Woman of the Year Synopsis: 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.
When Sam Craig and Tess Harding, two reporters for the New York Chronicle, argue in print over whether or not sports should be abolished during the duration of the war, their editor brings them together to put the brief feud to rest. Intrigued by Tess, Sam invites her to a baseball game to show her just how important sports are for American morale.
From there, Tess invites Sam to a party where he is introduced to her friends, who discuss world affairs in various foreign languages. Sam feels out of place, but Tess wants him to be a part of her life. Their courtship is swift, but while Tess is convinced they have a happy and satisfying relationship, Sam struggles with Tess’s busy lifestyle.
Seeing as how this movie was released in 1942, there are some outdated themes, but thankfully, it doesn’t wholly bungle the landing. Tess is a strong woman in a man’s world, and at first, it’s very admirable, but then we see that perhaps she’s also a tad selfish, which ultimately hurts Sam. Sam is by no means perfect either, and there are times he seems more annoyed by Tess’s success than proud. So these two have a lot of work to do.
Woman of the Year was the first of nine collaborations between Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy. It’s easy to see why their partnership succeeded in life and on screen. Their chemistry is palpable, and I am already impressed by any actor who can go toe-to-toe with the fiery Hepburn and hold their ground. Spencer Tracy makes it look effortless.
It has a few uneven moments – like Tess’s out of nowhere adoption of a Greek child – but for the most part, Woman of the Year is an entertaining journey worth taking. I’m looking forward to adding more Hepburn/Tracy flicks to my watchlist, but this is a great way to start their filmography.
Watched: 03/06/2023
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