The Children's Hour (film)

Infobox Film
name = The Children's Hour


caption = US DVD release
director = William Wyler
producer = Associate producer:
Robert Wyler
Producer:
William Wyler
for the Mirisch Corporation
writer = Play:
Lillian Hellman
Adaption:
Lillian Hellman
Screenplay:
John Michael Hayes
starring = Audrey Hepburn
Shirley MacLaine
James Garner
Miriam Hopkins
Fay Bainter
music = Alex North
cinematography = Franz Planer
editing = Robert Swink
distributor = United Artists
released = December 19 1961
runtime = 107 min.
country = United States
language = English
budget = US$ 3,600,000
imdb_id = 0054743
amg_id = 1:9300|

"The Children's Hour" is a 1961 film adaptation of the play of the same name written by Lillian Hellman. It was directed by William Wyler and stars Audrey Hepburn, Shirley MacLaine, and James Garner in the leading roles.

Plot summary

The two young teachers Martha Dobie (Shirley MacLaine) and Karen Wright (Audrey Hepburn), who met when they were seventeen and were in school together, build up a private school for girls in conservative New England. Martha's aunt Lily, an unemployed, elderly actress, lives with the two of them, and teaches acting. After two years of engagement to Dr. Joe Cardin (James Garner), a reputable gynecologist, Karen is finally looking forward to their wedding. Joe is related to rich Mrs. Amelia Tilford, whose grandchild Mary Tilford is also going to the school of Karen and Martha. Mary is a problematic, conniving child, bullying her classmates. In particular, she blackmails Rosalie Wells, whom she caught at stealing a bracelet.

To get back at the teachers for punishing her, Mary invents a story about the two women being involved in a love affair. Her tale is based on fragments of a quarrel between Martha and her aunt, which were accidentally overheard by her former room mates. Mary tells her grandmother that she observed the two women kissing each other. Mrs. Tilford believes her granddaughter, and immediately informs the other parents. As a result, all girls are withdrawn from the school, without giving Karen or Martha any explanations. Inquiring one father directly, Karen finally learns the real reason behind the sudden action, and angrily confronts Mrs. Tilford together with Joe and Martha. Mary again tells her tale, and forces Rosalie to confirm her statements. The two framed women sue Mrs. Tilford for libel and slander, but fail in court.

The story is circulated in the local media, utterly destroying the reputation of the two teachers. Only Joe still keeps contact to the two women, offering them to leave together and start a new life. However, even his trust in Karen is shaken, and he thus asks her if the rumors are true. In the resulting quarrel, Karen breaks up with him, claiming that she needs time to think everything over. As Martha learns about the break-up, she confides in Karen that she, indeed, always felt more than friendship for her, and that now, after hearing the made-up story, she finally realizes that she is in love with her.

Meanwhile, the mother of Rosalie discovers a stash of stolen things among Rosalie's things, including the bracelet Mary used to blackmail her. The two girls are questioned, and Mrs. Tilford learns that the story was, indeed, made up. She visits the two teachers, and tries to apologize to them, making clear that the court case will be reopened, and the two will not only be cleared of all charges but also well compensated. Karen, however, refuses to accept the apology, as she feels that the damage done to their lives cannot be undone. Afterwards, she briefly talks to Martha about her plans for the future, going somewhere far away together to start a new life. Martha, however, remains quite sullen, and admits to Karen that the incident has made her realize that she indeed does harbor romantic feelings for her. She claims she needs to sleep, and as Karen then leaves for a short walk, Martha hangs herself. The movie ends as Karen walks away from the funeral alone, while Joe watches her from the distance.

Production

The play was originally filmed under the title "These Three" in 1936 but the strictures of the Production Code resulted in an adaptation of the story into a conventional heterosexual love triangle. By 1961 the Code allowed for the alleged lesbian affair between Hepburn's and MacLaine's characters but references to it were allusionary and non-specific.

William Wyler directed both film versions.

In the play, Martha Dobie shoots herself instead of hanging herself, but the film is otherwise a quite faithful adaptation, retaining much of the same dialogue found in the play and in the 1936 film version "These Three".

In an interview for the documentary "The Celluloid Closet" (1996), Shirley MacLaine said she and Hepburn never talked about their characters' alleged lesbianism. She also claimed Wyler cut some scenes hinting at her character's love for Hepburn because of concerns about press reaction to the film.

The movie was James Garner's first film after suing Warner Bros. to leave the television series "Maverick" and break into movies. Wyler broke an unspoken blacklist by hiring Garner and the actor appeared steadily in films and television shows over the following decades.

Miriam Hopkins, who plays Aunt Lily Mortar in the 1961 film, had starred as Martha Dobie in "These Three", the earlier screen adaptation of the play.

Reception

Although the film was Oscar-nominated, it received tepid reviews, with most of the critics noting that William Wyler had directed the 1936 film in a much more taut, suspenseful manner.

Cast

* Audrey Hepburn as Karen Wright
* Shirley MacLaine as Martha Dobie
* James Garner as Dr. Joe Cardin
* Miriam Hopkins as Mrs. Lily Mortar
* Fay Bainter as Mrs. Amelia Tilford
* Karen Balkin as Mary Tilford
* Veronica Cartwright as Rosalie Wells
* Mimi Gibson as Evelyn(age 13)
* Debbie Moldow
* Diane Mountford
* William Mims as Mr. Burton
* Sally Brophy as Rosalie's mother
* Hope Summers as Agatha

Awards and nominations

The film was nominated for five Academy Awards in 1962, including Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, and Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Fay Bainter). It was also nominated for three Golden Globes in the same year, including Best Motion Picture Director and Best Motion Picture Actress - Drama (Shirley MacLaine).

Excerpt

Martha: There's always been something wrong. Always, just as long as I can remember. But I never knew what it was until all this happened.
Karen: Stop it Martha! Stop this crazy talk!
Martha: You're afraid of hearing it, but I'm more afraid than you.
Karen: I won't listen to you!
Martha: No! You've got to know. I've got to tell you. I can't keep it to myself any longer. I'm guilty!
Karen: You're guilty of nothing!

External links

* [http://www.epinions.com/content_399894679172 The Children's Hour - a film review]
*
* [http://www.afterellen.com/node/4494 After Ellen.com review]
* [http://video.google.com/videosearch?q=%22archive+of+american+television+interview+with+james+garner%22 James Garner interview] at Archive of American Television