Filmography

The films of Katharine Hepburn in chronological order:

A BILL OF DIVORCEMENT (1932) [drama]

Directed by George Cukor

Starring: John Barrymore, Billie Burke

Writers: Clemence Dane (play), Howard Estabrook, Harry Wagstaff Gribble

Studio: RKO Radio Pictures

Runtime: 70 minutes

Margaret's rating: 4/10

CHRISTOPHER STRONG (1933) [drama]

Directed by: Dorothy Arzner

Starring: Colin Clive, Billie Burke

Writers: Gilbert Frankau (novel), Zoe Akins

Studio: RKO Radio Pictures

Runtime: 78 minutes

Margaret's rating: 6/10

MORNING GLORY (1933) [drama, romance]

Directed by: Lowell Sherman

Starring: Dougls Fairbanks, Jr., Adolphe Menjou, C. Aubrey Smith

Writers: Zoe Akins (play), Howard J. Green

Studio: RKO Radio Pictures

Runtime: 74 minutes

Margaret's rating: 5/10

*Katharine Hepburn's first Academy Award

LITTLE WOMEN (1933) [drama, family, romance, classic literature]

Directed by: George Cukor

Starring: Joan Bennett, Jean Parker, Frances Dee, Spring Byington, Edna May Oliver, Douglas Montgomery, Paul Lukas

Writers: Louisa May Alcott (book), Sarah Y. Mason, Victor Heerman

Studio: RKO Radio Pictures

Runtime: 115 minutes

Margaret's rating: 10/10

SPITFIRE (1934) [drama]

Directed by: John Cromwell

Starring: Robert Young, Ralph Bellamy, Sara Haden, Sidney Toler

Writers: Lula Vollmer (play "Trigger"/screenplay), Jane Murfin

Studio: RKO Radio Pictures

Runtime: 87 minutes

Margaret's rating: 4/10

THE LITTLE MINISTER (1934) [period/costume drama, romance]
Directed by: Richard Wallace
Starring: John Beal, Alan Hale, Donald Crisp
Writers: J. M. Barrie (novel), Jane Murfin, Sarah Y. Mason, Victor Heerman
Studio: RKO Radio Pictures
Runtime: 110 minutes
Margaret’s rating: 4/10

BREAK OF HEARTS (1935) [drama, romance]
Directed by: Philip Moeller
Starring: Charles Boyer, John Beal, Jean Hersholt
Writers: Lester Cohen, Victor Heerman, Sarah Y. Mason, Anthony Veiller
Studio: RKO Radio Pictures
Runtime: 78 minutes
Margaret’s rating: 3/10

ALICE ADAMS (1935) [comedy, drama, romance]
Directed by: George Stevens
Starring: Fred MacMurray, Hattie McDaniel
Writers: Booth Tarkington (novel), Dorothy Yost, Mortimer Offner, Jane Murfin
Studio: RKO Radio Pictures
Runtime: 99 minutes
Margaret’s rating: 6/10
*nominated for Academy Award for leading actress and best picture

SYLVIA SCARLETT (1935) [comedy, drama, romance, cult classic]
Directed by: George Cukor
Starring: Cary Grant, Brian Aherne, Edmund Gwenn
Writers: Compton MacKenzie (novel), Gladys Unger, John Collier, Mortimer Offner
Studio: RKO Radio Pictures
Runtime: 95 minutes
Margaret’s rating: 6/10

MARY OF SCOTLAND (1936) [biography, costume drama, history, romance]
Directed by: John Ford
Starring: Fredric March
Writers: Maxwell Anderson (play), Dudley Nichols
Studio: RKO Radio Pictures
Runtime: 123 minutes
Margaret’s rating: 4/10

A WOMAN REBELS (1936) [costume drama, history, romance]
Directed by: Mark Sandrich
Starring: Van Heflin, Herbert Marshall, Elizabeth Allen, Donald Crisp
Writers: Netta Syrett (novel: “Portrait of a Rebel”), Anthony Veiller, Ernest Vajda
Studio: RKO Radio Pictures
Runtime: 88 minutes
Margaret’s rating: 7/10

