by Anne Edwards
THE ANIMAL KINGDOM by Philip Barry
Produced by Gilbert Miller and Leslie Howard; Staged by Gilbert Miller.
THE WARRIOR’S HUSBAND by Julian Thompson
Opened: March 11, 1932, Morosco Theatre, New York
Produced by Harry Moses; Staged by Burk Symon; Combats staged by Randolph Leymen; Incidental Music by Richard Malaby; Lighting Effects by Leo Hartman; Settings and Costumes by Woodman Thompson.
SUMMER STOCK: Ossining, New York, July, 1932.
THE BRIDE THE SUN SHINES ON by Will Cotton
Directed by Ralph Macbane; Scenes by Charles Friedman
THE LAKE by Dorothy Massingham and Murray MacDonald
Opened: December 26, 1933, Martin Beck Theatre, New York
Produced by Jed Harris: Staged by Jed Harris; Assisted by Geoffrey Kerr; Settings by Jo Mielziner.
JANE EYRE by Charlotte Brontë, dramatized by Helen Jerome.
On tour from December, 1936, to April, 1937
Produced by The Theatre Guild, Inc.; Staged by Worthington Miner; Production Supervised by Theresa Helburn and Lawrence Langner; Settings and Costumes Designed by Lee Simonson.
THE PHILADELPHIA STORY by Philip Barry
Opened: March 28, 1939, Shubert Theatre, New York
Produced by The Theatre Guild, Inc.; Staged by Robert B. Sinclair; Scenery and Lighting by Robert Edmond Jones; Supervised by Theresa Helburn and Lawrence Langner.
WITHOUT LOVE by Philip Barry
Opened: November 10, 1942, St. James Theatre, New York
Produced by The Theatre Guild, Inc.; Staged by Robert B. Sinclair; Scenery and Lighting by Robert Edmond Jones; Supervised by Theresa Helburn and Lawrence Langner; Miss Hepburn’s Costumes by Valentina.
AS YOU LIKE IT by William Shakespeare
Opened: January 26, 1950, Cort Theatre, New York, and on tour
Produced by The Theatre Guild, Inc.; Staged by Michael Benthall; Scenery and Costumes by James Bailey; Incidental Music Written and Arranged by Robert Irving; Technical Assistant, Emeline Roche; Supervised by Theresa Helburn and Lawrence Langner.
THE MILLIONAIRESS by George Bernard Shaw
Opened: October 17, 1952, Shubert Theatre, New York
June 27, 1952, New Theatre, London
Produced by The Theatre Guild, Inc.; Staged by Michael Benthall; Settings by James Bailey; Miss Hepburn’s Costumes by Pierre Balmain.
SUMMER TOUR: Australia, May 2 through November 2, 1955. Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbaine, Adelaide and Perth. Appeared with Cecil Hardwick and Robert Helpmann in THE TAMING OF THE SHREW (as Katharine), MEASURE FOR MEASURE (as Isabella) and THE MERCHANT OF VENICE (as Portia).
THE MERCHANT OF VENICE by William Shakespeare
Opened: July 10, 1957, American Shakespeare Festival Theatre, Stratford, Connecticut
Staged by Jack Landau; Scenery by Rouben Ter-Arutunian; Costumes by Motley; Production and Lighting by Jean Rosenthal; Music by Virgil Thomson.
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING by William Shakespeare
Opened: August 3, 1957, American Shakespeare Festival Theatre, Stratford, Connecticut
Staged by John Houseman and Jack Landau; Scenery and Costumes by Rouben Ter-Arutunian; Production Supervised by Jean Rosenthal; Lighting by Tharon Musser; Dances Arranged by John Butler; Music by Virgil Thomson.
TWELFTH NIGHT by William Shakespeare
Opened: June 3, 1960, American Shakespeare Festival Theatre, Stratford, Connecticut
Staged by Jack Landau; Production Designed by Rouben Ter-Arutunian; Lighting by Tharon Musser; Music and Songs by Herman Chessid.
ANTONY AND CLEOPATRA by William Shakespeare
Opened: July 22, 1960, American Shakespeare Festival Theatre, Stratford, Connecticut
Staged by Jack Landau; Production Designed by Rouben Ter-Arutunian;
Lighting by Tharon Musser; Music by Norman Dello Joio.
COCO by Alan Jay Lerner (book and lyrics)
Opened: December 18, 1969, Mark Hellinger Theatre, New York
Produced by Frederick Brisson; Sets and Costumes by Cecil Beaton; Music by André Previn; Lighting by Thomas Skelton; Orchestrations by Hershy Kay; Dance Music Continuity by Harold Wheeler; Music Direction by Robert Emmett Dolan; Music Numbers and Fashion Sequences Staged by Michael Bennett; Staged by Michael Benthall.
