Event

ADAM'S RIB

Special Guest: Film Scholar JAMES CURTIS
Author of Spencer Tracy: A Biography
Thurs., Nov. 3 at 7:30pm
ADAM'S RIB Starring SPENCER TRACY, KATHARINE HEPBURN

Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn play Adam and Amanda Bonner, a husband-andwife
attorney team, both drawn to a case of attempted murder. The defendant (Judy
Holliday) had tearfully attempted to shoot her husband (Tom Ewell) and his mistress
(Jean Hagen). Adam argues that the case is open and shut, but Amanda points out that,
if the defendant were a man, he'd be set free on the basis of "the unwritten law." Thus it
is that Adam works on behalf of the prosecution, while Amanda defends the accused
woman. The trial turns into a media circus, while the Bonners' home life suffers. Written
by Ruth Gordon & Garson Kanin (who won the Oscar for their effort), Adam's Rib is
largely considered the greatest of the Tracy/Hepburn comedies and features an early performance
by Ms. Holliday, who the following year would win the Academy Award for
her star turn in Born Yesterday. USA, 1949, 101 min.