Christopher Strong
| Christopher Strong | |
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 lobby card |
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| Directed by | Dorothy Arzner |
| Produced by | David O. Selznick |
| Written by | Zoe Akins |
| Music by | Roy Webb |
| Cinematography | Bert Glennon |
| Editing by | Arthur Roberts |
| Distributed by | RKO |
| Release date(s) | March 9, 1933 |
| Running time | 78 min. |
| Country |  United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $284,000 (estimated) |
Christopher Strong is a 1933 RKO film, directed by Dorothy Arzner and starring Katharine Hepburn in her second screen role.[1][2] The screenplay by Zoë Akins is adapted from the novel by Gilbert Frankau.
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[edit] 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 devoted to her work. But she falls in love with the previously-faithful husband and member of Parliament, Christopher Strong (Colin Clive), and has an affair with him during the course of her prize-winning around-the world flight. much to the distress of his wife, Lady Elaine (Billie Burke) and their daughter, Monica (Helen Chandler).
Monica had previously had an affair with the married Harry Rawlinson (Ralph Forbes). While waiting for him to divorce his wife and marry her, she runs off for a brief affair with an Italian romeo, Carlo (Jack La Rue).
Six months after Monica and Harry are married, they announce her pregnancy to her elated grandparents-to-be. Lady Cynthia simultaneously learns that she is pregnant, and saves Sir Christopher's moral position and political career by committing suicide while setting an altitude record in her airplane.
[edit] Production
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 famous 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 glittering moth costume designed by Howard Greer. The musical score for this film is by Max Steiner.
[edit] Legacy
An image of Hepburn in Christopher Strong wearing her aviator's suit was used on the poster for the Led Zeppelin North American Tour 1975.
[edit] Notes
- ^ Variety film review; March 14, 1933, page 14.
- ^ Harrison's Reports film review; March 25, 1933, page 47.
