More about Katharine Hepburn
Jun. 30th, 2003 11:36 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
selenakIn a life full of great movies, this one will always be my favourite. Go and have a look at the website devoted to "The Lion in Winter", a film about that fascinating couple, Henry II (Peter O'Toole) and Eleanor of Aquitaine (K.H.), and their extremely dysfunctional and extremely interesting family. (Making their big screen debut: Anthony Hopkins as Richard the Lionheart and Timothy Dalton as Philipp II of France.) This was the movie which made me interested in Eleanor, Duchess of Aquitaine in her own right (which at the time meant she owned the best part of France), first married to Louis VII of France (he was devout, timid and nice; she was none of the three), then, after she got the marriage annuled, to the future Henry II of England (this was a gamble on her part, btw, as far as the power aspect was concerend; at the time it was by no means certain Henry would make it to the throne, then occupied by Cousin Stephen - who had stolen it from Henry's mother - and who had a living, briefing son). Henry and Eleanor build an empire together and tore each other apart, but despite 15 years in genteel imprisonment after her revolt against him failed, she outlived him, and at age 70 was travelling across Europe on political journeys, as sharp and alive as ever. She'll always be Katherine Hepburn to me.
Incidentally, there will be a remake with Patrick Stewart as Henry and Glenn Close as Eleanor. Which I'm looking forward to, but these two gifted actors really took a big challenge to compete with.
Here we have another obituary, the most extensive one; two shorter ones are here and here.
Katharine Hepburn's relationship to Spencer Tracy - that rare thing, a love affair between two Hollywood stars which never got any voyeuristic media attention while it lasted - is analysed in this article.
Incidentally, there will be a remake with Patrick Stewart as Henry and Glenn Close as Eleanor. Which I'm looking forward to, but these two gifted actors really took a big challenge to compete with.
Here we have another obituary, the most extensive one; two shorter ones are here and here.
Katharine Hepburn's relationship to Spencer Tracy - that rare thing, a love affair between two Hollywood stars which never got any voyeuristic media attention while it lasted - is analysed in this article.
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no subject
Date: 2003-06-30 02:23 am (UTC)After watching that movie, I had to read all the historical fiction about Eleanor I could find. Great, great movie.
Historical fiction about Eleanor
Date: 2003-06-30 02:29 am (UTC)Re: Historical fiction about Eleanor
Date: 2003-07-01 04:46 am (UTC)Anyway. I really like what I've read of Penman's series. (At this point, it's only been When Christ and His Saints Slept, though I do own Time and Chance) I also particularly liked a series of romance novels about the Robin Hood myths that included Eleanor. Good stuff.
I'm currently in the middle of Alison Weir's biography Eleanor of Aquitaine: A Live, but reading's been slow going on that one since my interest has been funneled in the "young adult fantasty" direction.
Re: Historical fiction about Eleanor
Date: 2003-07-01 06:41 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-06-30 04:33 am (UTC)On the other hand, do we know who will play the sons in the remake? ;-)
I liked Tanja Kinkel's Elenor-novel, btw.
Did you know that Tanja Kinkel writes AtS fanfic? I once read a story of hers about Lindsey and Darla (unless there's someone else with the same name).
Glenn Close annoyed me in "Hamlet", too...
Date: 2003-06-30 05:58 am (UTC)Glad you liked "Die Löwin von Aquitanien" and the Lindsey and Darla story because, how shall I put this? Well, look here (http://www.fanfiction.net/profile.php?userid=6273) and here (http://www.tanja-kinkel.de).
Re: Glenn Close annoyed me in "Hamlet", too...
Date: 2003-06-30 06:07 am (UTC)*E picks herself up, looks around sheepishly.*
Cool. *smiles*
Actually, I liked crazy!Mel better than impish Lawrence Olivier, but I got annoyed at Zefirelli's Oedipus angle. The direction didn't impress me. I just love Kosinzev's Hamlet so much better... That's just so much more interesting with its political angle...
As far as Hamlets on film are concerned...
Date: 2003-06-30 06:13 am (UTC)Re: As far as Hamlets on film are concerned...
Date: 2003-06-30 06:47 am (UTC)I thought his Hamlet was a bit indulgent, though. Have you not seen the Kosinzev one? It's Russian but really quite amazing. I bought my tape in England: Russian version with English subtitles, but the GDR Television made a very good dubbed version too.
Brilliant Mis-en-scéne. Interesting use of voice over and costume.
If you are really eager I suppse I could lend it to you...
Thanks, but...
Date: 2003-07-01 02:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-06-30 09:26 am (UTC)My all-time favorite film actress, and I didn't even know. :( :(
I love The Lion in Winter but -- and don't laugh -- my favorite Kate Hepburn film will always be Bringing Up Baby. It's just something about her comic timing in that one as daffy Susan that always makes me giddy.
There is a reason she's the only actress to ever win four Oscars in her career. So versitile.
No laughter from me
Date: 2003-06-30 09:52 am (UTC)Re: No laughter from me
Date: 2003-06-30 02:52 pm (UTC)Then again, my favorite Cary Grant movie is His Girl Friday. I have such a soft spot for screwball comedies. :D
Though, in defence of Hepburn and Tracey, I cry ever time Spencer Tracy gives his final speech in Guess Who's Comming To Dinner, just like Hepburn does. ::sigh:: They were magic.
Screen chemistry and real life chemistry...
Date: 2003-07-01 02:34 am (UTC)