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Adam's Rib Overview:

Adam's Rib (1949) was a Comedy - Drama Film directed by George Cukor and produced by Lawrence Weingarten.

SYNOPSIS

Tracy and Hepburn at their best as two married lawyers who take opposite sides of a front-page case. District Attorney Tracy heads the prosecution when a pistol-packing blonde goes after her girl-chasing husband and his mistress. But wife Hepburn thinks women should have the right to do exactly what men have done for years - get revenge! So it's Hepburn for the defense in a trial that proves all's fair in love, war, and court.

(Source: available at Amazon AMC Classic Movie Companion).

Adam's Rib was inducted into the National Film Registry in 1992.

Academy Awards 1950 --- Ceremony Number 23 (source: AMPAS)

AwardRecipientResult
Best WritingRuth Gordon, Garson KaninNominated
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Adam's Rib BlogHub Articles:

CMBA Spring Blogathon: "Adam's Rib," or Court and Spark

By David on Apr 14, 2016 From The Man on the Flying Trapeze

This is part of the CMBA Spring Blogathon: Words, Words, Words! Check out all entries! SCENE: Upper middle-class New York City apartment, evening. Wife waits patiently by door. Husband enters. Husband: Hello, thing. Wife: Hello at last. Husband: Well well well. Wife: Well well well what? Hu... Read full article

CMBA Spring Blogathon: "Adam's Rib," or Court and Spark

By David on Apr 14, 2016 From The Man on the Flying Trapeze

This is part of the CMBA Spring Blogathon: Words, Words, Words! Check out all entries! SCENE: Upper middle-class New York City apartment, evening. Wife waits patiently by door. Husband enters. Husband: Hello, thing. Wife: Hello at last. Husband: Well well well. Wife: Well well well what? Hu... Read full article

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Adam's Rib Quotes:

Amanda Bonner: Mr. Attinger had never touched you before this time?
Beryl Caighn: Sure
Amanda Bonner: Ahh!
Beryl Caighn: We used to shake hands quite a lot.
Amanda Bonner: I see. Did you enjoy it?
Amanda Bonner: Let's all be manly!
Adam Bonner: What are ya? Sore about a little slap?
Amanda Bonner: No.
Adam Bonner: Well, what then?
Amanda Bonner: [outraged] You meant that, didn't you? You really meant that.
Adam Bonner: Why, no, I...
Amanda Bonner: Yes, you did. I can tell. I know your type. I know a slap from a slug.
Adam Bonner: Well, OK, OK.
Amanda Bonner: I'm not so sure it is. I'm not so sure I care to expose myself to typical instinctive masculine brutality.
Adam Bonner: Oh come now.
Amanda Bonner: And it felt not only as though you meant it, but as though you felt you had a right to. I can tell.
Adam Bonner: What've you got back there? Radar equipment?
Kip Lurie: Amanda, my love, why do you stay married to a legal beagle with ten thumbs?
Kip Lurie: Did I hear someone say "sing it again"?
Adam Bonner: No!
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Adam's Rib Facts
In her early monologue scene with Katharine Hepburn, Judy Holliday can be seen trembling. This was not acting, but nervousness. The inexperienced Judy Holliday was terrified of performing with Katharine Hepburn.
Marvin Kaplan's film debut.
Inspired by the real-life story of husband-and-wife lawyers William Dwight Whitney and Dorothy Whitney, who represented Raymond Massey and his ex-wife Adrienne Allen in their divorce. After the Massey divorce was over, the Whitneys divorced each other and married the respective Masseys.
In the memorable Spencer Tracy-Katharine Hepburn massage scene, a radio plays Frank Sinatra singing Cole Porter's "Farewell, Amanda," a gift to Amanda Bonner (played by Hepburn) from her songwriter-neighbor, Kip Lurie (played by David Wayne) who, earlier in the picture, had crooned the ditty, accompanying himself on the Bonners' piano. While Adam Bonner (played by Tracy) is massaging his wife, he abruptly shuts off the radio. Sinatra is again heard when a record is accidentally started in a later scene. This prerecording of "Farewell, Amanda" is lost.
When Tom Ewell is walking to his girlfriend's apartment at the beginning of the film, he is whistling "You Are My Lucky Star". This song is also featured in Singin' in the Rain which stars the same actress who plays Tom Ewell's girlfriend, Jean Hagen.
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