Adam's Rib (1949) : A Review

I have just finished watching Adam's Rib and am still smiling while writing this review. This is a charming, romantic, comedy about the battle of sexes fought mainly by the two protagonists, played to perfection by Ms. Katherine Hepburn and Mr. Spencer Tracy.

Adam's Rib, directed by George Cukor, starts with a house-wife following her husband to the mistress' place and fires shots at him in anger. The husband survives and the wife is charged with an attempted murder. Adam(Tracy) and Amanda(Hepburn) are a happy lawyer couple who till now have managed to keep their profession out of their personal lives. Adam, a public prosecutor, gets the case to prosecute the wife while Amanda takes it up to defend the wife. Their arguments in the courtroom by day, gradually mounts tension in their domestic lives in the evening.

The highlight of the movie is the undeniable chemistry that the lead pair brings to the screen. No wonder they acted together in no less than nine movies. George Cukor, known famously as the woman's director, not just lives up to his title but also extracts great performances from the rest of the cast. This is the first time I am watching the great Katherine Hepburn perform and its hard to believe that she was already 42 at the time of the release. She was beautiful, charming, extremely sensuous and a powerhouse of talent. I am really shocked to see that she was not even nominated for the Best Actress that year. Spencer Tracy gives a scintillating performance as the romantic middle aged lawyer and gets to speak the funniest lines in the movie. The "licorice" moment had me in splits. Among the supporting cast Judy Holliday is a revelation. Her brilliance can be seen in the 5 minute single-shot sequence where Hepburn interrogates her. Kudos to Hepburn for promoting such a talented actress.

Adam's Rib endures the test of time and retains its freshness even after 60 years from its release. A must watch for everyone especially for those who swear by romantic comedies.

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