Kate's Coco Bio

[CrazyForKate]

My apologies if someone has already posted this, but it's fascinating. Kate gives her opinions of all her film/theatre work.

www.theatreaficionado.com/2009/10/katharine-hepburns-unique-star-bio.html


I love how she comments on every Spencer film (every single one is "Good" except Desk Set...why?), and doesn't say anything about Spitfire. I wonder how much of this is her own opinion, some of her ideas of the reviews don't seem to match up with what's there (for example, "Good" for LDJIN vs "Raves" for GWCTD). Still fun to see.

[Shaun]

That was a very interesting read. She rated Bringing Up Baby and Holiday as "mediocre" yet Undercurrent is "fair". Ya'll know my feelings on Undercurrent by now, but I wonder what prompted those mediocre ratings? Another thing, is she judging her performances in them or the films themselves?

Thank you for posting that.

[martha]

yes, a fascinating read. it does indeed 'read' as if kate is summarizing the general reviews at the time of any of the stage or film performances on this list (critical response at the time of opening i mean), rather than presenting her own views. at least, that's how it reads to me.

[dreamer]

Found it online sometime ago but forgot to share it (haha actually couldn't find it on my computer) but with CrazyForKate's post got a reminder. Thanks

Am with Martha here - I to think it is meant to be read as the opinion of the critics aka the public at the time and not what Kate thought.

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[Judy]

Oct 18, 2009 18:34:29 GMT -5 Shaun said:

That was a very interesting read. She rated Bringing Up Baby and Holiday as "mediocre" yet Undercurrent is "fair". Ya'll know my feelings on Undercurrent by now, but I wonder what prompted those mediocre ratings? Another thing, is she judging her performances in them or the films themselves?

Thank you for posting that.

I think she was commenting on how these films/plays were received rather than on her opinion of them - though the two may have coincided on certain ones.

Gee - it only took me a month to respond to this.

JS

[CrazyForKate]

I think also that time has changed a lot of perceptions of these films- look at LDJIN- it's now recognized as absolutely amazing but she calls it "good". When you read the NY Times review they weren't too fond of her performance- same with BUB. And at the same time they gave Keeper of the Flame a really good review, when now it's usually considered a tad...mediocre.

It's always very strange to look back at reviews of the time.