Christopher Strong (Blu-ray Review)
- Review Date: Oct 19, 2023
- Format: Blu-ray Disc
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Director
Dorothy ArznerRelease Date(s)
1933 (October 24, 2023)Studio(s)
RKO Radio Pictures (Warner Archive Collection)- Film/Program Grade: C
- Video Grade: A-
- Audio Grade: A
- Extras Grade: B-
Review
Katharine Hepburn had a long film career extending from 1933’s A Bill of Divorcement to 1994’s Love Affair. In between were such memorable films as The Philadelphia Story, The African Queen, The Lion in Winter, and On Golden Pond. In her second feature film, Christopher Strong, she took on a role unusual for the time, setting her apart from her contemporaries.
Lady Cynthia Darrington (Hepburn) is a member of the British gentry whose family has lost its money. As a result, she’s turned to aviation—not only for her love of it, but also for prize money to restore the family coffers. Up to this point in her life, she has avoided romance as an impediment to her career. Sir Christopher Strong (Colin Clive, Frankenstein) is a reserved member of Parliament who has been happily married for many years. When a scavenger hunt brings them together at a party, they’re immediately attracted to each other.
Christopher and his wife, Lady Elaine (Billie Burke, The Wizard of Oz), have a daughter, Monica (Helen Chandler, Dracula). There’s a subplot about Lady Elaine’s determination to end a romance between Monica and the unhappily married Harry Rawlinson (Ralph Forbes, Stage Door). The main action, however, centers on the illicit affair between Lady Cynthia and Sir Christopher.
Hepburn outshines everyone in the cast, due partly to the free-spirited character she plays and partly due to her unique, quirky screen presence. Unafraid to declare that she’s turned away from traditional romance in order to lead her distinctly nontraditional life, the self-possessed Lady Cynthia seems like a dervish whirling breezily among her social set. Yet when she falls for Strong, her resolve melts as she experiences love for the first time.
Co-star Clive is a poor match for Hepburn, both as the character he’s playing and as an actor. It’s tough to accept that these two are enamored with one another, as their romantic scenes drip with melodrama rather than passion. Clive’s specialty was playing highly nervous or eccentric personalities and he often portrayed obsessed, driven individuals. Here, playing a romantic lead, he looks awkward and uncomfortable. The role of Christopher is a buttoned-down type who succumbs to sudden passion, but when Hepburn’s Cynthia supposedly steals his heart, he looks as if he’s thinking about a speech he has to make to Parliament.
Dorothy Arzner—the only female director working in Hollywood at the time—elicits an uneven performance from Hepburn. At times, she lights up the screen, but at others, she appears beyond her depth. At this point in her career, Hepburn’s well known mannerisms hadn’t become ingrained in her performances and there was an opportunity to shape her portrayal more effectively. The scene in which Lady Cynthia bursts into the party is a well staged introduction for Hepburn with her devilish smile, self-assured body language, and easy manner—indications that this gal is not standard issue. In contrast, her romantic scenes with Clive are dull and unconvincing.
The film is very talky, and Arzner is overly dependent on interior locations. Even what appear to be exteriors are filmed in the studio. The flying sequences are interesting. In a role inspired by Amelia Earhart, Hepburn climbs up the plane fairly close to the rotating propeller and squeezes into the narrow cockpit. Actual planes, miniatures, and process shots combine to create scenes of Cynthia bravely piloting the plane through the clouds accompanied only by a navigator tucked below and behind her toward the rear of the aircraft. These scenes, however, are few, as the film focuses on the romantic angle.
Christopher Strong was shot by director of photography Bert Glennon with spherical lenses on black & white 35 mm film and presented in the aspect ratio of 1.37:1. The Blu-ray is sourced from a brand new 4K scan of the original nitrate camera negative. In keeping with the quality of Warner Archive’s recent Blu-ray releases, the film practically sparkles. Visual imperfections such as dirt specks, scratches, emulsion clouding, and cue marks have been eliminated and the film looks nearly pristine. Film grain is true to the original. Details, such as the flower appliqués on one of Cynthia’s dresses, her shimmery silver “moth dress,” and decorative items at the party, are well defined. Stock footage is used to represent Cynthia’s ticker tape parade in New York, and process photography provides a backdrop of water as Christopher and Cynthia converse in a motorboat. The stock footage is less sharp than the studio-filmed scenes.
The soundtrack is English 2.0 Mono DTS-HD Master Audio. English SDH subtitles are an available option. Speech in this dialogue-heavy film is clear and distinct throughout. Ambient background music is heard in the party scene. Notable sound effects include a small boat’s outboard motor, water lapping at the boat, and an airplane’s propellers and engine. Max Steiner’s score is serviceable, but lacks the grandeur of his later features.
Bonus materials on the Blu-ray release from Warner Archive include the following short subjects:
- Plane Nuts (19:42)
- Tomalio (21:37)
- Buddy’s Beer Garden (7:11)
Plane Nuts – This 1933 MGM short, directed by Jack Cummings, stars Ted Healy, the Three Stooges (billed as Howard, Fine & Howard) and Bonny. Healy and the Stooges engage in slapstick vaudeville schtick. Two lavish production numbers look as if they came from a Busby Berkeley extravaganza, with a huge chorus of girls and guys dancing in kaleidoscopic patterns, many involving prop propellers, shot from an overhead camera. In one arrangement, the girls form the shape of an airplane. In another, they spell out “Lindy” in honor of aviation pioneer Charles Lindbergh.
Tomalio – Released months after his death, this pre-Code 1933 Warner Bros. comedy short stars Roscoe “Fatty” Arbuckle. He plays Wilbur, who travels to a third-world country and deals with a grouchy dictator.
Buddy’s Beer Garden – This 1932 Warner Bros. Looney Tunes black & white cartoon was directed by Earl Duval. Buddy serves beer as patrons hoist their glasses and sing. Members of the band are shown with beer glasses that seem to have minds of their own. Tongue sandwiches have actual tongues hanging out, licking the mustard. A fellow lifts the spaghetti from his plate and plays the strands like a harp. A loudmouth patron shouts “Where’s my beer?” There’s more singing. Cookie, a waitress, takes the spotlight in the beer garden and performs a sexy dance. Later, a Mae West caricature delivers a song in West’s suggestive style.
Christopher Strong is worth a look primarily to see Katharine Hepburn in an early role. It’s odd that the film’s title is the name of the lead male character, since the plot revolves around Cynthia’s adventures. The film hasn’t aged well, the old-fashioned plot and slow pace are major problems. If Hepburn had a more convincing leading man, the film would provide some sparks.
- Dennis Seuling