The Children's Hour

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source: The Children's Hour

Trailer—The Children's Hour

The Children's Hour

"The Children's Hour" is a great movie that was very much ahead of its time in 1961. Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacLaine play teachers who are accused by a deceitful student of having a lesbian relationship. This causes much friction in the school community, as the two women are shunned. And as might be expected when your whole world is turned upside down, these rumors cause tragedy. Audrey Hepburn is radiant as always, and Shirley MacLaine gives one of her best, most underrated performances. James Garner and Fay Bainter are also great in their supporting performances. "The Children's Hour" is a fantastic drama that you definitely don't want to miss!

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.

This is a great movie. This film was certainly ahead of it's time. It was extremely controversial when it came out in the early 60's and has to do with gay rights. It's based on avery famous play from Lillian Hellman and it's directed by WilliamWyler (The Best Years of Our Lives, Roman Holiday, Ben-Her), and it stars Audrey Hepburn, Shirley MacLaine, James Garner, Miriam Hopkins, Fay Bainter, Karen Balkin, and Veronica Cartwright. The acting is amazing from everyone but Shirley MacLaine steals the show. This coming from a huge admirer of Hepburn. Heart breaking and wonderfully filmed, the "Children's Hour" is a terrific movie. See it!

Sad, well done movie about how the lies of a vengeful child can destroy everything they touch. The story concerns two single female teachers running a small girl's school. The school is finally making money and one of the teachers in newly engaged until a malicious student makes up lies about them to avoid being punished for her misdeeds. The lies spiral out of control and soon enough the school is out of business and the women find their lives ruined before it is finally realized that the student was lying all along, much to the horror of the adults who were all too ready to believe her. This movie is a strong reflection of the time it was made in. While even today, homosexuality is controversial, in this movie, it is only spoken of generally in code and hinted at with words like "unnatural acts." The story doesn't set out to lecture, but rather shows how easy it is for one lie to lead to another, and how idle gossip can become much more venomous if given the chance.

A trouble-making student at a girls' school accuses two teachers of being lesbians. Audrey Hepburn is probably best known for her lighter fare, and stuff that is typically shown in color. This is not light, and it is not in color. In fact, it deals with some rather modern themes, because it is hard to imagine William Wyler making a film about lesbians, and yet this is (sort of) what we have here. Kids are treacherous. You cannot help but believe the, but if you get a lying student, he or she can cause a lot of issues and pain. The kid here is the worst. If it were not wrong to do so, this is the sort of child you would want to slap. She is almost pure evil.