child's handicap he let Louise raise the family while he worked to keep them financially comfortable he also gave Louise large sums of money for her charity project the John Tracy clinic out of respect for mrs. Tracy's pioneering work with the deaf the Hollywood community generally kept a tight wrap on the heparin Tracy romance Hepburn for her part went in and out of back doors and met Tracy on the sly but she didn't seem to mind have you ever broken any rules she was madly in love with him and he with her they were soul mates Spencer Tracy is considered by many to be the finest screen actor of all time among the American actors I think Spencer Tracy was probably the best film actor in either country he was born on april fifth nineteen hundred in milwaukee wisconsin to John and Kerry Tracy a rebellious youth he hung around with the bad boys on the wrong side of the tracks tough and combative Tracy was expelled from 15 different grade schools before finally buckling down in high school in an attempt to get on the right path for a while he contemplated entering the priesthood but continually found himself drawn to the Performing Arts though he felt it was a [ __ ] way to make a living he nevertheless join the debate team so that he could travel with them to New York City for a match while in the Big Apple Spencer applied and was accepted at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts Tracey's talents were immediately evident and he won the admiration of his peers and teachers one fellow actress was so impressed with Spencer that she found herself falling in love with him Louise Treadwell married Tracy in 1923 and gave up her own career to allow Spencer to pursue his he always referred to her as his best critic and asked her for advice on what roles he should take as time passed she would bear him a son and a daughter but the two eventually fell out of love but for now the couple was happy despite their financial troubles the 20s were a tough time for a struggling actor and Spence took whatever stage work he could find once while in a rehearsal Tracy's director the master showman george m cohen stopped the proceedings to tell Spencer you're the greatest actor I've ever seen Tracy found success on Broadway in the last mile and finally came to the attention of John Ford in 1930 who urged the actor to come to Hollywood for the directors film up the river Spence signed a contract with 20th Century Fox but found himself typecast as con men or gangsters films like 20,000 years in sing-sing gained critical acclaim for the star but Tracy knew who was better than the material being offered to him depressed and frustrated he took to the bottle scotch incredible when you have a scotch highball a lifelong alcoholic Spencer would disappear for weeks at a time on drunken binges often waking up in some big city with no idea how he got there these bouts with the booze would plague Tracy his entire life and would take its toll on his relationship with Katherine Hepburn but she always stood by him and would even clean up after him when he came home from one of his binges but heavy drinking did not change Tracy situation at Fox then in 1935 despite the reluctance of studio head Louie be mayor Boy Wonder producer Irving Thalberg signed Tracy to a contract at MGM the rest as they say is history Spencer Tracy quickly became one of the studio's most bankable stars he was impressive in vehicles such as the murder man honey was too low nothing was too contemptible for you to do list and her I've got nothing but sympathy for every man in that death house there isn't anything in the world I wouldn't do for but not for you manner because you got it coming but I got a murder and team very Wells Jean Harlow in riffraff hey pretending for my god that now watch out to the cops oh I knew you'd come down but it was Fritz Lang's searing 1936 drama fury they brought Tracy to nationwide attention his role is an innocent victim of mob injustice appeal to audiences and critics alike and soon the studio offered him a plus projects he was also teamed with the top stars from MGM's roster libeled lady put him alongside William Powell Myrna Loy and new friend Jean Harlow I tell you I can't go now the papers in a jam we're facing a libel well you're facing a breach of promise suit if you don't wanna marry me just say so ready you getting yourself all upset darling over he's here at little drinky me no not today I don't today I get married San Francisco paired him for the first time with Clark Gable then the number one male star in the world in fact it was Tracy himself who gave gable the nickname for King the two naturally became lifelong friends years later when Spencer Tracy replaced Gables the top mail box office attraction he sent Clark a telegram that said how does it feel to be dethroned in his personal life Tracy fell hard for actress loretta young though he stayed married to louise until the day he died spencer looked to other women mostly actresses for romantic interest his relationship with young did not last but many still feel that she was the second great love of his life after katherine hepburn tracy proved his worth as a dramatic actor when he won the Academy Award for his performance as the Portuguese fisherman men well in Captains Courageous Oh what do you worry about he admit the whole thing like regular gone fella he say he's sorry everything all right that's all right should I beat his ears off get on my way Jack you touch that kid I tear you apart see ya me Manuel torque and I tell you apart the Oscar was accepted by Louise because Tracy was