The Children's Hour(released asThe Loudest Whisperin the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand) is a 1961 Americandrama filmproduced and directed byWilliam Wylerfrom a screenplay byJohn Michael Hayes,based on the 1934play of the same titlebyLillian Hellman.The film starsAudrey Hepburn,Shirley MacLaine,andJames Garner,withMiriam Hopkins,Fay Bainter(in her final film role), and Karen Balkin.
| The Children's Hour | |
|---|---|
 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | William Wyler |
| Screenplay by |
|
| Based on | The Children's Hour by Lillian Hellman |
| Produced by | William Wyler |
| Starring |
|
| Cinematography | Franz F. Planer |
| Edited by | Robert Swink |
| Music by | Alex North |
Production company | |
| Distributed by | United Artists |
Release date |
|
Running time | 107 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $3.6 million[1] |
| Box office | $3 million[1]or $1.8 million (US/Canadarentals)[2] |
Plot
editFormer college classmates Martha Dobie and Karen Wright open a private boarding school for girls. After an engagement of two years to Dr. Joe Cardin, Karen finally agrees to set a wedding date. Joe is a nephew of the influential Amelia Tilford, whose granddaughter Mary is a student at the school. Mary is a spoiled, conniving child whobulliesher classmates.
While being punished for a lie Mary had told, one of her roommates overhears an argument between Martha and her Aunt Lily. Lily accuses Martha of being jealous and having an "unnatural" relationship with Karen. On hearing this, Mary spreads this gossip to her grandmother and Amelia spreads it around the parents of the school.
Karen learns of this and confronts Amelia about Mary accusing Martha and Karen of being lovers. Mary is foiled at convincing others that she personally saw the interactions between Martha and Karen. Using her knowledge that her roommate, Rosalie, has stolen jewelry and other personal items from a number of people, Mary coerces Rosalie into corroborating her story.
The two women file a suit of libel and slander against Mrs. Tilford. A few months later, Martha and Karen are isolated at the school, having lost all of their students and ruined their reputations after losing the lawsuit. Karen calls off her engagement with Joe when he asks her if what was said about Martha and her was true. When she finds out, Martha points out that other female couples have persevered after being discovered, because of the strength of their love, then admits that she has been in love with Karen for years. Karen says that Martha is just confused about her feelings, but Martha insists it is love, breaking down in tears.
Rosalie's mother finds the collection of stolen items her daughter has kept, leading to the revelation of Mary's lie about Martha and Karen. Mrs. Tilford tells the judge, who will overturn the outcome of the lawsuit, publish the results in the newspaper, and a full financial settlement will be paid to the teachers. Karen tells Martha that they are still friends, and can work again.
Aunt Lily asks Karen about Martha's whereabouts as her door is locked. Karen breaks loose the door's slide lock with a candleholder and discovers Martha hashanged herselfin her room. Karen attends Martha's funeral and silently walks away as Joe, Mrs. Tilford, and several other townspeople watch her.
Cast
edit- Audrey Hepburnas Karen Wright
- Shirley MacLaineas Martha Dobie
- James Garneras Dr. Joseph Cardin
- Miriam Hopkinsas Lily Mortar
- Fay Bainteras Mrs. Amelia Tilford
- Karen Balkin as Mary Tilford
- Veronica Cartwrightas Rosalie Wells
- Mimi Gibsonas Evelyn
- Debbie Moldow as Catherine
- William Mimsas Mr. Burton
- Sally Brophyas Mrs. Wells (credited as Sallie Brophy)
- Hope Summersas Agatha
Production
editBackground
editHellman's play was inspired by the 1810 true story of twoScottishschool teachers, MissMarianne Woodsand MissJane Pirie,whose lives were destroyed when one of their students accused them of engaging in a sexual relationship, but in the Scottish case, they eventually won their suit, although that did not change the devastation wrought on their lives.[3]At the time of the play's premiere (1934), the mention ofhomosexualityon stage was illegal inNew York State,but authorities chose to overlook its subject matter when theBroadwayproduction was acclaimed by the critics.[4]
The first film adaptation of the play wasThese Threedirected by Wyler and released in 1936. Because theHays Code,in effect at the time of the original film's production, would never permit a film to focus on or even hint at lesbianism,Samuel Goldwynwas the only producer interested in purchasing the rights. He signed Hellman to adapt her play for the screen, and the playwright changed the lie about the two school teachers being lovers into a rumor that one of them had slept with the other's fiancé. Because the Production Code refused to allow Goldwyn to use the play's original title, it was changed toThe Lie,and thenThese Three.[4]
By the time Wyler was ready to film the remake in 1961, the Hays Code had been liberalized to allow screenwriter John Michael Hayes to restore the original nature of the lie. Aside from having Martha hang rather than shoot herself as she had in the play, he remained faithful to Hellman's work, retaining substantial portions of her dialogue.
In the 1996 documentary filmThe Celluloid Closet,Shirley MacLainesaid she andAudrey Hepburnnever talked about their characters' alleged homosexuality. She also claimed Wyler cut some scenes hinting at Martha's love for Karen because of concerns about critical reaction to the film.