A MATTER OF GRAVITY by Enid Bagnold
Opened: February 3, 1976, Broadhurst Theatre, New York
Presented by Robert Whitehead, Roger L. Stevens, Konrad Matthael; Directed by Noel Willman; Setting by Ben Edwards; Costumes by Jane Greenwood; Lighting by Thomas Skelton; Production Stage Manager, Ben Strobach.
WEST SIDE WALTZ by Ernest Thompson
Opened: November 19, 1981, Ethel Barrymore Theatre, New York
Presented by Robert Whitehead and Roger L. Stevens, in association with the Center Theater Group; Directed by Noel Willman; Settings by Ben Edwards; Costumes by Jane Greenwood; Lighting by Thomas Skelton; Music Supervision by David Krane; General Manager, Oscar E. Olesen; Publicity, Seymour Krawitz and Patricia Krawitz; Stage Managers, Ben Strobach, Valentine Mayer, Sally Lapiduss.
Footnotes
* Miss Hepburn was fired after one performance of the pre-Broadway tryout at Great Neck, Long Island, New York, due to her inexperience and headstrong attitude. Barbara was played by Lucille Nikolas when the play opened on Broadway in August, 1928.
* After eight performances These Days, Miss Hepburn’s Broadway debut, closed. In 1934, R.K.O. filmed the play, retitled Finishing School, with Frances Dee and Ginger Rogers.
* Miss Hepburn understudied Hope Williams for six months, beginning in late December, 1928, but never appeared in the role. The play closed in June, 1929. She did play one performance when Holiday reopened at the Riviera Theatre on Seventy-seventh Street in July, 1929.
† Miss Hepburn played Grazia for five weeks, but was fired at Philadelphia’s Adelphi Theatre during the week of November 25 after many fights with director Lawrence Marston. Rose Hobart played Grazia when the play opened on Broadway on December 26, 1929.
* Miss Hepburn was Miss Stoddard’s understudy.
† In the second month of production, Miss Hepburn replaced Miss Alden.
* After the Pittsburgh opening, Miss Hepburn was fired and Frances Fuller replaced her.
TELEVISION
THE GLASS MENAGERIE, ABC, December 16, 1973
Produced by David Susskind; Directed by Anthony Harvey; Written by Tennessee Williams; Music by John Barry.
A DELICATE BALANCE, Filmed 1973; Released 1974, Cable TV
Producer, Ely A. Landau; Director, Tony Richardson; Author, Edward Albee; Screen Adaptation, Edward Albee; Executive Producer, Neil Hartley, For The American Film Theatre, Henry Weinstein; Production Manager, Zelda Barron; Production Associate, Neil Landau; Assistant Director, Andrew Grieve; Director of Photography, David Watkin; Editor, John Victor Smith; Camera Operator, Freddie Cooper; Art Director, David Brockhurst; Costumes, Margaret Furse; Makeup, Bill Lodge.
LOVE AMONG THE RUINS, ABC, March 6, 1975
Produced by Allan Davis; Directed by George Cukor; Written by, James Cos-tigan; Director of Photography, Douglas Slocombe, B.S.C.; Art Direction, Carmen Dillon; Editor, John F. Burnett, A.C.E.; Costumes by Margaret Furse; Miss Hepburn’s Gowns Executed by Germinal Rangel; Production Supervised by Herb Jellinek; Production Executives, Marty Katz, Dennis L. Judd, II; Music by John Barry.
THE CORN IS GREEN, CBS, January 29, 1979
Based on Emlyn Williams’s play The Corn Is Green
Produced by Neil Hartley; Directed by George Cukor; Director of Photography, Ted Scaife, B.S.C.; Written for Television by Ivan Davis; Music by John Barry; Associate Producer, Eric Rattray; Production Designer, Carmen Dillon; Film Editors, Richard Marden, John Wright; Costume Consultant, David Walker; Makeup, Ann Brodie; Hairstylist, Ramon Gow; Sound Mixer, Peter Handford; Music Editor, Kenneth Hall.
