Christopher Strong
Encyclopedia
Christopher Strong is a 1933 RKO film, directed by Dorothy Arzner
and starring Katharine Hepburn
in her second screen role. The screenplay by Zoë Akins
is adapted from the novel by Gilbert Frankau
.
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 busy. But she has an affair with faithful husband and member of Parliament, Christopher Strong (Colin Clive
), much to the distress of his wife, Lady Elaine (Billie Burke
) and his daughter, Monica (Helen Chandler
), who marries her lover, Harry Rawlinson (Ralph Forbes
)), when he divorces his wife because of their affair. While Monica waits for his divorce, she runs off for another affair with an Italian romeo, Carlo (Jack La Rue
).
Six months after Monica and Harry are married, they announce their new arrival to elated grandparents-to-be. While Sir Christopher is celebrating with his family, Lady Cynthia learns she is pregnant, and saves Sir Christopher's moral position and political career by committing suicide setting an altitude record in her airplane.
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 infamous 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 moth costume designed by Howard Greer
. The musical score for this film is by Max Steiner
.
.
Dorothy Arzner
Dorothy Arzner was an American film director. Her directorial career in feature films spanned from the late 1920s into the early 1940s, a time period in which there were very few—if any—other women working in the field.- Biography :Born in San Francisco, California, Arzner grew up in Los...
and starring Katharine Hepburn
Katharine Hepburn
Katharine Houghton Hepburn was an American actress of film, stage, and television. In a career that spanned 62 years as a leading lady, she was best known for playing strong-willed, sophisticated women in both dramas and comedies...
in her second screen role. The screenplay by Zoë Akins
Zoe Akins
Zoë Akins was an American playwright, poet, and author.- Early years :Born in Humansville, Missouri, Akins was educated in Illinois and later in St. Louis, where she began her writing career...
is adapted from the novel by Gilbert Frankau
Gilbert Frankau
Gilbert Frankau was a popular British novelist. He was known also for verse including a number of verse novels, and short stories....
.
Synopsis
Originally intended as a vehicle for Ann HardingAnn Harding
Ann Harding was an American theatre, motion picture, radio, and television actress.-Early years:Born Dorothy Walton Gatley at Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio, Texas, to George G. Gatley and Elizabeth "Bessie" Crabb. The daughter of a career army officer, she traveled often during her early life...
and Leslie Howard
Leslie Howard (actor)
Leslie Howard was an English stage and film actor, director, and producer. Among his best-known roles was Ashley Wilkes in Gone with the Wind and roles in Berkeley Square , Of Human Bondage , The Scarlet Pimpernel , The Petrified Forest , Pygmalion , Intermezzo , Pimpernel Smith...
, 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 busy. But she has an affair with faithful husband and member of Parliament, Christopher Strong (Colin Clive
Colin Clive
Colin Clive was an English stage and screen actor best remembered for his portrayal of Dr...
), much to the distress of his wife, Lady Elaine (Billie Burke
Billie Burke
Mary William Ethelbert Appleton "Billie" Burke was an American actress. She is primarily known to modern audiences as Glinda the Good Witch of the North in the musical film The Wizard of Oz. She was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance as Emily Kilbourne in Merrily We Live...
) and his daughter, Monica (Helen Chandler
Helen Chandler
Helen Chandler was an American film and theater actress.-Career:Born in Charleston, South Carolina, Chandler began her acting career in New York at the age of nine and was on Broadway two years later in 1917...
), who marries her lover, Harry Rawlinson (Ralph Forbes
Ralph Forbes
rightRalph Forbes was an English actor in the American cinema. He was also a noted stage actor....
)), when he divorces his wife because of their affair. While Monica waits for his divorce, she runs off for another affair with an Italian romeo, Carlo (Jack La Rue
Jack La Rue
Jack La Rue was an American film and stage actor.Born as Gaspere Biondolillo, he worked on the New York stage from 1923 to 1931. He moved to Hollywood, where he appeared in numerous films...
).
Six months after Monica and Harry are married, they announce their new arrival to elated grandparents-to-be. While Sir Christopher is celebrating with his family, Lady Cynthia learns she is pregnant, and saves Sir Christopher's moral position and political career by committing suicide setting an altitude record in her airplane.
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 infamous affair with Spencer Tracy
Spencer Tracy
Spencer Bonaventure Tracy was an American theatrical and film actor, who appeared in 75 films from 1930 to 1967. Tracy was one of the major stars of Hollywood's Golden Age, ranking among the top ten box office draws for almost every year from 1938 to 1951...
. One of the most notable scenes in the film had Hepburn's character appearing at a costume party dressed in a stunning, form-fitting moth costume designed by Howard Greer
Howard Greer
Howard Greer was a Hollywood fashion designer and a costume designer in the Golden Age of American cinema....
. The musical score for this film is by Max Steiner
Max Steiner
Max Steiner was an Austrian composer of music for theatre productions and films. He later became a naturalized citizen of the United States. Trained by the great classical music composers Brahms and Mahler, he was one of the first composers who primarily wrote music for motion pictures, and as...
.
Legacy
An image of Hepburn in Christopher Strong was used on the poster for the Led Zeppelin North American Tour 1975Led Zeppelin North American Tour 1975
Led Zeppelin's 1975 North American Tour was the tenth concert tour of North America by the English rock band. The tour was divided into two legs, with performances commencing on January 18 and concluding on March 27, 1975...
.