2026 Blind Spot Series: The Children's Hour
Official synopsis: A schoolgirl ruins her two headmistresses with a scandalous lie.
What I knew going in: That it was an underrated Audrey Hepburn film
This blind spot came from a reader comment, which are some of my favorites. I need people better versed in classic film than me to recommend titles, and this one came up when I expressed interest in wanting to see more Audrey Hepburn.
Seeing her and the wonderful Shirley MacLaine together was a treat. Both play young teachers whose lives are torn apart by one child's lie. And man was that child, played by Karen Balkin the ultimate little shit. There's a reason the highest rated review on letterboxd for this film simply says "can children get the death penalty"
It's a frustrating film on multiple fronts. It shows homosexuality as something one should be "ashamed" of (you should never) but at the same time the fact that a film in 1961 was putting this much focus on it at all is pretty significant. Even in the scene where one character admits their own sexuality is handled very delicately and it broke my heart.
I think the year this film was made is also what holds it back in being more convincing. You really have to take Mary's lie at face value, because there's not a ton she sees that's anywhere close to suggestable. I read they did cut some scenes of the two actresses being closer, which is a shame. The film could've used this.
Audrey was great like I was expecting, but this was MacLaine's show. She made me want to hug her and take her away from it all.
This is currently available to stream on Tubi
Grade: B
I have never heard of this film. I'll add it to my watchlist. I think there can be a case for kids to given the death penalty. Depending on the kid.
ReplyDeleteLol wait until you see this..
DeleteI think the shame captures the era in which the film was set in, when there was a lot of shame wrapped around homosexuality. And yet, this film challenges that through this complicated relationship between two women.
ReplyDeleteIt does! I'm really impressed with its sensitivity.
DeleteThe film is very much of its time while still pushing the envelope. The original stage play was a controversial hit in the 1930’s making the reputation of Lillian Hellman and the outcome for the characters was the same as in this film so it isn’t really a case of the filmmakers bending to appease the Production Code, which was still in place but losing its grip on the industry. As destructive as the feelings are it is not out of place that given the mores of the time period that the characters would take the actions they do.
ReplyDeleteThat however was the case when the play had initially been filmed in 1936 (also directed by William Wyler but retitled “These Three”) and the root cause of Mary’s maliciousness was suggesting that Karen and Martha were both involved with Joe since any direct reference to homosexuality was verboten under the stringent Code. Wyler worked closely with Lillian Hellman on that adaptation, and she was satisfied with the change because the central theme, the corrosive insidiousness and damage of gossip, remained. Despite the change the ’36 version was highly successful, both at the box office and critically with Bonita Granville as the vicious Mary being nominated for Best Supporting Actress in the first year that category existed (she lost to Gale Sondergaard in “Anthony Adverse”). Also, in this version Martha was played by Miriam Hopkins, who was a major star at the time. An infamously difficult actress (Bette Davis who battled her way through two pictures with her was quoted as saying “Miriam is a perfectly charming woman socially…working with her is another matter entirely!”) she was a favorite of the no nonsense Wyler for whom she would buckle down and not pull the tricks she employed with other directors until it ultimately damaged her film career. He insisted on her for the role of the flighty unscrupulous aunt in the 1961 film. This time around though it was Fay Bainter in her final film appearance who garnered a nomination as the overly reactive Mrs. Tilford (she already had a Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her tremendous performance in 1938’s “Jezebel”).
This movie, even if it is flawed, is full of very good work. It’s kind of amazing that both Veronica Cartwright, who played the victimized Rosalie, and even more so Shirley MacLaine (who will be ninety-two next month) are still working!
If you are looking for other Audrey Hepburn film suggestions “How to Steal a Million” (1966), “Sabrina” (1954), “Two for the Road” (1967) and “The Nun’s Story” (1959) are excellent. Avoid “Green Mansions” (1959) she makes any film worth seeing but honestly the movie is strange and rather pointless. It was directed by Mel Ferrer, her husband at the time, which explains her participation but despite her presence it was an enormous flop upon release.
A couple of suggestions for Shirley MacLaine as well:
“Some Came Running” (1958)-Costarring with Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin she received her first Best Actress nomination for her beautifully layered performance.
“The Apartment” (1960)-Directed by Billy Wilder and costarring Jack Lemmon this was her second well earned nomination.
“Gambit” (1966)-A fun little caper film that was Michael Caine’s first American film.
“Terms of Endearment” (1983)-Her Oscar winning role.
I’m assuming that you’ve seen the actress fest that is “Steel Magnolias” (1989) but if not, it’s an essential!!
That's really interesting! I definitely need to see more of Audrey's films. Shirley's I feel good about, but I actually haven't seen Gambit yet. I've seen Steel Magnolias! It's great.
DeleteThis brat deserves to be spanked and thrown in prison and never let out. She is a destroyer of lives. I enjoyed this film and thought, like you, MacLaine is the star to watch. My favourite version is the 1936 film that Joel talks about. It is one of Merle Oberon’s best and Bonita Granville is also beyond horrible. Miriam Hopkins was horrible to work with and one I would never want to know, but she is an actress who deserves to be better known.
ReplyDeleteI love the films that Joel mentioned although I like Green Mansions a bit better, but it is a mess.
I agree with his films but would add Funny Face, Two For The Road and Robin and Marion for Audrey Hepburn films..oh! And Charade.
For Shirley MacClaine, I like Can Can, Two Mules For Sister Sara and The Turning Point.