TELEVISION INTERVIEWS
Dick Cavett, ABC, October 2 and 3, 1973
60 Minutes, CBS, A
ugust 26, 1979
Barbara Walters, ABC, July, 1981, and August, 1981
Good Morning America, ABC, November 5-8, 1984
Today, NBC, May 14, 1985
RADIO
ROMEO AND JULIET, Radio Hall of Fame, 1936
Katharine Hepburn read the balcony scene only
FAREWELL TO ARMS, Mercury Theatre, 1938
CAST: Katharine Hepburn
Joseph Gotten
THE PHILADELPHIA STORY, Lux Radio Theatre, July 20, 1942
CAST: Katharine Hepburn
Gary Grant
Lt. James Stewart
Virginia Weidler
THE PHILADELPHIA STORY, Theatre Guild of the Air, June 18, 1947
CAST: Katharine Hepburn
Cary Grant
Joseph Cotten
LITTLE WOMEN, Theatre Guild of the Air, 1947
CAST: Katharine Hepburn
Elliot Reid
John Lodge
Oscar Homolka
LITTLE WOMEN, Theatre Guild of the Air, December 21, 1947
CAST: Katharine Hepburn
Paul Lukas
WOMAN OF THE YEAR, Theatre Guild of the Air, 1948
CAST: Katharine Hepburn
Spencer Tracy
THE GAME OF LOVE AND DEATH, by Romain Rolland, Theatre Guild of the Air, January 2, 1949
CAST: Katharine Hepburn
Paul Henreid
Claud Raines
KATHARINE HEPBURN’S ACADEMY AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS FOR BEST ACTRESS OF THE YEAR (ASTERISK [*] DENOTES WINNER)
1932/33 Katharine Hepburn (MORNING GLORY)*
May Robson (LADY FOR A DAY)
Diana Wynyard (CAVALCADE)
1935 Elisabeth Bergner (ESCAPE ME NEVER)
Claudette Colbert (PRIVATE WORLDS)
Bette Davis (DANGEROUS)*
Katharine Hepburn (ALICE ADAMS)
Miriam Hopkins (BECKY SHARP)
Merle Oberon (THE DARK ANGEL)
1940 Bette Davis (THE LETTER)
Joan Fontaine (REBECCA)
Katharine Hepburn (THE PHILADELPHIA STORY)
Ginger Rogers (KITTY FOYLE)*
Martha Scott (OUR TOWN)
1942 Bette Davis (NOW, VOYAGER)
Greer Carson (MRS. MINIVER)*
Katharine Hepburn (WOMAN OF THE YEAR)
Rosalind Russell (MY SISTER EILEEN)
Teresa Wright (THE PRIDE OF THE YANKEES)
1951 Katharine Hepburn (THE AFRICAN QUEEN)
Vivien Leigh (A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE)*
Eleanor Parker (DETECTIVE STORY)
Shelley Winters (A PLACE IN THE SUN)
Jane Wyman (THE BLUE VEIL)
1955 Susan Hayward (I’LL CRY TOMORROW)
Katharine Hepburn (SUMMERTIME)
Jennifer Jones (LOVE IS A MANY-SPLENDORED THING)
Anna Magnani (THE ROSE TATTOO)*
Eleanor Parker (INTERRUPTED MELODY)
1956 Carroll Baker (BABY DOLL)
Ingrid Bergman (ANASTASIA)*
Katharine Hepburn (THE RAINMAKER)
Nancy Kelly (THE BAD SEED)
Deborah Kerr (THE KING AND I)
1959 Doris Day (PILLOW TALK)
Audrey Hepburn (THE NUN’S STORY)
Katharine Hepburn (SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER)
Simone Signoret (ROOM AT THE TOP)*
Elizabeth Taylor (SUDDENLY LAST SUMMER)
1962 Anne Bancroft (THE MIRACLE WORKER)*
Bette Davis (WHATEVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE?)
Katharine Hepburn (LONG DAY’S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT)
Geraldine Page (SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH)
Lee Remick (DAYS OF WINE AND ROSES)
1967 Anne Bancroft (THE GRADUATE)
Faye Dunaway (BONNIE AND CLYDE)
Dame Edith Evans (THE WHISPERERS)
Audrey Hepburn (WAIT UNTIL DARK)
Katharine Hepburn (GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER)*
1968 Katharine Hepburn (THE LION IN WINTER)*
Patricia Neal (THE SUBJECT WAS ROSES)
Vanessa Redgrave (ISADORA)
Barbra Streisand (FUNNY GIRL)*
Joanne Woodward (RACHEL, RACHEL)
(Two awards for Best Actress were given this year.)
