Essay Instructions: ?ADAM?S PIT?
Nina Hohnstein
INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION
December 3, 2003
Below are samples about the movie we have to compare it to:
Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn are married, and is a comedy of two lawyers on opposite sides of the courtroom involved in an attempted murder case with the classic love triangle "battle of the sexes" movie where Adams Rib starts out with a wife (Judy Holliday) who shoots at her husband (Tom Ewell) after finding him with another woman. At the trial, Holliday is represented by Amanda Bonner (Katherine Hepburn), the defense attorney, who defends the wronged wife Judy and takes the case to voice her opinions on women?s lib. Amanda is opposed by her own husband Adam (Spencer Tracy), the ADA, who prosecutes to prove that Judy is nowhere near as innocent as she claims. As time goes on it escalates into problems, and they go at it back and forth at home and in the courtroom too.
During trial Amanda is very witty and carries on funny conversations between the Bonners about equality and the double standard ?if Holliday had been a man would she be judged so harshly.? So the movie discusses many relevant issues and is, contrary to what you might think, really quite modern in its outlook. There may be some points in the film that reflect its age but, overall, the main issue - the ever ongoing battle of the sexes - is still as relevant today as it was 60 years ago. It features several scenes that are especially noteworthy - for instance, the scene in which Hepburn humiliates Tracy in court and the resulting scene where Tracy scares Hepburn with the licorice gun. So, overall, this film still sparkles with wit and with the chemistry between its stars. When Tracy, an unyielding district attorney, prosecutes a woman accused of shooting her philandering husband and his mistress, Hepburn, his wife and fellow attorney, elects to defend the woman. With a sparkling script by Ruth Gordon and Garson Kanin, and generous direction by George Cukor, the stage is set for a battle of the sexes that almost wrecks their happy marriage.
From The Movie Guide: "Delightful, sophisticated comedy sparked by the famous chemistry between Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy. When Tracy, an unyielding DA, prosecutes the client of his lawyer-wife Hepburn, in an attempted murder case, it unleashes a battle of the sexes that almost wrecks their happy marriage. Hepburn, an advocate of women's rights, is determined to prove that the prosecution's case is a reflection of sexist double standards, and that Holliday's husband would never be tried for the same actions. This irritates the conservative Tracy, and matters are further complicated when David Wayne begins to move in on Hepburn. The highlight of this lively comedy is the most delightful 'dumb blonde' Holliday.
As the mistress, Crawford, she is unknowing put in nominal charge of his shady empire so that he can cover his tracks. Though no model of high culture himself, Crawford is embarrassed by his paranoia lack of social refinement. He hires her a tutor, Holden, who actually plans to write a series of articles exposing Crawford's slippery operations. The PYGMALION-like process of changing the tasteless yet street-savvy Holliday into a cultured lady is loaded with laughs and inoffensive sexual allusions. The situation gets more complicated as Holliday and Holden fall in love.? Crawford is frightening yet funny as the tycoon and Holden is effective in his appealing if low-key role. The Tracy-Hepburn duo was witty, often laugh-out-loud comedy of two lawyers on opposite sides of the courtroom involved in an attempted murder case with the classic love triangle. Hep, the defense attorney, takes the case to vent her opinions on women?s lib. She defends poor little Judy, the wronged wife. Spence, the ADA, prosecutes to prove that Judy is nowhere near as innocent as she claims. The back and forth here is so sharp you could cut yourself just listening to the lines. And there?s the back and forth of courtroom and home front, too. Hep and Spence go at it in both places and the lines supplied by real life husband-wife team of Ruth Gordon (Harold and Maude) and Garson Kanin are deliciously zingy so much of the time you eat em up even as your tongue is bleeding. Just too cool. Probably the best of the Tracy-Hepburn movies, Adams Rib is very funny and enjoyable. Excellently written, well directed by George Cukor, and (most of all) featuring great chemistry between Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn, this is the ultimate "battle of the sexes" movie and a must-see. Basically, Adams Rib starts out with a wife who shoots at her husband (Judy Holliday, who does an excellent job with her important, if small, role) after finding him with another woman. At the trial, Holliday is represented by Amanda Bonner (Katherine Hepburn) who just happens to be opposed by her own husband (Spencer Tracy) who is the prosecuting attorney. The movie creatively uses the premise of the trial as a springboard for witty, funny conversations between the Bonners about equality and the double standard (if Holliday had been a man, would she be judged so harshly). Anyhow, Adams Rib is a fantastic film which discusses many relevant issues and is, contrary to what you might think, really quite modern in its outlook. There may be some points in the film that reflect its age but, overall, the main issue - the ever ongoing battle of the sexes - is still as relevant today as it was 60 years ago. Furthermore, the movie is so witty and well done that it would be a joy to watch even if the content was clearly irrelevant now. It features several scenes that are especially noteworthy - for instance, the scene in which Hepburn humiliates Tracy in court and the resulting scene where Tracy scares Hepburn with the licorice gun.
