The Philadelphia Story (1940)

A fast-talking, opinionated socialite (Hepburn) is soon to be married, but two tall, suited, skinny spanners (Stewart and Grant) put themselves on the visitors list, effectively clogging up the works with their smugness and charm.
TPS is a classic era romantic comedy based on a play by Phillip Barry. The three stars light up every scene each time they cross paths, testing the tolerances and attractions of each other, inadvertently or otherwise. It starts slow, but once it hits its stride it doesn't ever disappoint. The supporting cast deserve credit, too, from the eldest to the youngest they're all excellent.

5 names for a boat out of 5

Bringing Up Baby (1938)

A pussy-whipped Carey Grant humbles his way through life like a Clark Kent-esque palaeontologist (minus the costumed alter ego) until he meets a headstrong but scatterbrained female in the shape of Hepburn, with her 'baby' of the title not far behind. Hepburn's character displays the more welcome traits of the 'Hawksian woman' archetype and avoids the less likeable ones.
It's a screwball comedy that gets better with each viewing. The chemistry between the pair is believable, and it's fun to see neither of the two stars be too proud or pompous to make public asses of themselves.

4 entanglements out of 5

Keeper of the Flame (1942)

War correspondent Steve O'Malley (Tracy) aspires to write a posthumous biography of an American hero who kept his private life a closely guarded secret. O'Malley’s investigations lead him to the widow Christine (Hepburn), who puts his motivations and commitment to the truth to the test.
A number of lengthy scenes let the actors work their craft well, but after a strong start the story fails to sustain the sense of intrigue it set out to explore. Instead, it takes on a rather dry and occasionally dreary political aspect that left me bored and uninvolved with much of the second half.  It’s certainly not the 'fiery love drama' the original one sheet promised.

2½ trumpets blown out of 5

Woman of the Year (1942)

I’ll watch anything starring Katharine Hepburn; she’s fantastic. Woman of the Year is no exception. It’s a romantic comedy drama about two journalists working in the same building but existing in different worlds.
When hate turns to love they have to each decide what it is that’s important, and have a laugh along the way. It’s predicable stuff up to a point, but there are moments where I was surprised at the turn of events.
It was the first film to pair her with Spencer Tracy. They'd go on to make another eight pictures together and fall in love in real life.

3½ breakfasts out of 5

Guess Who's Coming to Dinner (1967)

Oh, mercy! Lock up your daughters; there’s a black man in the house and he's not in the laundry room! Prejudices will be exposed and family loyalties tested; and that’s pretty much the whole story. I can’t imagine how shocking it all was in 1967, because I wasn't born, but it’s tame by today’s standards.
Raises a few chuckles. Don't shave with bourbon.

Some sexy trivia: Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy were real-life partners. Sadly, it was Spencer’s last film as he died 17 days after filming. It was the first film for Hepburn’s niece who plays her daughter, Joanna.

3 nobody understands nothing no more out of 5

Suddenly, Last Summer (1959)

A Tennessee Williams play adapted for film by the director of Cleopatra (1963). It’s an amazingly well-constructed Southern Gothic period piece.
Elizabeth Taylor has a dark secret. Katharine Hepburn is rich and has an agenda. They clash over the truth. Montgomery Clift tries to be the catalyst. It’s almost perfect.

4½ scorching white-hot days out of 5