recovering from a hernia operation he won a second statue the very next year for playing father Flanagan opposite Mickey Rooney in a sweet drama Boys Town this cemented his stardom and his place as a top leading man there that's better I'm father Flanagan I saw you brother Joe just a little while ago we had a long talk about you whitey Joe wants you to come to boys town with me if you think you're gonna make a plow Jackie out of me you got another thing coming now look lady in a pinch I can be tougher than you are and I guess maybe this is the pinch you're coming with me to boys town because that's the way your brother wants it people also began to take notice of Tracy's acting style he kept it simple conveying more with a raised eyebrow than most actors could with a page of dialogue we're coming through a father he made screen acting look effortless and easy in fact is often quoted advice to young performers was learn your lines and try not to bump into any furniture well I probably learned that from Spencer Tracy he always said take the job series in yourself not at all and really that's why he was such a great actor because you see he was a reactor and anybody who reacts is only listening to what the other person says in telling the story through his face and read him and he had reduced it to such simplicity that I I picked that up somewhere along the way you know you know his classic advice they say what do you what's your advice to the young actor he says tell him to learn their lines and try not to bump into the furniture Spencer continued his winning streak in films as the 30s winded down and the 40's began he received acclaim for his roles in edison the man Northwest Passage and I take this woman then in 1941 he starred in a new version of robert louis stevenson's classic story dr. Jekyll and mr. Hyde he carried on an intense love affair with his beautiful co-star Ingrid Bergman even after the production wrapped but little did Spence know a new woman was waiting to enter his life Katharine Hepburn was a huge fan of Tracy's admiring his work in such films as captains courageous and boys town she had a property called woman of the year that she wanted to star in and in her eyes he was the only actor who could play the male lead Katherine Houghton Hepburn was born on November 9th 1907 in Hartford Connecticut to a prominent New England family her father was a famous surgeon and her mother a pioneering crusader for women's rights brought up to believe in herself and to embrace her own unique qualities Kate had a happy family life though many saw the heparin brood is an eccentric oddball bunch childhood was good for the girl except for one major tragedy Hepburn was deeply affected by her brother Tom suicide he was a popular handsome young man without a care in the world yet he hung himself while the two siblings were visiting their mother's friend in New York City Katherine also spent a lot of time trying to win the approval of her father whose positive comments were few and far between many feel Spencer Tracy was much like her father and Mark VAD is one of the reasons for her undying devotion to the actor nevertheless Hepburn was strong-willed and intelligent and she attended the prestigious Bryn Mawr College where she discovered her love of acting she also developed into a striking beauty taking away the breasts of many young men with her long legs and pronounced cheekbones k trained with drama and voice coaches and gained experience doing summer stock she eventually appeared on Broadway but quickly gained a reputation for being difficult unable to establish herself she married her friend Ludlow Ogden Smith known as ludie and settle down to a life as a homemaker but the need to act was too strong and before long she returned to the stage the marriage itself was not fated to last either the couple eventually divorced when Kate set her sights on winning stardom in Hollywood an appearance is an Amazon in the nineteen thirty-two Broadway show the Warriors husband led to the actress being offered a screen test and contract at RKO studios did she know about us no I don't think I'd tell her I hadn't intended does she love you will she love you head over heels regardless design in her first motion picture a bill of divorcement she played the daughter of john barrymore a man recently released from an asylum to return home to his family don't you see you can't stand even the first glimpse of the truth darling it would be dangerous for me to marry George Cukor helmed and would direct Kate in some of her best pictures he also became a lifelong friend of both Hepburn and Tracy in fact Spence would later take residents in Cooper's guest cottage where he and Katherine would meet for their romantic trysts hepburn quickly established herself as an accomplished actress in films like Little Women Alice Adams and Sylvia Scarlett she even won the academy award for best actress from her work in the nineteen thirty three film Morning Glory her roles were strong female parts women who floated convention and undermined male Authority her acting talents were unmatched however and pears could see the genius behind her performances everyone wanted to work with her who can think about money when somebody calls you and says you're gonna play Katharine Hepburn's husband in a major million-dollar picture like Tracy heparin believed in keeping it simple just be still she would tell young actresses like Louis Middleton I learned one of my really wonderful lessons and acting from her because you know young actors have a tendency sometimes to do and sometimes