Keeper of the Flame (1943)

the audience applauded

Powerful

A story that's too fascinating to pass by...

It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

This is a very controversial film since there are so many different aspects to it. It's both a political drama, a mystery thriller, a journalist's predicament of handling the truth, a great American tragedy and an interesting debunking of fascism. It is made in the most critical year of the war, it is definitely an ideological argument and taking a stand in the war although that is hardly mentioned and there are no political references, but it manages to delve into the darkness of manipulated politics to pinpoint the heart of the matter. What happened to Robert Forrest to make him change from an idealist and paragon for all democratic America into the opposite? What made Saruman change from a white magician into a black? That is the real issue here, and there is no answer.The only one providing an answer is the mother, who blames the fall of Robert Forrest on his wife, he should never have married, and she is the first one to mention the word 'murder', but Spencer Tracy has to discard her as insane. However, no other explanation is offered anywhere in the film.Spencer Tracy seeks out Katharine Hepburn, the widow of Robert Forrest, to write the story of his life and make it the eulogy of a hero. The widow readily accepts him and will cooperate fully, since she has no objection to the maintenance of her husband's glory and legend. But the journalist is not satisfied and realizes something is deliberately concealed from him. That's why he spites the widow to visit the mother on his own, and that's where the drama of the film starts. The more you dig for the truth, the worse it stinks, they say, and although you ultimately find the truth here, the film does not tell the whole story. The journalist tells the story for sure, but the key to the issue is never revealed or explained: how did it happen that such a glorious hero turned from idealism to opportunistic power madness? What made him change his mind and bring about his own fall? Was it only pride, vanity and egoism? Someone tries to hint at that for an explanation, that he lost God for egoism, but he was a clever and intelligent man, and it is never explained how he could get caught in such a trap.A critic says the portrait and case of Robert Forrest was modelled on Charles Lindbergh, but that is very far-fetched, and there are only vague parallels - Lindbergh never had political ambitions, although he clearly sympathized with fascism and racism. Racism is not mentioned here, fascism only perfunctorily, while the problems here are entirely human.I saw this film some 12 years ago and was impressed, I greatly looked forward to seeing it again for a closer look and found it an entirely different film. That tells something of its complexities.

In aiming at political seriousness this Tracy/Hepburn vehicle proved to be something of a misfire for all concerned. The story is that old chestnut about the hero who had feet of clay or in this case an American icon killed in an automobile accident who is revealed to be a Fascist. It's got one of the few really bad Katharine Hepburn performances, (admittedly she is saddled with some terrible material), and Tracy isn't much better as the journalist who sets out to write the man's life story, (he get glummer as the picture progresses as if it's just dawned on him what he's let himself in for). Cukor directed and Donald Ogden Stewart did the screenplay but this is no "Philadelphia Story" but a rather turgid drama masquerading as a thriller but one minus the thrills. If you want to be preached at, go to church where even the dullest sermon would be a lot more fun than this.

It can be surprising sometimes how films can be overlooked and forgotten about. Keeper Of The Flame from 1942 is a prime example of that as it has faded into obscurity despite featuring one of Classic Hollywood's best known couples in the form of Spencer Tracey and Katherine Hepburn. It was only when clips of the film were featured in an episode of Oliver Stone's The Untold History Of The United States that I even heard of the film for the first time. One can only hope that its featuring in Stone's series might go some way to bring the film back into the light as it deserves far more than the obscurity than it seems to have languished in.For one thing, it's quite an intelligent thriller. Tracey plays a journalist freshly returned from the war in Europe who decides to write a biography of the recently deceased and immensely popular former soldier Robert Forrest. Meeting Forrest's widow (Hepburn) and those immediately around him at his massive country home. For much of its length, Keeper Of The Flame is a cross between a Gothic tale and a mystery novel with a large, imposing house, Forrest's secretive associates, and secrets apparently buried as the ghost of Forrest's life hangs over the house. There is a strong sense of foreboding throughout which serves the film well.Which leads to the ending where the film shifts gears. There are hints of the truth laid throughout the film about Forrest's activities and the kind of literal hero worship he inspired in people (such as young Jeb) and it's in the final minutes that it's revealed. It's something that makes the film standout from many films of its time and perhaps even since as the film touches upon the little talked about encroachment of fascist leanings during the years leading up to World War II. Indeed, one might be forgiven of thinking about the little known Business Plot from the mid-1930s. All of this makes Keeper Of The Flame an early political thriller and a finely made one at that.Coming out of the Hollywood Golden Age, it's a prime example of what studio film-making could produce. The performances across the board are solid from Tracey and Hepburn on down. Despite the famous love affair between the two, the film wisely doesn't play it up though there is no denying the chemistry between them that is funneled into quite an interesting little relationship here leading to a powerful final scene with Hepburn delivering a lengthy monologue. The supporting cast is strong as well ranging from Richard Whorf as Forrest's aide, Howard Da Silva as the groundskeeper, Margaret Wycherly as Forrest's mother, and Frank Craven as a somewhat cynical local doctor. The production values are solid as well including some moody cinematography William H. Daniels which highlights some of the more Gothic elements of the film and some good special effects work for the era.Which isn't to say that the film is perfect. As much as I praise the plot and the writing above, the writing is also part of the film's few issues. Not so much in the plot but in the dialogue. Made early on during America's involvement in World War II, there is a certain preachy quality to some of the film's moments, especially when it comes to the scenes that Tracey's character shares with Darryl Hickman's Jeb. Perhaps it's just old fashioned patriotism showing through, a product of a "simpler time" but given what the film's ending suggests about such attitudes, it's something that stands out like a sore thumb at times. It's a flaw though most certainly not a fatal one.Keeper Of The Flame is a film that has languished in obscurity undeservedly. It's a fine mix of the Gothic with the political thriller genre, the latter of which it is perhaps an early example of. It is also a fine product of Hollywood's Golden Age which despite some of the flaws that it has in terms of its writing don't serve to seriously diminish what is otherwise a fine piece of work. Perhaps, with the film's ultimate message, it's time for it to be rediscovered by a new generation.

Katharine Hepburn is "Keeper of the Flame" in this 1942 film starring Spencer Tracy, and directed by George Cukor. A reporter, just back from being in Europe, wants to write about a tremendous hero/statesman, Robert Forest, who has just died in an accident. But his reporter instincts pick up something rotten as he attempts to speak with the widow (Hepburn) and learns things about Forest and the family. He begins to suspect that the great man's death might not have been so accidental.Very dark and intriguing movie, well done, with a crackerjack cast that includes Margaret Wycherly, Forrest Tucker, Stephen McNally, Darryl Hickman, Howard da Silva, and Percy Kilbride. The script, by Donald Ogden Stewart, is perhaps inspired by Charles Lindbergh's story. Done today (as if anything could be kept from the press) it might be JFK.My only problem with this film is the prescribed code ending. Well worth watching - something quite different for Tracy and Hepburn, who usually performed lighter fare when together.