QUALITY STREET (1937) [comedy, costume drama, romance]
Directed by: George Stevens
Starring: Franchot Tone, Fay Bainter, Estelle Winwood
Writers: J.M. Barrie (play), Allan Scott, Mortimer Offner
Studio: RKO Radio Pictures
Runtime: 83 minutes
Margaret’s rating: 3/10
*nominated for Academy Award for best music score

STAGE DOOR (1937) [comedy, drama]
Directed by: Gregory La Cava
Starring: Ginger Rogers, Adolphe Menjou, Gail Patrcik, Lucille Ball, Eve Arden, Constance Collier, Andrea Leeds, Ann Miller, Samuel S. Hinds
Writers: Edna Ferber and George S. Kaufman (play), Morrie Ryskind, Anthony Veiller
Studio: RKO Radio Pictures
Runtime: 92 minutes
Margaret’s rating: 10/10
*nominated for four Academy Awards: best supporting actress (Andrea Leeds), best screenplay, best director, best picture

BRINGING UP BABY (1938) [screwball comedy, romance]
Directed by: Howard Hawks
Starring: Cary Grant, Charles Ruggles
Writers: Dudley Nichols, Hagar Wilde
Studio: RKO Radio Pictures
Runtime: 102 minutes
Margaret’s rating: 10/10 (personal favorite)

HOLIDAY (1938) [comedy, romance]
Directed by: George Cukor
Starring: Cary Grant, Lew Ayres, Edward Everett Horton, Jean Dixon
Writers: Philip Barry (play), Donald Ogden Stewart, Sidney Buchman
Studio: Columbia
Runtime: 95 minutes
Margaret's rating: 9/10
*nominated for Academy Award for best art direction

THE PHILADELPHIA STORY (1940) [comedy, romance]
Directed by: George Cukor
Starring: Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart, Ruth Hussey, Roland Young, Virginia Weidler
Writers: Philip Barry (play), Donald Ogden Stewart
Studio: MGM
Runtime: 112 minutes
Margaret’s rating: 10/10
*won Academy Award for best actor (Jimmy Stewart), best screenplay; nominated for best leading actress, best supporting actress (Ruth Hussey), best director, best picture

WOMAN OF THE YEAR (1942) [comedy, romance]
Directed by: George Stevens
Starring: Spencer Tracy, Fay Bainter, Reginald Owen
Writers: Ring Lardner, Jr., Garson Kanin
Studio: MGM
Runtime: 114 minutes
Margaret’s rating: 8/10
*won Academy Award for best screenplay; nominated for best leading actress

KEEPER OF THE FLAME (1942) [drama, mystery]
Directed by: George Cukor
Starring: Spencer Tracy
Writers: I.A.R. Wylie (novel), Donald Ogden Stewart
Studio: MGM
Runtime: 100 minutes
Margaret’s rating: 7/10

STAGE DOOR CANTEEN (1943) [comedy, musical, romance]
Directed by: Frank Borzage
Starring: a whole lot of really famous people
Written by: Delmer Daves
Studio: Sol Lesser Productions
Runtime: 132 minutes
Margaret’s rating: 10/10 (personal favorite – a cavalcade of stage and screen stars volunteering at a canteen for the troops during WWII)
*nominated for two Oscars for best music

DRAGON SEED (1944) [drama, history, WWII]
Directed by: Harold S. Bucquet, Jack Conway
Starring: Walter Huston, Aline MacMahon, Turhan Bey, Agnes Moorehead
Writers: Pearl S. Buck (novel), Marguerite Roberts, Jane Murfin
Studio: MGM
Runtime: 147 minutes
Margaret’s rating: 4/10
*nominated for Academy Award for best supporting actress (Aline MacMahon), best black and white cinematography

WITHOUT LOVE (1945) [comedy, romance]
Directed by: Harold S. Bucquet
Starring: Spencer Tracy, Lucille Ball, Keenan Wynn
Writers: Philip Barry (play), Donald Ogden Stewart
Studio: MGM
Runtime: 111 minutes
Margaret’s rating: 8/10 (personal favorite)