you're so busy doing here you know it's not connected so she said just be still Hepburn quickly gained a reputation for being strong willed and demanding ordering and receiving only the best this brought her the attention of many male admirers in Hollywood on the set of her first film bill of divorcement John Barrymore chased her around the dressing room while pitching unwanted whoo but her major romantic involvement was with billionaire aviator turned movie producer Howard Hughes Hughes became head over heels infatuated with Kate and the two carried on a torrid relationship they made newspaper headlines from coast to coast he was even asked Catherine to marry him and for a while they tantalized reporters with tentative wedding dates but in the end Hepburn turned down the offer much to the heartbreak of Hughes many feel Kate was the great love of Howard's life even though he was linked romantically too many different women in the years to come he always followed her career closely and in fact it was Hughes who obtained the movie rights to the Philadelphia Story years later unfortunately at the present time Hepburn began to fare poorly at the box office and vehicles like stage door used stars like Ginger Rogers and Lucille Ball to boost her public appeal cake then teamed with Cary Grant for the classic screwball comedy bringing up baby in 1938 I don't believe it Susan but you have to believe me your unbridled imagination once more nobody can only wait when i explained i just gave you my job no no no I'm just trying to tell you that you've told though the film is today seen is one of the best of the genre it was a failure in his day and received little attention in a famous memo from the president of the independent theater owners of america Katharine Hepburn was listed alongside marlena dietrich Joan Crawford Mae West Fred Astaire and Greta Garbo as box-office poison but she would have the last laugh heparin returned to her acting roots by appearing in the play The Philadelphia Story a comedy written for her by philip Barry it was a smash hit and Hepburn shrewdly acquired the screen rights for the play returning to Hollywood she negotiated a contract with MGM where the philadelphia story was made into a top grossing picture James Stewart and Cary Grant co-starred and Hepburn found herself again at the top of the heap it's what everybody feels about you it's what I first worshiped your for from afar George listeners now and always honey from a little nearer now hey darling I don't want to be worshipped I I want to be loved but for her next picture she would need a second hit that would not disappoint audiences she found it in a story suggested by Garson Kanin and written in screenplay formed by Michael Caine and Ring Lardner jr. amazingly Hepburn was able to convince studio had louie be mayor to meet all her demands regarding the property and was able to lasso George Stevens as director as her co-star she saw only one real possibility someone she was simply dying to work with Spencer Tracy don't you understand what I mean this I want to marry you anything happening that a great woman of the year was an incredible success thanks to the incredible chemistry between its two stars it was a relationship that developed almost instantly and worked its way off screen before long Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn were established among their friends as one of Hollywood's greatest couples the film's plot deals with a sports reporter who falls in love with a political writer working for the same paper she is a liberated modern woman the woman of the year but nevertheless she is taken with this gruff but lovable man what would you think about having a child Tess is that what all this build-up has been for did you think I'd have to be sold on the idea I wasn't quite sure how perhaps I'd better get you into the right frame of mind get me into the me where the sooner the better it's already been done already but her lack of commitment to the marriage almost leads to their breakup but in the end she returns to her husband with renewed zest for their union the battle of the sexes or more specifically the liberated female at odds with a traditional male became an ongoing theme in the film starring this famous pair interestingly it reflected their off-screen relationship as well those strong-minded and willful Hepburn was so in awe of Tracy that she allowed herself to be subjugated by him giving in to his every wish and desire he was the only one who could get away with putting her down or standing in her way but she had her reasons she had fallen in love with him a love deeper than any she had ever known like her father Tracy was sparse with praise for heparin but he loved her equally as much though he never said it to her face he praised her skills and talents to anyone who would listen their first encounter however did not hint at the relationship that was to follow on the MGM backlot Hepburn saw Tracy approaching with producer Joseph mankiewicz though she was hoping to make a good first impression Kate became nervous because her four inch heels made her tower over Tracy I'm afraid I'm a little too tall for you mr. Tracy she stammered don't worry miss hepburn he replied I'll cut you down to my size later Katherine asked mankiewicz what Spencer thought of her the only thing Tracy had said was Katherine Hepburn has dirty nails hasn't she in one of their first scenes together Kate knocked over a glass of water without stopping Spence handed her his handkerchief and Kate began mopping up the spill she thought she could throw him