I finally caught up with Lorna Tucker‘s Call Me Kate (Netflix, 5.12), a 96-minute doc about Katharine Hepburn, the raven-haired, freckle-faced powerhouse actress who defied everyone and every expectation to become her own persona and “brand”, way before the concept of independent, big-studio-defying actresses had really taken root.
We all know the basics — a 62-year career, 40-plus films (The Philadelphia Story, The Lion in Winter, Bringing Up Baby, The African Queen, Summertime), brilliant performer, four Oscars, etc. A very tough and willful lady, a flinty Connecticut attitude, deeply passionate, family advantages from the get-go, very exacting and particular, certainly no pushover.
“I would have been a terrible mother because I’m basically a very selfish human being,” etc.
The film is basically about previously unseen home movies, first-hand recollections from family members, random footage, audio tapes, letters, etc.
Hepburn was almost certainly bisexual or primarily gay and who cares? Was the decades-long “romance” with Spencer Tracy even physical? I found it odd that her mid 1930s “affair” with John Ford (which probably wasn’t sexual) isn’t mentioned at all. No mention of a lot of things. No Love Affair, Grace Quiqley., etc.
Tucker could have easily made a six-part miniseries out of all the available material. But by the conclusion a strong affinity and affection for Hepburn has been instilled. Highly recommended.