UNDERCURRENT (1946) [film noir, thriller]
Directed by: Vincente Minnelli
Starring: Robert Taylor, Robert Mitchum, Edmund Gwenn, Marjorie Main
Written by: Thelma Strabel (story), Edward Chodorov
Studio: MGM
Runtime: 116 minutes
Margaret’s rating: 6/10

THE SEA OF GRASS (1947) [drama, western]
Directed by: Elia Kazan
Starring: Spencer Tracy, Robert Walker, Melvyn Douglas
Written by: Conrad Richter (novel), Marguerite Roberts, Vincent Lawrence
Studio: MGM
Runtime: 123 minutes
Margaret’s rating: 5/10

SONG OF LOVE (1947) [drama, music, romance, history]
Directed by: Clarence Brown
Starring: Paul Henreid, Robert Walker
Written by: Bernard Schubert (play), Mario Silva (play), Ivan Tors, Irma von Cube, Allen Vincent, Robert Ardrey
Studio: MGM
Runtime: 119 minutes
Margaret’s rating: 7/10

STATE OF THE UNION (1948) [comedy, drama]
Directed by: Frank Capra
Starring: Spencer Tracy, Van Johnson, Angela Lansbury, Adolphe Menjou, Lewis Stone, Margaret Hamilton
Written by: Howard Lindsay (play), Russel Crouse (play), Anthony Veiller, Myles Connolly
Studio: MGM
Runtime: 124 minutes
Margaret’s rating: 7/10

ADAM’S RIB (1949) [comedy, drama, romance]
Directed by: George Cukor
Starring: Spencer Tracy, Judy Holliday, Tom Ewell, David Wayne, Jean Hagen
Written by: Garson Kanin, Ruth Gordon
Studio: MGM (Loew’s production Co.)
Runtime: 101 minutes
Margaret’s rating: 10/10
*Nominated for an Academy Award for Best Screenplay

THE AFRICAN QUEEN (1951) [action, adventure, romance]
Directed by: John Huston
Starring: Humphrey Bogart, Robert Morley
Written by: C.S. Forester (novel), James Agee
Studio: Romulus Films
Runtime: 105 minutes
Margaret’s rating: 9/10
*won Academy Award for Best Actor (Bogart), nominated for Best Leading Actress, Best Director, and Best Screenplay

PAT AND MIKE (1952) [comedy, romance, sport]
Directed by: George Cukor
Starring: Spencer Tracy, Aldo Ray, William Ching
Written by: Garson Kanin and Ruth Gordon
Studio: MGM
Runtime: 95 minutes
Margaret’s rating: 8/10
*nominated for Acedemy Award for Best Screenplay (Ruth Gordon and Garson Kanin)

 SUMMERTIME (1955) [romance, drama, travel]
Directed by David Lean
Starring: Rossano Brazzi, Isa Miranda, Gaetano Autiero
Written by: Arthur Laurents (play “The Time of the Cuckoo”), H.E. Bates, David Lean
Studio: London Film Productions
Runtime: 99 minutes
Margaret’s rating: 7/10
*nominated for Academy Award for Best Leading Actress and Best Director

THE IRON PETTICOAT (1956) [comedy]
Directed by: Ralph Thomas
Starring: Bob Hope, Noelle Middleton, Robert Helpmann
Written by: Ben Hecht
Studio: London Film Productions, Remus, Romulus Films
Runtime: 87 minutes
Margaret’s rating: 2/10

THE RAINMAKER (1956) [romance, western]
Directed by: Joseph Anthony
Starring: Burt Lancaster, Wendell Corey, Lloyd Bridges
Written by: N. Richard Nash
Studio: Hal Wallace Productions, Paramount Pictures
Runtime: 121 minutes
Margaret’s rating: 5/10
*nominated for Academy Award for Best Leading Actress and Best Music (Alex North)

DESK SET (1957) [comedy, romance]
Directed by: Walter Lang
Starring: Spencer Tracy, Dina Merrill, Gig Young, Joan Blondell, Sue Randall, Neva Patterson
Written by: William Marchant (play), Pheobe and Henry Ephron
Studio: Twentieth Century Fox
Runtime: 103 minutes
Margaret’s rating: 10/10