by crawling under the table to stop up the spilled liquid all the while saying her lines Tracy just SATs smiling he wasn't thrown at all George Stevens kept the cameras rolling and the scene ended up in the film when the picture was released critics and audiences alike praised the news screen team Catherine even received an Oscar nomination for her work but friend Garson Kanin admonished Tracy because his name was first in the credits she's a lady said Canaan haven't you heard of ladies first Tracy replied this is a movie chowderhead not a lifeboat Katherine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy immediately reteamed for a second picture keeper of the flame but anyone expecting another romantic comedy was in for a big disappointment the film was a gothic mystery that had war correspondent Tracy writing the life story of a famed American patriot hepburn is the man's Widow who eventually tells Tracy the truth about her husband's supposedly clean image I said to myself quite calmly you'll come this way and be killed unless you hurry and warning and I didn't warn him because and like Robert I'm killed by accident there stabbed in the back like Caesar he bought it was a propagandist message flickr warning Americans about the power of our enemies overseas the Nazis and the ability they had to corrupt those we hold dear you did it alone I don't even care why you wanted to get rid of forest I only care that you won't let me help you I'm in love with you don't you understand that you can't do Tracy did not serve in World War two because his drinking had already led to heart and liver problems he was also too old but it still bothered him when strangers jeered him as a coward both he and Katherine did what they could as entertainers by selling bonds visiting troops and continuing to make pro war effort pictures Spence was starring in war flicks like 30 seconds over tokyo Doolittle York I want you to get 24 b-25s with volunteer crews down to eglin field as soon as you can the job will take them out of the country for about three months tell us a secret mission I'll let you know when he come while Kate made a cameo in the all star review stage door canteen giving the heroine a patriotic boost Oh Eileen what are you doing out here they took my car away so I can't go inside why well it's all right miss Royall I'm I'm going to be married today you are full of surprises congratulations and mine Arlene congratulations and good luck thank you it isn't fair you bet it isn't fair but it's happening Oh miss hepburn I just hurt yes I know he sent you with Darius love and said he hoped to be as mrs. honeycott back I can't stand it I've gotta get out of a minute why'd you volunteer for this work because I wanted to help how far I wanted to help my country why do you think your country needs your help we're in a warrant and we've got to win yes that's right we're in a war and we've got to win and we're going to win and that's why the boy you love is going overseas and there's not maybe while you're going to go back in there and get on your job look you're a good kid out in wonder he loves you he knows what he's fighting for he's fighting for the kind of world in which you and he can live together and happiness in peace in love don't ever think about quitting don't ever stop for a minute working fighting praying until we've got that kind of a world for you for him for your children for the whole human race days without end oh man off-screen the relationship between the two blossomed into a passionate love affair tracy's still refused to divorce his wife but catherine was totally willing to adapt her routine to satisfy spence when traveling together they would take separate hotel rooms plus Kate would go in and out back entrances so it's not to be seen by snoops they stayed together at Tracy's home with Kate completely caring for her man in every way possible when they weren't going out for dinner Hepburn cooked and no matter who was present she always served Spencer first she constantly doted over him and onset would compliment is acting to whoever was in earshot occasionally there was bickering Spencer was always quick to cut down Catherine or throw out an insult we felt she was droning on about a topic she knew nothing about she would simply giggle and brush it off knowing deep down he loved her more than anything often she sat at his feet looking up into his eyes with affection and all Tracy also suffered from insomnia and at night Kate would lie on the floor talking him to sleep she would also take care of him when he returned from his drinking binges he would wait in hotel hallways until he sobered up and unlocked the door sometimes on set they were like two teenagers sneaking away for some fun between takes and when Kate would leave to tour with a play or shoot a film overseas like the African Queen Spencer would become miserable without hepburn around he would be depressed and withdrawn and would drink more than ever oftentimes for revenge he would cheat on Kate with one night stands or even other actresses such as his brief affair with Grace Kelly but in the end they always remain together and all the while their relationship was kept secret close friends like Clark Gable George Cooper Stanley Kramer Garson Kanin and Ruth Gordon Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall knew the truth and delighted in spending time with him as a couple one friend who spends liked having a drink with was writer James bacon however Kate was not a big fan of their relationship as bacon explains in this anecdote Spencer and I were very