With so few reviews, it is not surprising that very few people are aware of this monumental film starring two of the greatest film-stars EVER. Its doom was sealed because it was made for TV, even in the days before hopelessly silly "Sex in the City" and "Desperate Housewives" gave younger people the notion that's what TV-series were all about....the young-skinnies whose off-air antics made them celebrities, more so than their acting abilities. There is more electricity between Katherine Hepburn and Laurence Olivier - at age 68 - in these 100 minutes of magic than all of the hours "the-young-and-the-beautiful" actors/actresses could muster-up in a lifetime. Could it be it's because these stars have done more roles than a dozen of these new guys will ever do, put together ? This is the perfect film for a family to watch together, if you can get the kids to pay attention for lack of explosions and chases.
I don't remember where or when I first saw this movie - I had no idea it had been recorded on VHS: I was shocked to find it on eBay. I bought it immediately. One "user" wished it would find its way to DVD; one has informed us it HAS. For fans of these great stars, you are missing one of their best performances if you don't buy one or the other.
The script is crystalline - George Cukor did his film-magic on his first TV-film. The lighting is superior and the score touching. Can you believe it is rated at 7.8 with only 192 votes ?? Long-time friends, Hepburn and Olivier had never appeared together - Hepburn sent a message to Olivier she'd be delighted to star with him - he has said their collaboration was one of the highlights of his career.
I won't tell much of the story - that's for you to discover. There are no nude-scenes with hands groping nor bated breath, but the sincerity of joy renewed after a separation of almost 50 years. Hepburn knows she is in a position of being sued for - and losing - thousands-of-pounds, cash. Clearly paralleling her own career, she plays an actress who loved a young man, but chose wealth instead. The young man loved her so dearly, he could love no other and is put-off she seems not to remember it all. Wily "Jessica" realizes full-well at the beginning of the trial she's going to have to "perform" to get her lawyer's brilliance in gear, and performs she does ! "Lawyer" realizes she has put herself up for ridicule - and a judgment against her - for her dalliance with a much younger, prude of a man (Leigh Lawon). He is determined to get his point across, that he still loves and wants her. His summary at the end of the trial is brilliant, after "Jessica" completely disrupts the court and is thrown-out. He completely shatters the prosecutor's (Colin Blakely) case, convincing the jury his client is trying to recapture her youth.
Not a word about the ending - it is played with such fabulous performances between Hepburn and Olivier, I doubt if there has ever been a better scene.....such tenderly subtle admissions are completely lost on Olivier, only to discover she was in charge the whole time. Brava and bravo ! This is one of the few TV-movies which should be re-mastered with all the skill filmmakers have at their fingertips today, with a major premier to release it in theaters. You should haunt eBay and other stores till you find a copy - you'll watch it many times, because it IS timeless and a true-to-life story young lovers will find to be amazing. Polish the Oscars - it should win them all, in every category. What a monument for two great stars - it deserves 50-out-of-10......
I don't remember where or when I first saw this movie - I had no idea it had been recorded on VHS: I was shocked to find it on eBay. I bought it immediately. One "user" wished it would find its way to DVD; one has informed us it HAS. For fans of these great stars, you are missing one of their best performances if you don't buy one or the other.
The script is crystalline - George Cukor did his film-magic on his first TV-film. The lighting is superior and the score touching. Can you believe it is rated at 7.8 with only 192 votes ?? Long-time friends, Hepburn and Olivier had never appeared together - Hepburn sent a message to Olivier she'd be delighted to star with him - he has said their collaboration was one of the highlights of his career.
I won't tell much of the story - that's for you to discover. There are no nude-scenes with hands groping nor bated breath, but the sincerity of joy renewed after a separation of almost 50 years. Hepburn knows she is in a position of being sued for - and losing - thousands-of-pounds, cash. Clearly paralleling her own career, she plays an actress who loved a young man, but chose wealth instead. The young man loved her so dearly, he could love no other and is put-off she seems not to remember it all. Wily "Jessica" realizes full-well at the beginning of the trial she's going to have to "perform" to get her lawyer's brilliance in gear, and performs she does ! "Lawyer" realizes she has put herself up for ridicule - and a judgment against her - for her dalliance with a much younger, prude of a man (Leigh Lawon). He is determined to get his point across, that he still loves and wants her. His summary at the end of the trial is brilliant, after "Jessica" completely disrupts the court and is thrown-out. He completely shatters the prosecutor's (Colin Blakely) case, convincing the jury his client is trying to recapture her youth.
Not a word about the ending - it is played with such fabulous performances between Hepburn and Olivier, I doubt if there has ever been a better scene.....such tenderly subtle admissions are completely lost on Olivier, only to discover she was in charge the whole time. Brava and bravo ! This is one of the few TV-movies which should be re-mastered with all the skill filmmakers have at their fingertips today, with a major premier to release it in theaters. You should haunt eBay and other stores till you find a copy - you'll watch it many times, because it IS timeless and a true-to-life story young lovers will find to be amazing. Polish the Oscars - it should win them all, in every category. What a monument for two great stars - it deserves 50-out-of-10......