Adam's Rib

1949
Approved
1h 41m

IMDb RATING

7.4/10

23K

YOUR RATING

Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy in Adam's Rib (1949)

Domestic and professional tensions mount when a husband and wife work as opposing lawyers in a case involving a woman who shot her husband.

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Screwball Comedy Comedy Romance

Domestic and professional tensions mount when a husband and wife work as opposing lawyers in a case involving a woman who shot her husband.Domestic and professional tensions mount when a husband and wife work as opposing lawyers in a case involving a woman who shot her husband.Domestic and professional tensions mount when a husband and wife work as opposing lawyers in a case involving a woman who shot her husband.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.4/10

23K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 1 win & 4 nominations total

Trivia
Inspired by the real-life story of husband-and-wife lawyers William Dwight Whitney and Dorothy Whitney, who represented Raymond Massey and his ex-wife Adrianne Allen in their divorce. After the Massey divorce was over, the Whitneys divorced each other and married the respective Masseys.

Goofs
During the trial proceedings, a Black juror was in the first row, but the trial scene following the argument between Amanda and Adam where Adam walks out of the home, the jury makeup has now changed and the Black juror is not present. However the following day when court resumes for the jury verdict, the Black juror is back in the jury box.

Quotes
Kip Lurie: Lawyers should never marry other lawyers. This is called in-breeding; from this comes idiot children and more lawyers.

Crazy credits
Opening credits are little curtains that go up and down, on a stage in a performance hall.

Alternate versions
Also available in a computer colorized version.

Connections
Edited into Hollywood: The Dream Factory (1972)

Soundtracks
Farewell, Amanda
(1949)
Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter
Played during the opening credits and often in the score
Sung by David Wayne (uncredited), accompanying himself on the piano
Reprised by the voice of Frank Sinatra (uncredited) on the radio
Whistled by Katharine Hepburn (uncredited)
Sung a cappella by Spencer Tracy (uncredited)

User reviews137

Review

Featured review

10/10

Adam's Rib (1949) ****

Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn make fireworks in this cute film about a well-to-do married couple who both happen to be lawyers. Hepburn is a die-hard Woman's Rights supporter, so when a ditzy lady is charged with shooting her husband after catching him being unfaithful, Kate decides to take her case and defend her. The trouble is, old-fashioned husband Tracy is already penciled in as the prosecuting attorney. Let the Battle of the Sexes begin!

The script sets up a great opportunity to have Tracy and Hepburn sparring with one another during every phase of the trial, as well as at home every night after they've spent each day trying to outwit each other. As a comedy, there aren't any huge belly-laughs, but it's a charming enough little take on the differences between men and women which also manages to make the point that, in many ways, the sexes aren't really all that different when all is said and done.

**** out of ****