The Children's Hour (1961)

Very disappointed :(

Pretty Good

everything you have heard about this movie is true.

This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.

There's probably a reason Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacLaine didn't make many heavy dramas. In fact once or twice while watching The Children's Hour, it occurred to me how much I would have enjoyed seeing them and co-star James Garner in a romantic comedy.Because despite their talent (and Oscar nominations), at this point, Audrey and Shirley were not necessarily known for their brilliance at drama. It's interesting William Wyler gave them a chance to do something utterly serious, but in my opinion they tend to lack that essential electricity that makes watching fine dramatic actors such a thrilling experience. They weren't without dramatic chops, but picture, for five seconds, Claire Bloom and Julie Harris in the female leads, and maybe you can understand the point I'm trying to make.Otherwise, add me to the chorus of those who think These Three (also directed by William Wyler) is the better of the two films. The two little girls in the first film, Bonita Granville and Marcia Mae Jones, are MILES above the girls in this one, Karen Balkin and Veronica Cartwright. I have no idea how the same director could have cast the remake so poorly. The one performer who comes off well is Miriam Hopkins (who played MacLaine's part in the original - brilliantly), as the self-centered actress aunt of MacLaine's character. I didn't even care for Fay Bainter (who I think got an Oscar nomination), and not just because Alma Kruger in These Three is so much better. Maybe it's having to react to the little girl (whose lies and histrionics wouldn't fool anyone over the age of six), but maybe it's also Miss Bainter. She's believable enough but almost too stern by half. She could be a general in the WACS.I also felt that the New England setting - at least I think it was supposed to be New England - was poorly realized, in what was obviously a southern California location (the San Fernando valley, I think).

I know, as a long time teacher, that a charge against one of us doesn't have to have a grain of truth to it. While children should always be listened to, it is a fact that they can get into situations where they can't escape gracefully, and they will flat out lie. In this one, a girl who has had experience reading about things that society considers "sordid," uses her little bit of knowledge to start rumors about a couple of teacher in a girls' school. For all practical purposes, she ruins their lives and their careers. Even though there is an admission by one at some point, the die is cast. There is no turning back, even though the adults find out this is a falsehood. This might be a good movie for more people to see.

Karen (Audrey Hepburn) and Martha (Shirley MacLaine) run a girl's school. Joe (James Garner) is the fiancé of Karen and keeps trying to marry her while she's putting the school ahead of their plans. When they have to punish a trouble girl she runs away and blackmailing another girl starts a lie about both teacher's.What can I say , this is a very good movie to watch, a lot of emotions, the power of a lie can destroy almost everything. Great acting , Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacLaine give great performances but all the acting is good even the girls are very good. Great drama movie.I believe that was not an easy theme to make a movie on the 60's, Shirley said that even the director was not at ease with it, some scenes where cut, like both woman brushing each others hair. On the end you must thins how easy is to spread a lie and for most of the people to believe it.

Being a fan of documentaries, I came across The Celluloid Closet, and this is one of the featured films in that documentary. The one film that stood out to me is this film. Not only for Shirley Maclaine's fine performance, but the fact that Audrey Hepburn, screen legend and known more for playing romantic comedy leads was in the film. The only film which she plays opposite leading man (James Garner) and female co-star. And they are all brilliant in it. The supporting cast (Miriam Hopkins, Fay Bainter and all the child actors) were great and believable. Well told, brilliantly photographed, beautifully acted and even if it is seen as dated, there's a large part of the story that sill holds true today. Martha's confession scene seems so relatable for many people today as it was back then. Truly this is a film ahead of it's time. I've read reviews from as recent as 3 years ago which have all agreed. This is really classic story telling.