In an eerie forecast of the disappearance of Amelia Earhart, the story of female pilot Cynthia Darrington and her love affair with an older married man (Colin Clive) is a haunting melodrama of one woman's search for independence and the revelation that her sins make her more dependent. She is the best friend of Clive's rebellious daughter (Helen Chandler), an amoral young woman also in love with a married man. Torn between her love for Clive and her own scruples, Cynthia is forced to make a drastic decision, especially after helping Chandler through her ordeal and being thanked for her kindness by Clive's noble wife (Billie Burke in a very serious part) who is disappointed by the lack of "nice" people in their social circle. Will Hepburn choose to break up this marriage in order to secure her own happiness, or will she break it off to prevent herself from becoming one of those selfish social nothings who don't care whom they hurt, as long as their own happiness is secure?
In just her second film, Katharine Hepburn proves that she has what it takes to be more than just a one-hit wonder. She's simply breathtaking to watch, a plethora of emotions and in definite conflict with herself because of something which occurred that was beyond her control. Colin Clive is quite different here as the romantic older man she can't bear to be without, not at all like his mad doctor in "Frankenstein". This is quite a nice dramatic role for Billie Burke who didn't start acting all dizzy in her movies until after she had been established. With this and her outstanding bitchy role as the society woman planning "Dinner at Eight", she would have been the front runner for a Supporting Actress Oscar had they been given out in 1933.
Wearing a gold lamé costume in one sequence which looks like something borrowed from MGM's "Madame Satan", Katherine Hepburn photographs gorgeously, and that voice is "rally" spectacular to listen to, obviously theatrically trained and truly nobody's fool as she takes over the male dominated world of early talking pictures. Her career would be a bumpy ride during her first decade of movie acting because her personality off screen and on was something nobody had seen before. But what makes a star? The ability to stand out on your own and create something that is like no other, and that is what the essence of the great Kate remains to this day. She remains, along with a few others, a truly great icon of entertainment, and that is what makes a legend most!
In just her second film, Katharine Hepburn proves that she has what it takes to be more than just a one-hit wonder. She's simply breathtaking to watch, a plethora of emotions and in definite conflict with herself because of something which occurred that was beyond her control. Colin Clive is quite different here as the romantic older man she can't bear to be without, not at all like his mad doctor in "Frankenstein". This is quite a nice dramatic role for Billie Burke who didn't start acting all dizzy in her movies until after she had been established. With this and her outstanding bitchy role as the society woman planning "Dinner at Eight", she would have been the front runner for a Supporting Actress Oscar had they been given out in 1933.
Wearing a gold lamé costume in one sequence which looks like something borrowed from MGM's "Madame Satan", Katherine Hepburn photographs gorgeously, and that voice is "rally" spectacular to listen to, obviously theatrically trained and truly nobody's fool as she takes over the male dominated world of early talking pictures. Her career would be a bumpy ride during her first decade of movie acting because her personality off screen and on was something nobody had seen before. But what makes a star? The ability to stand out on your own and create something that is like no other, and that is what the essence of the great Kate remains to this day. She remains, along with a few others, a truly great icon of entertainment, and that is what makes a legend most!