IMDb RATING
6.2/10
1.3K
YOUR RATING
In the 1810s, an old maid poses as her own niece in order to teach her onetime beau a lesson.In the 1810s, an old maid poses as her own niece in order to teach her onetime beau a lesson.In the 1810s, an old maid poses as her own niece in order to teach her onetime beau a lesson.
- Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 1 nomination total
Sherwood Bailey
- William Smith
- (uncredited)
William Bakewell
- Lt. Spicer
- (uncredited)
Joan Fontaine
- Charlotte Parratt
- (uncredited)
Helena Grant
- Fanny Willoughby
- (uncredited)
Bonita Granville
- Isabella
- (uncredited)
Carmencita Johnson
- Student
- (uncredited)
Payne B. Johnson
- School Boy
- (uncredited)
Darwood Kaye
- Student
- (uncredited)
Florence Lake
- Henrietta Turnbull
- (uncredited)
Helen Lynn
- Girl
- (uncredited)
Lydia McKim
- Schoolgirl
- (uncredited)
Clifford Severn
- Arthur, a Student
- (uncredited)
Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaThe Nestle produced chocolates "Quality Street" were named after J. M Barrie's play by their original manufacturer Mackintosh in 1936.
- GoofsWhen Phoebe and Susan are talking about Mr. B., Phoebe is on a chair and Susan is sitting on a sofa a certain distance near a bonnet. But on the following cuts, Susan's sitting position keeps changing so that she is gets closer and closer to the bonnet.
- Quotes
Mary Willoughby: [Goes to the window and looks out] It's that impertinent recruiting sergeant. I passed him on the street yesterday. He closed one of his eyes at me, then quickly opened it again.
[She demonstrates to the other ladies in the room]
Mary Willoughby: I knew what he meant.
[She looks out again and sees the recruiting officer wink at her. She quickly closes the window curtain]
- Crazy creditsOpening card:
1805 England Quality Street Where a gentleman passerby is an event.
- ConnectionsFeatured in George Stevens: A Filmmaker's Journey (1984)
Featured review
sweet film
"Quality Street" from 1937 stars Katharine Hepburn, Franchot Tone, Fay Bainter, and Estelle Winwood. It's directed by George Stevens, who directed Hepburn later in Woman of the Year.
Hepburn plays Phoebe Throssel, a lovely young woman living with her spinster sister (Bainter) and surrounded by other spinsters who are neighbors in 1800. Phoebe is in love with one man, Valentine Brown -- as is pointed out in the film, other men have come calling, but Phoebe didn't want them.
Valentine, however, is off to the Napoleonic Wars. When he returns ten years later, Phoebe and her sister have opened a school in their home. Phoebe is embarrassed at being so exhausted and believes she has lost her looks. Nevertheless, Valentine wants her to attend the homecoming ball.
Phoebe, trying to prove something to herself, puts on a fancy dress and does her hair differently. When Valentine arrives, she introduces herself as Olivia ("Livvie"), Phoebe's niece. She gives him Phoebe's regrets, but she doesn't feel well. The two attend the ball together, where Livvy is surrounded by men. She believes that she now has a chance of Valentine proposing to Livvy. If only she can stay away from people who can expose her.
James Barrie wrote many plays that were performed by some of theater's biggest stars at the beginning of this century so it's no wonder Hollywood made it as a movie. It still retains many of its play-like qualities.
The character actors -- Bainter, Winwood, Eric Blore, are wonderful. Tone is very handsome though he doesn't have much to do. Though some might disagree, I felt Hepburn was somewhat miscast. Her portrayal of Phoebe/Livvie, though energetic, feels "put on" rather than organic. She was a tremendously strong actress but pulls back here - it doesn't seem natural.
The cast must have had a great deal of patience - Stevens, known as a very nice man, was known for having actors do 40 takes of one scene; it's one reason why Montgomery Clift never worked for him again after A Place in the Sun. He just didn't have the patience for it.
This is a charming, light film that looks stagy, but that shouldn't hurt your enjoyment of it.
Hepburn plays Phoebe Throssel, a lovely young woman living with her spinster sister (Bainter) and surrounded by other spinsters who are neighbors in 1800. Phoebe is in love with one man, Valentine Brown -- as is pointed out in the film, other men have come calling, but Phoebe didn't want them.
Valentine, however, is off to the Napoleonic Wars. When he returns ten years later, Phoebe and her sister have opened a school in their home. Phoebe is embarrassed at being so exhausted and believes she has lost her looks. Nevertheless, Valentine wants her to attend the homecoming ball.
Phoebe, trying to prove something to herself, puts on a fancy dress and does her hair differently. When Valentine arrives, she introduces herself as Olivia ("Livvie"), Phoebe's niece. She gives him Phoebe's regrets, but she doesn't feel well. The two attend the ball together, where Livvy is surrounded by men. She believes that she now has a chance of Valentine proposing to Livvy. If only she can stay away from people who can expose her.
James Barrie wrote many plays that were performed by some of theater's biggest stars at the beginning of this century so it's no wonder Hollywood made it as a movie. It still retains many of its play-like qualities.
The character actors -- Bainter, Winwood, Eric Blore, are wonderful. Tone is very handsome though he doesn't have much to do. Though some might disagree, I felt Hepburn was somewhat miscast. Her portrayal of Phoebe/Livvie, though energetic, feels "put on" rather than organic. She was a tremendously strong actress but pulls back here - it doesn't seem natural.
The cast must have had a great deal of patience - Stevens, known as a very nice man, was known for having actors do 40 takes of one scene; it's one reason why Montgomery Clift never worked for him again after A Place in the Sun. He just didn't have the patience for it.
This is a charming, light film that looks stagy, but that shouldn't hurt your enjoyment of it.
helpful•41
- blanche-2
- Oct 23, 2012
- How long is Quality Street?Powered by Alexa
Details
- Runtime1 hour 23 minutes
- Color
- Aspect ratio
- 1.37 : 1
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