Woman of the Year (1942)

It's fun, it's light, [but] it has a hard time when its tries to get heavy.

Although it has its amusing moments, in eneral the plot does not convince.

It's complicated... I really like the directing, acting and writing but, there are issues with the way it's shot that I just can't deny. As much as I love the storytelling and the fantastic performance but, there are also certain scenes that didn't need to exist.

Let me be very fair here, this is not the best movie in my opinion. But, this movie is fun, it has purpose and is very enjoyable to watch.

"Woman of the Year" is a 1940's style "battle-of-the-sexes" story where it's both parties who want to be the one who's wearing the pants in this rocky relationship.When it comes to the realm of romance - Spencer Tracy (as sportswriter, Sam Craig) and Katherine Hepburn (as international columnist, Tess Harding) are the "least-likely-to succeed" couple.Matching wits and wisecracks against each other - Tracy and Hepburn verbally duke it out on screen for the obvious enjoyment of the audience.Filmed in b&w - "Woman of the Year" was directed by George Stevens. This would be the first of 8 films that paired Tracy and Hepburn together.

Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn are at it again, but this time they are print journalist at the same newspaper. He is Sam Craig, and he has a sports column. He engages in a feud with political activist Tess Harding (Katherine Hepburn) who is outspoken and has an opinion on everything. She can speak in many different tongues because she know everybody except Hitler. Strangely enough, the down-to-earth Craig is attracted to the highly unconventional Tess who behaves like a buoy in stormy seas. She is much sought after for her views and presence. One day Sam Craig proposes to her and he discovers that she lives in a kind of Grant Central Station. People flock into and out of her life and her personal secretary Gerald Howe (Dan Tobin) is constantly consulting with her. Sam realizes that he has an obstacle course to negotiate. Tess may be married but she doesn't see Sam as the most important person in her life. More often than not she is off gallivanting around at conventions, meetings, etc., to have any time to spend with poor Sam. The straw that breaks the camel's back comes in the form of a little boy that Tess adopts without Sam's consent. Tess has an important meeting to attend and insists that Sam accompany her. Sam is in no mood to accompany Tess much less leave the little boy, Chris (George Kezas), home alone to fend for himself. Sam wants to have a child with Tess, but Tess is too busy. Finally, Sam takes little Chris back to the relief agency where Tess found him and used him as publicity stunt. The problem is that Tess isn't behaving like a mature adult. After Sam returns Chris (and Chris is overjoyed to be reunited with his pals), Sam leaves Tess. As it turns out, Tess' estranged parents, Ellen (Fay Bainter) and William (Minor Watson), are having another wedding. Sam is off at a boxing championship and refuses to budge to see Tess' parents. While she is listening to the wedding ceremony, Tess realizes how insensitive that she has been and goes back to Sam. You can guess what happens in this predictable but entertaining romantic comedy set against the backdrop of World War II. Tracy and Hepburn are perfectly suited for one another.

Okay, I lied. There are still plenty of clichés in terms of the inevitable romance between co-workers that don't like each other. But this movie has a different feel to it. Mostly because of the great lead performances of Tracy and Hepburn. For a good part of the film, Hepburn remains hooked on her job and doesn't leave much time to be a wife. You start to feel for Tracy's character because it seems like every time they get close she gets a phone call and is then busy for hours. These type of issues still go on today, which is the reason why the Library of Congress inducted it into the National Film Registry as it being culturally and significantly important. Its a film that will live on for at least another 72 years due to it being incredibly relatable between couples these days.I believe this is the first of nine films Tracy and Hepburn collaborated and you can tell the great chemistry they developed while making this movie. I actually thought they handled Hepburn's character turn well. And I believed that she would try to finally start to try to work out their relationship. It was a very well written film with some surprising comedic moments. Usually when I watch some of the old Romantic Comedies I don't find any of the punch-lines funny. This movie on the other hand had some great moments, particularly near the ending. It had some of the best physical comedy I have seen from a movie made before the 50's.I look forward to watching more of this duo in the future and hope they can be as entertaining as this one was.7.7/10

There is much to say about this movie than the poor summary: it is about two journalists and feminism but it is also about passion. And a devouring one, one that shines across screens and times.This was the debut of the famous Tracy-Hepburn couple and love is all you can see and everything you remember about this movie. And the script was so fun! Hepburn is refreshing playing a working girl when Tracy is naturally an easy guy, deeply fond on this woman at first sight.Public was laughing at the time and we are still doing the same now because time as change, society too but great movies don't seem to age like this star couple, still making us dream!