good friends i once had lunch with a moment Romanovs and Spence was on his body a scotch at the time and all of a sudden I looked across the table in his face was flat down in the mashed potatoes so being a good Samaritan i bundled him up and I had a couple of waiters help me carry Tracy out to my car and I took drove all the way out to trancas beach right now I was not supposed to know he was shacked up there with Katharine Hepburn but he was so I drove out there and I get him out of the car and he heavy dead weight he passed out you know I'm dragging him dragging him you know our son Kate comes from behind the thing and she says I can use sob Tracy yo Spence always gets drunk when he's with you I said I am seen him in two years and she says you're an evil companion for Spencer Tracy I says how can anyone be a needle companion for Spencer Tracy as she started to pick up a brick so I just dropped Tracy in a heap of 911 I never I never talked to Kathryn since but the public only learned the truth about Tracy and Hepburn after Spencer's death while he was alive fans simply considered them a great screen team who shared perfect acting chemistry similar in spirit to william powell and myrna loy and they wanted more of them in the theaters so Tracy and Hepburn made without love in 1945 again based on a play by Phillip Perry this featured Kate as a widow mary scientists tracy out of convenience of course the platonic relationship leads to romance and the two soon fall in love for real never want love in your life again I never wanted in mind but our reasons there is different as the Sun is from the moon you don't want it because you've got all the worst of it I don't want it because I've had all the best and then there's all that you know what you call that powerful commodity did we put you so I thought so you thought so I wondered if maybe you'd like to marry me mrs. Rowland you're nuts not considered one of the team's best the pic was still a lot of fun boosted by supporting performances from Lucille Ball and Keenan Wynn say hey what do you live ha ha no home is where the heart is and the man's best friend is his mother but not tonight my friend you know my mother what's all that well that's a surprise for Jamie oh well the surprise is on you i just left Jamie in the arms of Paul Carrel I nearly did Pat did it did what full for Paul ridiculous I know but it's true Oh nonsense you're not the falling type you're like the Tower of Pisa you may have certain leanings but you always remain upright Steve grass was the next collaboration for cadence fence this 1947 Western was directed by elia kazan who did not get along well with a volatile Tracy Spence insisted on under playing his role of a ruthless cattle baron whose attempts to rid his land of homesteaders drives away his loving wife Kate I love you very much you kind of took advantage of me you know that don't you miss that's what an advantage is born it better look like you are ungrounded why do women insist on loving men for what they want them to be instead of what they are good day mr. Chamberlain you know I am rebooting very much you mean you envy the pirate his load no no just one thing I'll get around to telling you what it is someday paradigms heard dogs I didn't know you had a twin brother judge they told me there was no justice here and that you dominated the country they were right what are you doing Jim Chamberlain wants to declare war he's going to get it you're really going to go out in cold blood shoot the first homesteader that comes over that's right in cold blood if that's what you want to call it don't do it Jim give up on it were you protecting over long and short on action the film was not a huge hit reminded tracing Hepburn that they were at their best together when doing light comedy state of the union was a drama with comic touches but unfortunately the mood on the set was not so light you are here before the Committee on American Activities in response to a subpoena Hepburn was one of many stars being investigated for possible communist affiliations by the house on American Activities Committee you're an American aren't you yes I certainly am this led to Tracy also coming under fire as he stood by his love the FBI as was later revealed kept a file on the duo's affair keeping detailed tabs on heparins political leanings and Tracy's drunken binges but both the FBI and Hugh ACK feared that dragging the names of these performers through the mud would trigger a public backlash that might damage their cause so they left the couple alone the young congressman from California who spearheaded the campaign to protect Kate dispensed was none other than Richard Nixon in the meantime Tracy and Hepburn deplored the communist witch hunts while their co-star Adolf manju acted as a friendly witness this did lead to sub tension on the set but all parties involved put aside their differences to make the film in the picture Tracy is a Republican candidate for president whose active political interests have estranged him from his wife Hepburn my work mrs. Matthews your husband's a pretty big man oh there's no argument about that I know he's a big man you know he's a big man my bad days when he knows he's a big man now hang it all look here Mary I'm not going to have you do this you wouldn't get one wink of sleep down there on the floor and I wouldn't sleep flying up here worrying about you good night Spence carries on an affair with newspaper publisher Angela Lansbury who hopes to get in good with the future pres by backing all the way funny world I want you to be President so I