Women of Substance: Katherine Hepburn

Katherine Hepburn, arguably the most famous and celebrated woman in 20th-century American film, is something of an icon for feminists, but as this documentary chronicles her life, the viewer may conclude that she is, first and foremost, a role model for super-ambitious workaholics. Her prolonged love affair with Spencer Tracy, who was married the entire time, seems more akin to German romanticism than any feminist sensibility. But, of course, that's what really makes Hepburn so interesting--her life is a bundle of secrets and contradictions. Hepburn fans--particularly those who have read her autobiography--will find nothing new in this video. For those who are less familiar with the life and times of this extraordinary woman, however, this film biography offers an informative synopsis of the Hepburn story, spiced with Hepburn's own observations. Optional. (P. Van Vleck)