Desk Set, 1957

Beautiful young Katharine Hepburn is Bunny Watson, a television research department head. She’s smart and knows how things should run. But when a strange man enters her world, he turns everything topsy-turvy.

Spencer Tracy stars as the perplexing Richard Sumner. He’s supposed to go about his business in secret so no one knows he’s going to computerize the office. However, Bunny figures him out.

The pairing of Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn always brings sharp dialogue and well-timed humor to a film. This was the 8th of nine films Tracy and Hepburn starred in together.

Today’s American audience has a hard time imagining a world where a company can exist without a computer. We laugh at the crazy concept of what they used to see as cutting edge technology. This film’s computer reminds me of the computer in Apollo 13 which was also state of the art at the time, but a far cry from what today’s teens use for their own entertainment.

The screenplay, written by Phoebe and Henry Ephron, was taken from the play by William Marchant. The Ephrons wrote four films directed by Walter Lang: The Jackpot starring James Stewart, On the Riviera starring Danny Kaye, There’s No Business Like Show Business starring Marilyn Monroe, and Desk Set. I think most of my generation is more familiar with Nora Ephron, their daughter, for writing Meg Ryan movies like When Harry Met Sally, Sleepless in Seattle, and You’ve Got Mail.

Making Changes

Technology has changed the way people think. When we want to take notes, more people use handheld devices to type or record notes. There are always those who remember what a piece of paper and pen can be used for, but they are a small group these days.

Using software instead of old school tools helps some of us use our time more efficiently. Today, there are many ways to communicate with friends and family in far away places, ways that our grandparents couldn’t have dreamed of. We get information faster than we ever have, and some of it is even helpful.

This weekend, check out my review of a movie that features the idea of updating our technology. This is an idea that has moved into every corner of life. Churches and schools use the latest technology to reach out to young ones who are used to hearing about digital communication tools.

On today’s post at Seek God With Me, I’m discussing the idea of adding a communication room of a different kind to your home. I hope you’ll join me.

Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, 1941

Spencer Tracy stars as the mysterious Dr Henry Jekyll. The good doctor experiments with dangerous drugs in an effort to help people control those evil urges that he’s sure everyone has. His motive is to benefit his society, but something goes wrong. When he pours a potion into his mouth, it changes him.

Ingrid Bergman, as barmaid Ivy Peterson, is attracted to Dr Jekyll, but afraid of Mr. Hyde. Lana Turner plays the innocent and refined Beatrix Emery. Donald Crisp plays Sir Charles Emery. I’m reminded of his role as Elizabeth Taylor’s father in National Velvet, which he wouldn’t be in until 1944.

This horror film is based on the novel by Robert Louis Stevenson; however, the story changed slightly for the film. Another horror film was also released in 1941: The Wolf Man, starring Lon Chaney Jr. and Bela Lugosi.

Close Your Mouth

This weekend, I’ll review a movie about someone who sometimes just isn’t himself. He has a strong desire to help others, but that same desire gets him into trouble.

If you see yourself in that description, let me assure you that you’re not alone. Many people with a desire to help others get themselves into trouble when they risk the lives of others by overcompensating for a weakness or ruin a relationship with one in order to help another. We also get into trouble by simply overscheduling our lives in an attempt to be there for everyone who needs us.

When you take on too big of a job and can’t see over your inbox, take a moment and discover the peace of a relationship with Jesus Christ. “Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Romans 7:25

Join me at Seek God With Me for more on this topic.

Sometimes we all need a little help living up to our intentions.

Adam's Rib, 1949

Professional and home life intersect and cause trouble for The Bonners. Both lawyers, they take on opposite sides of a case involving a woman who shot her husband. Amanda wants to stand up for women everywhere, so she pulls out all the stops to win her case. How will the courtroom arguments affect their domestic bliss?

With Katharine Hepburn as defense attorney Amanda Bonner and Judy Holliday as client Mrs. Attinger, the men never had a chance. Spencer Tracy, as Adam Bonner, brings life to the ending with a surprise twist.

This is only the second credited film for Judy Holliday. She gave a fabulous performance, but the next year she gave a Best Actress Oscar-winning performance in Born Yesterday in a role she originated on Broadway.

George Cukor directed this as well as nine other Hepburn films. He directed four other Judy Holiday films. Ruth Gordon and her husband Garson Kanin wrote the screenplay. They also wrote The Marrying Kind starring Judy Holiday and Pat and Mike starring Hepburn.

A Couple In Love

February is known to many as the Month of Love. I’m taking this opportunity to share some thoughts about a loving married couple on my devotional blog Seek God With Me.

Ephesians 5:28 tells us that “he who loves his wife loves himself.” In the book of Ruth, we find Boaz, a man who discovers a woman who is a treasure to him. They each show faithfulness and end up in love.

Join me at Seek God With Me and see how Boaz loves himself enough to truly love his wife.

Captains Courageous, 1937

Spencer Tracy is Manuel Fidello, the man who saves the life of a little brat. The brat was played by Freddie Bartholomew, a popular British child star. He is shown in the beginning of the film as a legend in his own mind. He needs to be taken down a notch, but no one is able to fix what is broken in the boy. His dad tries to keep an eye on him while allowing him plenty of time to play and be a boy. When the boy is swept overboard and his dad isn’t close enough to notice, he is picked up by a nearby fisherman. Enter Spencer Tracy.

I loved how Spencer Tracy’s Manuel disciplined and cared for him. Manuel showed him how to be a real man of the sea.

The movie was adapted from a novel by Rudyard Kipling. Spencer Tracy won the Best Actor Academy Award. The film was also nominated for Best Picture, Best Film Editing, and Best Writing of a Screenplay.

Lionel Barrymore is the captain of the fishing boat that took the boy in. He gave him a chance to grow up and learn about life. Barrymore is well known for playing Mr. Potter in It’s A Wonderful Life, but he would have to wait almost ten years after this film before he could take on that role.

Mentoring

Today on Seek God With Me, I’m highlighting some of the words of Apostle Paul who said in 1 Timothy 5:24-25, “The sins of some are obvious, reaching the place of judgment ahead of them; the sins of others trail behind them. In the same way, good deeds are obvious, and even those that are not obvious cannot remain hidden forever.”

Paul was a mentor to Timothy and trained him to do good deeds and minister to the needs of others as he is backed by the power of God’s love. Paul’s love was evident in their relationship. It is this father-figure example that comes to mind when I watched a Spencer Tracy movie where Tracy’s character begins a mentoring relationship with a young boy. The boy never forgets who helped him mature into a kinder person. Watch for my review of that movie this weekend.

But don’t forget to check out the devotional post at Seek God With Me which takes a look at the training Paul gives to Timothy.