go back to New York and you tour the country with your wife politics make strange bedfellows in order to make a good show for the public heparin stands by her husband on the campaign trail her finds his morals are quickly rotting away as he moves closer to their life house don't let k take your eyes now you love Frank Matthews that big muckers your whole life you know you love me but if you don't get in there now this instance you're gonna lose you weren't you're mad ambition catering to his conceded dealing and double-dealing you were gonna make a big man of him weren't you pay you couldn't see that he was a big man well you you and he's a body to his own murder eventually Tracy redeems himself and his marriage to kate is saved based on a popular stage play the film version was directed by Frank Capra and featured top performances from everyone involved and no one could ever tell when watching the picture if Hepburn and manju were at major odds the next year nineteen forty nine the duo teamed again for one of their best pictures Adam's rib again symbolized the battle of the sexes as Tracy and Hepburn played married lawyers and face off against each other in a controversial court case talented Judy Holliday made her movie debut as the woman on trial for trying to shoot the lady or her husband tom ewell is having an affair wolf adding to Tracy's frustration his neighbor david Wayne who is blatantly trying to move in on Spence's wife what you want your rubdown you want a drink want anything oh oh no look yeah if I'm fighting my prejudices but it's clear that you're behaving like a hate to put it this way but like a man you watch your language this is basic I'm old-fashioned I like two sexes and what is more I suddenly don't like being married to what is known as a new woman I want a wife not a competitor completa torque imperatore if you want to be a big he woman go and be one but not with me in the end heparins defense based on equality of the sexes wins her client and acquittal but even he is forced to admit that there are definite differences between men and when Tracy as usual has the last word viva la diva homes Adam's rib was well received as were the solo projects Tracy and Hepburn ventured in turn and promised you'll go down with his death a dozen times over down the river you promised well I'm taking my promise back Kate was nominated for her performance opposite Humphrey Bogart in the African Queen though she suffered through the filming with crippling stomach problems Spence scored in the title role a father of the bride playing dad too about to be Wed Elizabeth Taylor this was quickly followed by an equally successful sequel father's little dividend with Tracy having difficulty dealing with being a grand every guy oh no don't give them to me no no you should have it how can smile at you can [ __ ] see it's no use I going around turn him around so we keep a round that's it that's it Oh see it's that mutton look taken please please in 1952 Kanan Gordon cukor Tracy and Hepburn reunited for Pat and Mike a sparkling comedy about the unlikely romance between a sophisticated female athlete and her fast-talking manager what I think is it still going huh all right lay down later gladly imma back of what I'm your one once again the lovebirds lit up the screen with their classic exchanges and their obvious chemistry oh I don't think you ever been properly handled that's right not even by myself very few brains that is one thing I gotta say though what nicely packed that kid if it is effect not much meat on about what's there is cheers supporting them we're Charles Bronson still going under the name of you Kinski what happened when you got there well the first thing I i disengaged this fellow oh well um like oh sorry go may let go of me what am I rod you're gonna kill someone around here Maya soccer potatoes around here sitting and on-loan Aldo ray how lucky can i guide get they made a lot of fun oh yeah quiet guy his lovely woman long Russia but I made sure and this is what they taught discipline self discipline so that you know your lines and you know what you're killing what you're doing yeah and you don't falter you know Pat and Mike gave katharine hepburn a chance to show off her athletic skills which she did beautifully taking center stage in the team this would be the last picture Tracy and Hepburn would make together for MGM ah i can't handle this in my head that it rocks me why well be I said don't figure it still is 0 huh call walked in and handed me an engagement ring I'm not hooking oh that's you ain't himself so I mean well there's one thing only about us working together that's what i call a plenty long shot nothing wrong with alone we've he come out on top that's a fact we well like after an incredible performance and bad day at Black Rock Tracy was cast in Robert wises production tribute to a bad man in 1956 Spencer's foul moods his delay causing disappearances and his alcoholism led to wise finally being forced to fire move in the picture after 20 years Spencer Tracy was finished at MGM little did they know some of his best work was yet to come 20th Century Fox Tracy and Hepburn appeared in another romantic comedy desk set I think perhaps I'd better put my clothes on I left it in the bedroom Oh bunny this time kate is the head of a television research department whose staff is challenged by efficiency expert Spencer's new computer and it would never work why not cuz you're not in love with me or not with her she'd always come first anything went wrong with her you'd forget about me like that oh you don't want you