SUDDENLY, LAST SUMMER (1959) [drama, mystery, thriller]
Directed by: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Starring: Montgomery Clift, Elizabeth Taylor
Written by: Tennessee Williams (play), Gore Vidal
Studio: Columbia
Runtime: 114 minutes
Margaret’s rating: 6/10 (not my fav. – it’s kinda depressing)
*nominated for Academey Award for Best Leading Actress, Best Supporting Actress, Best Art/Set Direction B&W

LONG DAY’S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT (1962) [drama]
Directed by: Sidney Lumet
Starring: Ralph Richardson, Jason Robards, Dean Stockwell, Jeanne Barr
Written by: Eugene O’Neil (play)
Studio: unknown
Runtime: 174 minutes
Margaret’s rating: 7/10
*nominated for Academy Award for Best Leading Actress

GUESS WHO’S COMING TO DINNER (1967) [drama, romance]
Directed by: Stanley Kramer
Starring: Spencer Tracy, Sidney Poitier, Katharine Houghton
Written by: William Rose
Studio: Columbia
Runtime: 108 minutes
Margaret’s rating: 9/10
*won the Academy Award for Best Leading Actress and Best Writing; nominated for Best Leading Actor (Spencer Tracy, posthumously), Best Supporting Actor (Cecil Kellaway), Best Supporting Actress (Beah Richards), Best Art/Set Direction, Best Director, Best Film Editing, Best Music, and Best Picture

THE LION IN WINTER (1968) [drama, history, romance]
Directed by: Anthony Harvey
Starring: Peter O’Toole, Anthony Hopkins, Timothy Dalton, John Castle, Nigel Terry, Jane Merrow
Written by: James Goldman
Studio: AVCO Embassy
Runtime: 134 minutes
Margaret’s rating: 9/10
*won the Academy Award for Best Leading Actress, Best Music, and Best Writing; nominated for Best Leading Actor, Best Costume Design, Best Director, and Best Picture

THE MADWOMAN OF CHAILLOT (1969) [comedy, drama]
Directed by: Bryan Forbes and John Huston
Starring: Paul Henreid, Yul Brenner, Edith Evans
Written by: Edward Anhalt, Jean Giraudoux (play), and Maurice Valency
Studio: Commonwealth United Entertainment
Runtime: 132 minutes
Margaret’s rating: 3/10

THE TROJAN WOMEN (1971) [drama, history]
Directed by: Mihalis Kakogiannis
Starring: Vanessa Redgrave, Irene Papas, Brian Blessed
Written by: Euripides (translated by Edith Hamilton)
Studio: Josef Shaftel Productions
Runtime: 105 minutes
Margaret’s rating: 6/10 (very texty)

A DELICATE BALANCE (1973) [drama]
Directed by: Tony Richardson
Starring: Paul Scofield, Lee Remick, Joseph Cotton
Written by: Edward Albee
Studio: The American Film Theatre
Runtime: 133 minutes
Margaret’s rating: 4/10

THE GLASS MENAGERIE (1973) [drama]
Directed by: Anthony Harvey
Starring: Sam Waterston, Joanna Miles, Michael Moriarty
Written by: Tennessee Williams (play)
Studio: made for TV
Runtime: 100 minutes
Margaret’s rating: 7/10
*won Emmy Awards for Best Supporting Actor (Michael Moriarty) and Best Supporting Actress (Joanna Miles), nominated for Best Leading Actress and Best Supporting Actor (Sam Waterston)

LOVE AMONG THE RUINS (1975) [drama, comedy, romance]
Directed by: George Cukor
Starring: Laurence Olivier, Colin Blakely, Joan Sims
Written by: James Costigan
Studio: ABC Circle Films (made for TV)
Runtime: 100 minutes
Margaret’s rating: 8/10
*won Emmy Awards for Art/Set Direction, Costume Design, Directing, Outstanding Lead Actor, Outstanding Lead Actress, and Writing; nominated for Outstanding Special

