Alice Adams (1935)

In the small town of South Renford, Alice Adams comes from a working class background, although she aspires to be among the upper class. Alice’s mother blames her husband for their low social standing, despite his working hard and Alice not blaming him for anything. Regardless, Alice tries to do whatever necessary to put on appearances of wealth and social standing, despite everyone in that class in town knowing who she is, and thus largely ignoring her because of her false airs.

First meeting at a society ball, Alice surprisingly catches the eye of Arthur Russell, surprisingly as he purportedly is engaged to débutante Mildred Palmer. As Alice continues to hide her true social standing from Arthur as he courts her, Mrs. Adams pressures Mr. Adams into doing something he doesn’t want to do in an effort truly to become part of the business class, that measure which entails sinking all his money into a business venture.

Beyond the time when Arthur finds out the true nature behind Alice’s facade, other issues may bring the fragile Adams society house of cards tumbling down around them, and thus the happiness Alice is seeking with Arthur.

Alice Adams is a 1935 romantic drama film directed by George Stevens and starring Katharine Hepburn. It was made by RKO and produced by Pandro S. Berman. The screenplay was by Dorothy Yost, Mortimer Offner, and Jane Murfin. The film was adapted from the novel Alice Adams by Booth Tarkington. The music score was by Max Steiner and Roy Webb, and the cinematography by Robert De Grasse. The film received Academy Award nominations for Best Picture and Best Actress.

The film is about a young woman in a financially-struggling family and her pretentious attempts to appear upper class and to wed a wealthy man while she conceals her poverty. Hepburn’s popularity had declined after her two 1933 film triumphs: her Oscar-winning performance in Morning Glory and her celebrated performance as Jo March in Little Women. Her performance in Alice Adams made her a public favorite again.

Directed by: George Stevens
Starring: Katharine Hepburn, Fred MacMurray, Fred Stone, Evelyn Venable, Frank Albertson, Ann Shoemaker, Charles Grapewin, Grady Sutton, Hedda Hopper, Hattie McDaniel, Jonathan Hale
Screenplay by: Dorothy Yost, Mortimer Offner, Jane Murfin
Production Design by: J.R. Crone
Cinematography by: Robert De Grasse
Film Editing by: Jane Loring
Costume Design by: Walter Plunkett
Art Direction by: Van Nest Polglase
Music by: Max Steiner, Roy Webb
MPAA Rating: None.
Distributed by: RKO Radio Pictures
Release Date: August 15, 1935