an amusing look at the dawn of the computer age the film aptly depicted the relationship between Hepburn and Tracy as Catherine herself said in the end he's always the boss of the situation but he's challenged by her that in simple terms is what we do heparins film work that followed was sporadic and usually had origins in stage drama she was reluctant but finally did suddenly last summer and was surprised by the Oscar nomination that resulted the bastion only needed you while you were still useful useful I mean young able to attract she's battling again babbling and lie that's her home because they don't have told him lost her attractiveness what does attractiveness have to do with the son of the mother but she truly enjoyed long day's journey into night with its top-notch ensemble cast suck when the Blessed Virgin Mary gives me and gives me back the faith in her love and pity I used to have in my content days and I can pray to her again Tracy followed up desk set with fantastic performances in the old man in the sea inherit the wind the devil at four o'clock judgment at Nuremberg and it's a mad mad mad mad world many of these films were directed by Stanley Kramer who quickly became one of the couple's best friends in 1967 he would direct the final teaming of Tracy and Hepburn and Spencer Tracy's last film all together Tracy's health had been declining for quite some time and he became something of a recluse though no one was sure how long Spencer would stay alive Hepburn and Kramer talked the actor into making one last film guess who's coming to dinner the two lovers played a long time married couple whose liberal beliefs are tested when daughter Katherine Houghton brings home her fiance a rising black doctor were trade by sidney poitier I love your daughter there is nothing I wouldn't do to try to keep her as happy as she was the day I met her but it seems to me without your approval we will make no sense at all that is why I'm asking for a clearest possible statement of what your attitude is going to be I appreciate that doctor it's almost in the form of an old imanam not quite mr. Drayton all you have to say is goodbye though the film has lost much of its impact it was controversial in its day and brought an Oscar home for Hepburn she always said she felt the award was for both she and Spencer until today I would never have believed that I could say such a thing but when she fights you I'm gonna be on her side Tracy upon completing the film was ecstatic and called everyone he knew saying I did it I did it I finished the picture two weeks later he was dead on june nine nineteen sixty-seven Hepburn cradled her lover's head in her arms after he collapsed on the kitchen floor in the middle of the night the official cause of death was said to be a heart attack but Stanley Kramer always felt Tracy died of a gradual deterioration much of it from his drinking though grief-stricken Catherine stepped out of the spotlight and into the background she allowed Louise Tracy to play the part of the grieving widow and make all funeral plans with the public still unaware of the couple's true relationship Hepburn did not even attend Tracy's funeral eventually though Kate tried to make friends with the Tracy family she's exceeded with Spence's daughter Suzy years later but when she contacted Louise a few days after the funeral Tracy's wife was dumbfounded I thought she told Kate that you were only a rumor Hepburn continued appearing in films making noted performances in 1968 the lion in winter thanks Ike me Eleanor what would you have me do give out give up give in you be a little piece a little I so modest how about eternal peace these ten years you've lived with everything I've lost and loved another woman through it all I could peel you like a pair and God himself would call it justice the 1975 Western Rooster Cogburn to whom do you think you are talking Marshall you is dom i think i'm talking sister and on Golden Pond in nineteen eighty run that's why I came running back here to you see your pretty face listen to me mister you're my knight in shining come don't you forget it one of that was your other to suck face the truth about her affair with Tracy eventually went public but no one was all too surprised it just seemed natural heparin was never again linked romantically with anyone despite never marrying Tracy he remained her one true love and her soulmate asked if she ever regretted not having children or a long-term husband she simply replied you can't have it all but what katharine hepburn did have was one amazing and triumphant life a top actress a liberated woman a caring lover and an incredible human being she also shared her life with one of the greatest film actors of all time a controversial yet respected public figure and together they had a romance that could not be topped a love affair that has made history for its passion intelligence and unrivaled uniqueness Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn one of Hollywood's greatest couples hey it had to be you it had to be you I wandered around finally found somebody who could make me be true who could make me be blue and even be glad just to be sad thinking of you some mother's I've seen might never be me might never be cross-eyed right a bit boss but they wouldn't do for nobody else gave me a thrill with all your faults i love you still it had to be you wonderful you it had to be

Channel: thedivinemisshepburn

Views: 99,052

Keywords: spencer tracy, katharine Hepburn, tracy & hepburn

Id: sozJKD_oCPE

Length: 48min 39sec (2919 seconds)

Published: Sun Jul 03 2016