Pat and Mike

I add a comment because I think so many comments on this movie miss the mark. Watching this again after Katharine Hepburn's death, I was struck with how far ahead of its time this star vehicle was. Not only does it capture who she was, but it expresses a truth about women's equality that is not always fully evident in her body of work. Pat turns the tables on Mike. She owns him. She made him. And where would he be without her? There are instances in many of Hepburn's works where even her feminist leanings cave in to the conventions of the times. But in this one, she stays strong. She no doubt falls in love with the man of her dreams, but she doesn't do so at the expense of sacrificing any of her other dreams. Great fun flick from Tracy-Hepburn and one of my all-time favorites.

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Trailer—Pat and Mike

Pat and Mike

Sports manager Spencer Tracy sees a rough jewel in female athlete Katharine Hepburn--but her golf and tennis games get thrown off whenever her overpowering beau comes around. Begins very smartly, with Hepburn feisty, funny and very convincing on the golf course and the tennis court. Unfortunately, the script changes gears too soon while attempting to match up the Hepburn and Tracy characters romantically, becoming yet another of their sex-battles centering on egos and male/female relationships. With a great supporting cast (the wonderful Aldo Ray, Jim Backus, Charles Bronson, and even Chuck Conners), this might've been hugely entertaining. As it is, a passable time-filler, but not an important film for either of the two stars. **1/2 from ****

Pat Pemberton (Katharine Hepburn) is a great athlete and a coach. She tries to do whatever her fiancé Collier Weld (William Ching) needs even if it's deliberately losing. It's a great stress on their relationship. Charles Barry (Jim Backus) convinces her to enter into a golf tournament. Mike Conovan (Spencer Tracy) is a shady sports promoter who tries to get her to finish second but she refuses. At critical moments, Collier's presence flusters her and she ends up second. Collier wants her to marry him and quit everything else. In desperation, she jumps off the train and seeks the help of Mike. It turns out that she's great at everything. The Hollywood couple has good chemistry. This is a fun rom-com. I don't like so much the sports action. They have a tendency to slow the movie down. Although it's interesting to see Hepburn actually playing those sports. It's still not shot very interestingly. Sports action at that time has yet to be shot excitingly.

Katherine Hepburn plays a Babe Deidrickson-type woman in this film and Spencer Tracy plays her busy promoter. He convinces her to try her hand at practically every sport and soon she becomes the master of it--ranging from Tennis to golf to track to whatever she attempts. While I had a hard time believing Kate could do any of this, it really didn't matter because it was a light and silly little comedy and believability just wasn't so important. After a while, Ms. Hepburn grows tired of being on public display all the time and all the sports. She wants something more in her life and it's no surprise what, or shall I say WHO, she wants in her life! This is a cute comedy almost as funny and breezy as ADAM'S RIB and is well worth your time. Also, look for a young Charles Bronson in a bit part (often he was billed as "Charlie Buchinsky" in the earliest films).

Garson Kanin and Ruth Gordon specifically wrote this screenplay because of Katharine Hepburn's real sports ability. This is a terrific comedy and a great vehicle for Hepburn and Spencer Tracy....this gives Tracy a chance to play a Brooklyn sports thug. Very funny. Also, this is a rare chance to see some famous Women golfers of the early 1950's on film...not mention a great performance by Jim Backus. George Cukor's direction is relaxed and natural. There's also a funny set-piece with Hepburn having a panic attack during a tennis match. A great movie.

In this disappointing follow-up to the excellent "Adam's Rib," Hepburn plays a multi-sport athlete who is managed and promoted by Tracy. There are two funny scenes: one involving a tennis match and another where Hepburn slugs a couple of goons to protect Tracy. The other ninety percent of this supposed comedy is devoid of laughs and there is little plot. Cukor can't overcome the witless script by Gordon and Kanin. In fact he makes matters worse by inserting extended sport sequences, particularly golf, that are neither funny nor exciting. The film provides early roles for Bronson, Backus, and Connors, as well as the opportunity to see various famed tennis and golf stars.