{"id":4784,"date":"2007-11-13T10:11:59","date_gmt":"2007-11-13T17:11:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=4784"},"modified":"2020-12-25T13:21:07","modified_gmt":"2020-12-25T20:21:07","slug":"christopher-strong-1933","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=4784","title":{"rendered":"Christopher Strong (1933)"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong>&#8220;I&#8217;m a very reckless person, Chris &#8212; and you&#8217;re a very cautious one.&#8221;<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Poster.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Poster-300x235.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"235\" class=\"alignleft size-medium wp-image-30073\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Poster-300x235.jpg 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Poster-128x100.jpg 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Poster-1024x802.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong>Synopsis:<\/strong><br \/>\nAn aviatrix (Katharine Hepburn) falls in love with a happily married man (Colin Clive), who hesitates to hurt his loving wife (Billie Burke) and adoring daughter (Helen Chandler).\n<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\n<p>\n<strong>Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors:<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Airplanes and Pilots<\/li>\n<li>Colin Clive Films<\/li>\n<li>Dorothy Arzner Films<\/li>\n<li>Infidelity<\/li>\n<li>Katharine Hepburn Films<\/li>\n<li>Strong Females<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Review: <\/strong><br \/>\nDespite its oddly masculine title, this early melodrama (based on a novel by Gilbert Frankau and directed by Dorothy Arzner) very much belongs to <em>Lady<\/em> Cynthia Darrington, the female protagonist played by Katharine Hepburn &#8212; who, in her second screen role, easily carries the film, exuding all the intelligence and strength required of her nonconformist character. It&#8217;s been noted by many that Owen (not the most charismatic or handsome of actors) seems like an unlikely romantic match for Hepburn, but I found it easy to believe that the sexually inexperienced Lady Cynthia might make such an unconventional choice:<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Hepburn3.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Hepburn3-1024x647.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"404\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-59454\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Hepburn3-1024x647.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Hepburn3-300x189.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Hepburn3-128x81.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Hepburn3-768x485.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Hepburn3-1536x970.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Hepburn3-428x270.png 428w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Hepburn3.png 1623w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Less convincing is Clive&#8217;s sudden shift in allegiance from wholehearted devotion to his wife (a typically fluttery Billie Burke) to adulterous impulses. Of special note is the way in which Arzner manages to infuse <em>Christopher Strong<\/em> with quietly subversive material, ranging from Lady Cynthia&#8217;s mannish outfits and independent lifestyle to the fey demeanor of Ralph Forbes (who plays Clive&#8217;s daughter&#8217;s married love interest).<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Still.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Still-1024x633.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"396\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-59455\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Still-1024x633.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Still-300x185.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Still-128x79.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Still-768x475.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Still-1536x949.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Still-437x270.png 437w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Still.png 1613w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Unfortunately, moral strictures of the time mandated that Lady Cynthia &#8220;pay&#8221; for her crime of loving a married man (while Strong &#8212; naturally &#8212; gets off scot-free), thus leading to the film&#8217;s infamous tragic ending. As a narrative, <em>Christopher Strong<\/em> leaves much to be desired &#8212; but as a vehicle for both Hepburn and Arzner, it&#8217;s worth a one-time look.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Redeeming Qualities and Moments: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Katharine Hepburn as Lady Cynthia<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Hepburn2.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Hepburn2-1024x648.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"405\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-59452\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Hepburn2-1024x648.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Hepburn2-300x190.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Hepburn2-128x81.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Hepburn2-768x486.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Hepburn2-1536x971.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Hepburn2-427x270.png 427w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Hepburn2.png 1621w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Hepburn emerging in her infamous &#8220;moth&#8221; outfit<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Moth.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Moth-1024x631.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"394\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-59451\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Moth-1024x631.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Moth-300x185.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Moth-128x79.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Moth-768x473.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Moth-1536x947.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Moth-438x270.png 438w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Moth.png 1653w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<li>Atmospheric cinematography<br \/>\n<a href=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Direction.png\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"http:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Direction-1024x635.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"640\" height=\"397\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-59456\" srcset=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Direction-1024x635.png 1024w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Direction-300x186.png 300w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Direction-128x79.png 128w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Direction-768x477.png 768w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Direction-1536x953.png 1536w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Direction-435x270.png 435w, https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2007\/11\/Christopher-Strong-Direction.png 1655w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" \/><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Must See? <\/strong><br \/>\nNo, though it&#8217;s worth a look for its historical significance as Hepburn&#8217;s second major role, and one of Arzner&#8217;s best-known films. <\/p>\n<p><strong>Links: <\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"http:\/\/imdb.com\/title\/tt0023891\/\">IMDb entry<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/1933\/03\/10\/archives\/katharine-hepburn-and-colin-clive-in-a-film-of-a-gilbert-frankau.html\">NY Times Original Review (spoilers alert)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.tcm.com\/tcmdb\/title\/2321\/christopher-strong#articles-reviews?articleId=311\">TCM Article<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.timeout.com\/movies\/christopher-strong\">Time Out Capsule Review (spoilers alert)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/table>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>&#8220;I&#8217;m a very reckless person, Chris &#8212; and you&#8217;re a very cautious one.&#8221; Synopsis: An aviatrix (Katharine Hepburn) falls in love with a happily married man (Colin Clive), who hesitates to hurt his loving wife (Billie Burke) and adoring daughter (Helen Chandler). Genres, Themes, Actors, and Directors: Airplanes and Pilots Colin Clive Films Dorothy Arzner Films Infidelity Katharine Hepburn Films Strong Females Review: Despite its oddly masculine title, this early melodrama (based on a novel by Gilbert Frankau and directed&#8230;<\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more\"><a class=\"btn btn-default\" href=\"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/?p=4784\"> Read More<span class=\"screen-reader-text\">  Read More<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":true,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-4784","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-reviews"],"aioseo_notices":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4784","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=4784"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4784\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":59458,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/4784\/revisions\/59458"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=4784"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=4784"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/filmfanatic.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=4784"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}