A BILL OF DIVORCEMENT

US, 1932, 76 minutes, Black and white.
John Barrymore, Katharine Hepburn, Billie Burke, David Manners, Paul Cavanaugh. Henry Stephenson, Elizabeth Patterson.
Directed by George Cukor.

A Bill of Divorcement introduced Katharine Hepburn to the screen. It was the beginning of a most successful career with an Oscar in 1933 for Morning Glory, two more for Guess Who's Coming to Dinner and The Lion in Winter in 1967-68. She won a fourth in 1981 for On Golden Pond. Here she was directed by George Cukor who was to direct her in so many films including Little Women, Sylvia Scarlett, The Philadelphia Story, Adam's Rib, Pat and Mike, Love Among the Ruins and The Corn is Green. The film is also a tour-de-force for celebrated stage and screen star John Barrymore. The film, based on a play by Clemence Dane, was refilmed almost exactly in 1940 with Adolphe Menjou and Maureen O’Hara? in the central roles. The themes and treatment seem out of date now but the film is of historic interest for its stars and director.

1. The impact of the film in its time, now? Dated? Based on a play? The atmosphere of drama in the early '30s? The tradition of English drawing room melodramas? A vehicle for its stars?

2. 'Thirties film-making: use of studios, drawing room style? The strength of the cast? The staging and the emphasis on dialogue and the recitation of dialogue? The music and the spirit of the melodrama? The significance and use of the Christmas setting?

3. The introduction to Margaret: tension,, flightiness, her fiance and the prospect of a joyful marriage, Hester's disapproval, Sidney and her support of her mother? The gradual revelation of what had happened in the marriage, Hilary's insanity, the bill of divorcement? The covering up of Hilary's insanity?

4. Katharine Hepburn's initial impact in film as Sidney? Vivid and vivacious? The modern young woman? Devotion to her mother? memories and sympathy towards her father? Her clashes with Hester and her apologies? Her worry about insanity in the family? The romantic scenes with her fiance and the prospect of a happy life in Canada?

5. Themes of propriety., honour, happiness, guilt,, war and suffering.. madness, internment in asylums, release.. healing?

6. John Barrymore's style as Hilary? The audience prepared for his arrival? His dramatic entry. seeing his home again. mistaking Sidney for Margaret? His violent outbursts? His moving in and out of balance? His beginning to appreciate the change, the passing of time? The awareness of something wrong in Margaret? His not liking her fiance? Sidney and her sympathy? The doctor and his trying to soothe Hilary? Soothe him with false promises? Sidney and her reaction to the situation and getting her mother out of it? Her awareness that her father had contrived the situation? Their being left playing Hilary's composition together? Sidney and the emotional effect of meeting her father, concern for her mother, sending her mother away? Her reaction to the doctor's comment on inherited madness? Her breaking with her fiance? Closing herself in the house with her father?

7. Margaret's fiance and his support? Sidney's fiance and his being sent away? Aunt Hester and her melancholic brooding in the family?

8. The doctor and his concern for Hilary, his views about insanity and healing?

9. The touches of the period - the initial party, Christmas and the singers, church-going? The clash with the melodrama of the plot?

10. Musical themes and Hilary's compositions? His composing the end with Sidney?

11. Modern responses to theories of insanity in the family? Relationships. marriage, fidelity? Divorce and the bill of divorcement?