Casting
editThe film wasJames Garner's first after suingWarner Bros.to win his release from the television seriesMaverick.Wyler broke an unofficialblacklistof the actor by casting him, and Garner steadily appeared in films and television shows over the following decades, including immediately playing leading roles in four different major films released in 1963:The Great EscapewithSteve McQueen,The Thrill of It AllwithDoris Day,The Wheeler DealerswithLee Remick,andMove Over, Darlingagain with Day.
Hayley Millswas originally offered the role of Mary.[5]
Miriam Hopkins,who portrays Lily Mortar in the remake, appeared as Martha inThese Three.[4]
Filming
editThe film'slocation shootingwas done at the historicShadow Ranch,in present-dayWest Hillsof the westernSan Fernando Valley.[6]
Reception
editCritical response
editBosley CrowtherofThe New York Timesobserved:
In short, there are several glaring holes in the fabric of the plot, and obviously Miss Hellman, who did the adaptation, and John Michael Hayes, who wrote the script, knew they were there, for they have plainly sidestepped the biggest of them. They have not let us know what the youngster whispered to the grandmother that made her hoot with startled indignation and go rushing to the telephone... And they have not let us into the courtroom where the critical suit for slander was tried. They have only reported the trial and the verdict in one quickly tossed off line. So this drama that was supposed to be so novel and daring because of its muted theme is really quite unrealistic and scandalous in a prim and priggish way. What's more, it is not too well acted, except by Audrey Hepburn in the role of the younger of the school teachers... Shirley MacLaine as the older school teacher... inclines to be too kittenish in some scenes and do too much vocal hand-wringing toward the end... James Garner as the fiancé of Miss Hepburn and Miriam Hopkins as the aunt of Miss MacLaine give performances of such artificial laboring that Mr. Wyler should hang his head in shame. Indeed, there is nothing about this picture of which he can be very proud.[7]
Varietysaid, "Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacLaine... beautifully complement each other. Hepburn's soft sensitivity, marvelous projection and emotional understatement result in a memorable portrayal. MacLaine's enactment is almost equally rich in depth and substance."[8]TV Guiderated the film three-and-a-half out of four stars, adding, "The performances range from adequate (Balkin's) to exquisite (MacLaine's)."[9]
On thereview aggregatorwebsiteRotten Tomatoes,the film holds an approval rating of 80% based on 10 reviews, with an average rating of 7/10.[10]
Accolades
edit| Award | Category | Nominee(s) | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Academy Awards | Best Supporting Actress | Fay Bainter | Nominated | [11] |
| Best Art Direction – Black-and-White | Art Direction:Fernando Carrere; Set Decoration:Edward G. Boyle |
Nominated | ||
| Best Cinematography – Black-and-White | Franz Planer | Nominated | ||
| Best Costume Design – Black-and-White | Dorothy Jeakins | Nominated | ||
| Best Sound | Gordon E. Sawyer | Nominated | ||
| Directors Guild of America Awards | Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures | William Wyler | Nominated | [12] |
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama | Shirley MacLaine | Nominated | [13] |
| Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture | Fay Bainter | Nominated | ||
| Best Director – Motion Picture | William Wyler | Nominated | ||
| Laurel Awards | Top Female Dramatic Performance | Audrey Hepburn | 4th Place | |
| Shirley MacLaine | Won | |||
| Top Female Supporting Performance | Fay Bainter | Nominated |
- 2008:AFI's 10 Top 10:
- Courtroom Drama Film – Nominated[14]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^abBalio 1987,p. 171.
- ^"Big Rental Pictures of 1962".Variety.January 9, 1963. p. 13.ISSN0042-2738.
- ^Dick, Sandra (February 25, 2009)."Drumsheugh: Lesbian sex row rocked society".Edinburgh Evening News.Archived fromthe originalon September 8, 2009.RetrievedMarch 13,2014.
- ^abc"These Three".Turner Classic Movies.Archived fromthe originalon October 7, 2013.RetrievedSeptember 27,2023.
- ^Vagg, Stephen (March 19, 2022)."Movie Star Cold Streaks: Hayley Mills".FilmInk.
- ^"Shadow Ranch Park".City of Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks.Archived fromthe originalon July 2, 2014.RetrievedMarch 13,2014.
- ^Crowther, Bosley(March 15, 1962)."The Screen: New 'Children's Hour'".The New York Times.RetrievedSeptember 27,2023.
- ^"The Children's Hour".Variety.December 31, 1960.RetrievedSeptember 27,2023.
- ^"The Children's Hour Review".TV Guide.Archived fromthe originalon March 14, 2014.RetrievedMarch 13,2014.
- ^"The Children's Hour".Rotten Tomatoes.RetrievedSeptember 27,2023.
- ^"The 34th Academy Awards (1962) Nominees and Winners".Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.Archivedfrom the original on February 15, 2015.RetrievedFebruary 19,2015.
- ^"14th DGA Awards".Directors Guild of America Awards.RetrievedJuly 5,2021.
- ^"The Children's Hour".Golden Globe Awards.RetrievedJuly 5,2021.
- ^"AFI's 10 Top 10 Nominees"(PDF).American Film Institute.Archived from the original on July 16, 2011.RetrievedAugust 19,2016.
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Bibliography
edit- Balio, Tino (1987).United Artists: The Company That Changed the Film Industry.Madison, Wisconsin:University of Wisconsin Press.ISBN978-0-299-11440-4.
External links
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