The Children’s Hour (1961)

Director: William Wyler

What Made These Women Different?

Writer: Lillian Hellman (play), John Michael Hayes (script)

Starring: Audrey Hepburn, Shirley MacLaine, James Garner

This was a vital text during my dissertation because it is fundermentally about lesbianism. The plot centers on two school headmistresses, Karen (Hepburn) and Martha (MacLaine), who are caught up in a viscious lie spread by one of their pupils. The pupil in question is a little bit pyscho and the kind you want to strangle on sight. The lie takes their school (no one wants their children taught by lesbians), it takes Karen’s relationship with her fiancee, Joe (Garner) and eventually takes Martha’s life. Though this film was made at the end of the production code era, it is fairly out there for it’s time, but it panders to the code by having Martha, who finally admits that she does have “unnatural” (their word not mine) feelings for Karen. These feelings are unrequinted though and although, Karen asks Martha to come with her when they leave, Martha can’t go one feeling this way and kills herself. It’s a well acted piece that manages to discuss the issues and prejudices of the time without even ever mentioning the word “lesbian” lol.

BEST QUOTE

Mrs. Lily Mortar: God will punish you.
Martha: He’s doing all right.

7/10

~ by ejmarquez on October 20, 2009.