SPITFIRE

US, 1934,88 minutes, Black and white.
Katharine Hepburn, Robert Young, Ralph Bellamy.
Directed by John Cromwell.

Spitfire was Katharine Hepburn's fourth film. In retrospect it is an unusual vehicle. Adapted from a play, the film focuses on a backwoods girl and her religious faith - even to healing. Katharine Hepburn is good as the Ozark girl, accent and all - even though it does not fit in with the popular image of her screen persona. She is matched by Ralph Bellamy as an earnest dam engineer and Robert Young who plays with her emotions.

The film is an interesting look at life in the Ozarks - primitive and superstitious faith, a basic Christianity which nevertheless takes the essentials of faith in Jesus and his healing power to heart. It is a contrast with the exposes of the time against the exploitation of people like Aimee Semple MacPherson? (for example Barbara Stanwyck as The Miracle Woman). The film makes an interesting comparison with the '60s picture of a similar kind of woman, Angel Baby, with Salome Jens. Direction is by John Cromwell, director of several interesting films over the decades including The Prisoner of Zenda, Abe Lincoln in Illinois, The Goddess.

1. A '30s melodrama? For its time? Now?

2. R.K.O. production values, black and white photography, the studio used for locations? Musical score?

3. The screenplay based on a theatrical piece, adapted for the screen, opened out? A star vehicle for Katharine Hepburn? Her screen presence in the '30s? Later?

4. The atmosphere of the '30s: the Ozarks, the building of dams, the workers, the locals, city people coming in? The hillbilly way of life? Community and town, superstitions and religion?

5. Katharine Hepburn as Trigger: In the mountains, her accent and style, manner? Her dead mother? Friendship with Etta and their arguing, her taking in the washing? Living alone? Her friendship with Fleetwood and his support of her? The attraction towards John? Affection, falling in love? Eleanor's arrival and her eyes being opened? Her relationship with God, praying in a familiar manner (even winking)? The simplicity of her faith? Her Jesus cards and their old style holy picture presentations, the Gospel texts? Her taking them literally - even when she didn't quite understand them? Her concern about the old lady dying, her prayer, her seeming to appear and heal her? Her reaction to the news of her revival? The stories of the witch? Her stealing the baby, praying, wanting to protect it, Fleetwood's help? The parents and their concern? The police? The death of the baby? Her prayers for others? Her sense of failure? Burning the cards? Not burning the card with the Resurrection theme? The renewal of her faith? Her friendship with Etta, helping her to be smart and to change her image (and to keep quiet)? Her talking to Fleetwood, the promise to meet him later, her wanting to leave - and her being able to stay? A woman of honesty, simplicity, shrewdness, directness, faith?

6. Fleetwood and the building of the dam, his reading, fascinated by Trigger, friendship with John, concern about John and Eleanor, the baby and his helping, with the parents and the police? His love for Trigger? Her giving him some faith? His not being able to share her Christianity? The promise of her coming back and his waiting? The happy finale?

7. John as the engineer from the city, his work on the dam, friendship with Fleetwood, the infatuation with Trigger, affection, his leading her on, the arrival of Eleanor?

8. The parents of the baby, their concern, anger? The mother staying, the talk with Trigger, change?

9. Etta and her talking, her hopes, praying for five minutes, her change of dress, having to shut up, her wanting to go to the picture show? Another portrait of a simple hillbilly girl?

10. The portrait of the community, the changes in the building of the dam, the community close together? Bill and his walking through Trigger's property? His being the overseer? A go-between? The attitudes of the community, to the old lady's revival, to stories about witches, pushing the old lady out of the community, doing the same for Trigger?

11. The South, the mountains, faith, healing? Community styles, the closed community, prejudice? A piece of Americana?