Adams Rib starts out with a wife who shoots at her husband (Judy Holliday, who does an excellent job with her important, if small, role) after finding him with another woman. At the trial, Holliday is represented by Amanda Bonner (Katherine Hepburn) who just happens to be opposed by her own husband (Spencer Tracy) who is the prosecuting attorney. The trial is witty, funny conversations between the Bonners about equality and the double standard (if Holliday had been a man, would she be judged so harshly). The film discusses many relevant issues and is, contrary to what you might think, really quite modern in its outlook. There may be some points in the film that reflect its age but, overall, the main issue - the ever ongoing battle of the sexes - is still as relevant today as it was 60 years ago. Hepburn humiliates Tracy in court and the resulting scene where Tracy scares Hepburn with the licorice gun. So, overall, this film still sparkles with wit. The Tracy-Hepburn duo was never better than in this supremely witty, often laugh-out-loud comedy of two lawyers on opposite sides of the courtroom involved in an attempted murder case with the classic love triangle. Hep, the defense attorney, takes the case to vent her opinions on women?s lib--one of the first films to lay it all out in the open on the subject. She defends poor little Judy, the wronged wife. Spence, the ADA, prosecutes to prove that Judy is nowhere near as innocent as she claims. The back and forth here is so sharp you could cut yourself just listening to the lines. And there?s the back and forth of courtroom and home front, too. Hep and Spence go at it in both places and the lines supplied by real life husband-wife team of Ruth Gordon (Harold and Maude) and Garson Kanin are deliciously zingy so much of the time you eat em up even as your tongue is bleeding The story revolves around the battle of the sexes which finds Amanda and Adam (Kate and Spencer) on opposite sides of a trial where Doris Attinger (Judy Holliday) has shot her two-timing husband (Tom Ewell). Its theme, the equality of the sexes, overpowers not only their professional lives but their marriage.
Spencer Tracy .... Adam Bonner
Katharine Hepburn .... Amanda Bonner
Judy Holliday .... Doris Attinger
Tom Ewell .... Warren Francis Attinger
David Wayne .... Kip Lurie
Jean Hagen .... Beryl Caighn
Hope Emerson .... Olympia La Pere
Eve March .... Grace
Clarence Kolb .... Judge Reiser
Emerson Treacy .... Jules Frikke
Polly Moran .... Mrs. McGrath
Will Wright .... Judge Marcasson
Elizabeth Flournoy .... Dr. Margaret Brodeigh
ASSIGNMENT:
1) Think of an interpersonal relationship about which you have first hand knowledge of a significant problem that the couple (not necessarily intimate) has faced. What were the dimensions of the problem? How was the problem dealt with? How cohesive was the couple? Was the resolution positive? What/who else did the problem and resolution affect/effect? If you were not one of the people in this relationship, how were you affected by the problem? Could communication have been more effective? Discuss a different problem than you may have discussed in your first paper.
2) Think of how similar/dissimilar the problems in "your" relationship were to characters in "Adam's Rib". The film Adam's Rib explores the dimensions of interpersonal communication within an intimate relationship. The couples in the film interact in private as well as public. The film explores areas and roles that were new to women at the time of the filming. Think of the film, the relationships in the film, how they relate to interpersonal communication concepts we have studied and how interpersonal communication has changed among similar real (not television extreme fictionalized characters) today. Do you think the fact that the couple worked together was a factor? Was competition a factor? If so how? There were many unspoken expectations, are they similar to those we see today?
3) Find current (Within 3-5) years interpersonal communication research. Relate this research to "your" interpersonal relationship and at least one relationship from the film. Does reality support the research? Go into detail to explain, how, why, not, when, etc. Do you agree with the research?
4) If you were to conduct academic research in the area interpersonal communication, what would that research be about/on? Why?
5) Write and create a comprehensive discussion (essay). As with most essays and research papers, you should include background information, a preview, a thesis, a body that supports our thesis, and finally, a conclusion that summarizes your ideas.
OBJECTIVE: This final format demonstrates that you understand interpersonal communication concepts and are able to use them.
REQUIREMENTS: essay format, typewritten, double-spaced, stapled well-thought out, plain font, 12 fonts, and proper English grammar, cover sheet, 3 or more academic sources other than the textbook to explain concepts, and lecture.
BELOW ARE THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE PAPER
ASSIGNMENT:
1) Think of an interpersonal relationship about which you have first hand knowledge of a significant problem that the couple (not necessarily intimate) has faced. What were the dimensions of the problem? How was the problem dealt with? How cohesive was the couple? Was the resolution positive? What/who else did the problem and resolution affect/effect? If you were not one of the people in this relationship, how were you affected by the problem? Could communication have been more effective? Discuss a different problem than you may have discussed in your first paper.
2) Think of how similar/dissimilar the problems in "your" relationship were to characters in "Adam's Rib". The film Adam's Rib explores the dimensions of interpersonal communication within an intimate relationship. The couples in the film interact in private as well as public. The film explores areas and roles that were new to women at the time of the filming. Think of the film, the relationships in the film, how they relate to interpersonal communication concepts we have studied and how interpersonal communication has changed among similar real (not television extreme fictionalized characters) today. Do you think the fact that the couple worked together was a factor? Was competition a factor? If so how? There were many unspoken expectations, are they similar to those we see today?
3) Find current (Within 3-5) years interpersonal communication research. Relate this research to "your" interpersonal relationship and at least one relationship from the film. Does reality support the research? Go into detail to explain, how, why, not, when, etc. Do you agree with the research?
4) If you were to conduct academic research in the area interpersonal communication, what would that research be about/on? Why?
5) Write and create a comprehensive discussion (essay). Include background information, a preview, a thesis, a body that supports our thesis, and finally, a conclusion that summarizes your ideas.
OBJECTIVE: This final format demonstrates that you understand interpersonal communication concepts and are able to use them.
REQUIREMENTS: essay format, typewritten, double-spaced, stapled well-thought out, plain font, 12 fonts, and proper English grammar, cover sheet, 3 or more academic sources other than the textbook to explain concepts, and lecture.
* Title page (cover sheet) (FREE)
* Signature page (FREE)
* Acknowledgments page (FREE)
* Dedication page (FREE)
* background information
* a preview
* a thesis
* a body that supports your thesis
* Conclusion that summarizes your ideas
* Bibliography, References, Works Cited (FREE)
