The Children’s Hour
1961
Debut Screening: Dec. 19/1961
Genre: Drama
Length: 1 hr. 48 min.
Country: United States
Tagline: One of Broadway’s greatest hits...becomes powerful, adult screen drama!
Starring: Audrey Hepburn (Karen Wright), Shirley MacLaine (Martha Dobie), James Garner (Dr. Joe Cardin) & Veronica Cartwright (Rosalie Wells)
Written by: John Michael Hayes
Based on the 1934 play by: Lillian Hellman
Directed by: William Wyler
Synopsis: This classic drama is set at a private girls’ school run by 2 best friends, Karen & Martha. The 2 women have worked tirelessly to build the school’s reputation, & Karen is finally planning to marry her fiancé. Their lives are shattered, however, when Mary, a malicious & vengeful student, tells a lie to her influential grandmother, claiming she saw the headmistresses engaging in a sinful affair. The rumor spreads like wildfire, causing parents to pull their children from school & destroying the women’s livelihoods.
The tragedy deepens as the legal & social pressure forces Martha to confront her own long-buried, authentic feelings for Karen. The Children’s Hour endures as a powerful study of the destructive power of gossip & the heartbreaking reality of internalized shame in a judgmental society.
Sites: wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Children%27s_Hour_(film)
imdb.com/title/tt0054743/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_dm_0_tt_8_nm_0_in_0_q_the%20children%27s%20hour
FYI: The Children’s Hour is the 2nd movie version of Hellman’s play. The first, entitled These Three, was released in 1936. Due to censorship concerns regarding the play’s lesbian theme, however, this earlier version was changed to revolve around a heterosexual love triangle.
Hellman’s play was inspired by the real life 1809 case involving 2 Scottish teachers; Miss Marianne Woods & Miss Jane Pirie.
Audrey Hepburn (Karen) died of cancer in 1993 at age 63.
The film’s title comes from a poem by Longfellow.
The Children’s Hour was nominated for 5 Academy Awards.
Keywords: girls school, friendship, prejudice, scandal, based on a true story, Oscar nominee, adapted from a play, lesbian cinema classic
*Available to stream free on Tubi @ Watch The Children's Hour (1962) - Free Movies | Tubi
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