ROOSTER COGBURN (1975) [action, western]
Directed by: Stuart Millar
Starring: John Wayne, Anthony Zerbe, Richard Jordan, Richard Romancito
Written by: Charles Portis (suggested by the character from his novel “True Grit”) and Martha Hyer
Studio: Universal Pictures, Hal Wallis Productions
Runtime: 108 minutes
Margaret’s rating: 9/10

OLLY, OLLY, OXEN FREE (1978) [kids/family, adventure]
Directed by: Richard A. Colla
Starring: Kevin McKenzie, Dennis Dimster
Written by: Richard A. Colla, Maria L. De Ossio, Eugene Poinc
Studio: Rico Lion
Runtime: 83 minutes
Margaret’s rating: 3/10

THE CORN IS GREEN (1979) [drama]
Directed by: George Cukor
Starring: Ian Saynor, Bill Fraser, Patricia Hayes, Anna Massey, Toyah Willcox
Written by: Emlyn Williams (play), Ivan Davis
Studio: Warner Bros. Television (made for TV)
Runtime: 93 minutes
Margaret’s rating: 8/10
*nominated for primetime Emmys for costume design and lead actress

ON GOLDEN POND (1981) [drama, romance]
Directed by: Mark Rydell
Starring: Henry Fonda, Jane Fonda
Written by: Ernest Thompson
Studio: IPC Films/Incorporated Television Company (ITC)
Runtime: 109 minutes
Margaret’s rating: 9/10
*nominated for Academy Award for practically everything; won for leading actor, leading actress, and writing

THE ULTIMATE SOLUTION OF GRACE QUIGLEY (1984) [comedy]
Directed by: Anthony Harvey
Starring: Nick Nolte, Kit Le Fever
Written by: A. Martin Zweiback
Studio: Cannon Group, Northbrook Films
Runtime: 87 minutes
Margaret’s rating: 4/10

MRS. DELAFIELD WANTS TOMARRY (1986) [drama, romance, comedy]
Directed by: George Schaefer
Starring: Harold Gould, Denholm Elliot, Brenda Forbes
Written by: James Prideaux
Studio: Schaefer/Karpf Productions (made for TV)
Runtime: 95 minutes
Margaret’s rating: 7/10
*nominated for Emmys for leading actress, leading actor, and outstanding drama/comedy special

LAURA LANSING SLEPT HERE (1988) [comedy]
Directed by: George Schaefer
Starring: Karen Austin, Joel Higgins, Brenda Forbes, Schuyler Grant (KH’s great-niece), Lee Richardson
Written by: James Prideaux
Studio: Schaefer/Karpf.Eckstein Productions (made for TV)
Runtime: 100 minutes
Margaret’s rating: 7/10

THE MAN UPSTAIRS (1992) [comedy, drama]
Directed by: George Schaefer
Starring: Ryan O’Neil, Helena Carroll, Brenda Forbes
Written by: James Prideaux
Studio: Burt Reynolds Productions (made for TV)
Runtime: 91 minutes
Margaret’s rating: 5/10
*nominated for Golden Globe for best actress

THIS CAN’T BE LOVE (1994) [drama, comedy, romance]
Directed by: Anthony Harvey
Starring: Anthony Quinn, Jason Bateman, Jami Gertz
Written by: Duane Poole
Studio: (TV movie)
Runtime: 95 minutes
Margaret’s rating: 4/10

LOVE AFFAIR (1994) [drama, romance, comedy]
Directed by: Glenn Gordon Caron
Starring: Warren Beatty, Annette Bening
Written by: Mildred Cram and Leo McCarry (1939 story), Delmer Daves and Donald Ogden Stewart (1939 screenplay), Robert Towne and Warren Beaty (screenplay)
Studio: Mulholland Productions
Runtime: 108 minutes
Margaret’s rating: 2/10

ONE CHRISTMAS (1994) [drama, family]
Directed by: Tony Bill
Starring: Henry Winkler, Swoosie Kurtz
Written by: Truman Capote (short story), Duane Poole (teleplay)
Studio: Karpf-Davis Entertainment Television (made for TV)
Runtime: 86 minutes
Margaret’s rating: 7/10
*Hepburn nominated for SAG Award for lead actress