1981 Katharine Hepburn (ON GOLDEN POND)*
Diane Keaton (REDS)
Marsha Mason (ONLY WHEN I LAUGH)
Susan Sarandon (ATLANTIC CITY)
Meryl Streep (THE FRENCH LIEUTENANT’S WOMAN)
MAIN REPOSITORIES FOR HEPBURN MATERIAL
The American Film Institute, Beverly Hills, California
Lincoln Center Library for the Performing Arts, New York, New York
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, Beverly Hills, California
British Film Institute, London
University of Wisconsin, Film Archives, Madison, Wisconsin
Directors Guild Archives, California State University, North Ridge, California
Screen Actors Guild, Los Angeles, California
University of Southern California Film Archives, Los Angeles, California
University of Hartford, Hartford, Connecticut
Kingswood-Oxford School, Hartford, Connecticut
Hartford Hospital, Hartford, Connecticut (Dr. Thomas N. Hepburn)
Stowe-Day Foundation, Hartford, Connecticut
Camera Press, London Photographic Archives
Time/Life Magazines Photographic Archives, New York, New York
Stockbridge Library, Stockbridge, Massachusetts
Bryn Mawr Alumni Archives, Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
A biography requires much research. In the case of this book, less time was spent in libraries than in pursuit of co-workers, friends, and acquaintances of Katharine Hepburn who are scattered over two continents. A tremendous and admirable bond of loyalty exists between Miss Hepburn and her closest associates. To those who have spoken with me, I express my most deep-felt appreciation and hope this book will justify your trust in my sense of responsibility. I have withheld your names as you have requested. But your firsthand accounts have helped me immeasurably.
I am immensely grateful for the help given me at the various libraries and institutions listed under Main Repositories for Hepburn Material, to Fiona Lindsay, who did special research for me in Europe, and to Steven Rossen, who engaged in the same task in California. I must also single out the continuing assistance given me by Anthony Slide at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and Dorothy Swerdlove at the Library of the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center in New York. To my secretary, Barbara Howland, I owe a special debt of gratitude. She is a meticulous and uncomplaining researcher on her own and an indefatigable typist. And to Judy Horgen of the New Milford Public Library and Randee Marullo, my fine copy editor, my additional appreciation.
Since I have lived for so many years with a foot on two continents, I have been most fortunate in having found two marvelous editors—in America, Harvey Ginsberg, and in England, Ion Trewin—and two wonderfully supportive agents—Mitch Douglas and Hilary Rubenstein. My love, my admiration and my gratitude to my husband, Stephen Citron, who gave—as he always has given—his unstinting encouragement and sound counsel.
My grateful acknowledgment as well to the following for their help: Robert F. Burke; Ben Carbonetto; Edward Chodorov; Gail Chumley; Patricia De Chiara Lubar; Homer Dickens; Geraldine Duclow; Carol Epstein; Maxine Fleckner; Joan Fontaine; Donald Fowle; Joseph Fullum; William Handley; Ginette Harris; Mary Haselton; Lieutenant Colonel Joseph P. Hollis, Jr.; Courty Andrews Hoyt; Mrs. Clyde Hudson; Richard John; Michael Korda; Rob Kyff; Paul Lerner; Steven R. Lytle; Don Madison; Lynn Masters; Mark Meader; Barbara S. Melone; Russel Meret; Betty J. Mullendore; Mary Lou Nesbitt; Steven Ourada; Bernard F. Pasqualini; Pauline Pierce; Martin Poll; Diana Royce; Elizabeth Shentor; David R. Smith; James Spada; Larry Swindell; J. C. Trewin; Harriet Louise Taylor Watts; Charlotte White; and Mildred Wright.
—ANNE EDWARDS
Blandings Way
February,
1985
NOTES
The following abbreviations are used in the note section:
AFI: American Film Institute
BS: Baltimore Sun
LAHT: Los Angeles Herald Tribune
LAT: Los Angeles Times
LCLHA: Lincoln Center Library, Hepburn Archives
LHJ: Ladies’ Home Journal
NYDN: New York Daily News
NYHT: New York Herald Tribune
NYP: New York Post
NYS: New York Sun
NYT: New York Times
NYWT: New York World-Telegram
PI: Personal Interview
SEP: Saturday Evening Post
WP: Washington Post
Page CHAPTER 1
13 “just what she deserved”: J. Bryan III and Lupton A. Wilkerson, “The Hepburn Story,” SEP, December 27, 1941.
15 “our dear sweet ex”: Oliver O. Jenson, “The Hepburns,” Life, 1939.
“The Doctor”: Ibid.
“How do you stand”: Ibid.
“How dull”: Ibid.
16 “anybody doing”: Ibid.
17 “I find it droll”: Kanin, p. 36.
“beguiling”: Ibid.
“to remold”: Ibid.
19 “My God . . .”: Ibid, p. 142.
20 “undistressed”: Bryan.
“Motion pictures”: NYHT, September 9, 1938.
“one of the best acted”: Ibid.
21 “Let’s go on the pier”: Higham, Kate, p. 390.
22 “The most precarious”: Bryan.
CHAPTER 2
29 “That’s the one”: Ibid.
“I’d marry him”: Ibid.
“The best thing”: Ibid.
“How can you say”: Ibid.
30 “hold her up”: Ibid.
“thick with rambler roses”: Bryan.