A different way of telling a story

The storyline feels a little thin and moth-eaten in parts but this sequel is plenty of fun.

A terrific literary drama and character piece that shows how the process of creating art can be seen differently by those doing it and those looking at it from the outside.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

If you've seen the hilarious clip of Spencer Tracy massaging Katharine Hepburn and suddenly giving her a hard spank on her bum, you've seen part of Adam's Rib. In the rest of that scene, Kate cries until Spence is sorry for hurting her feelings—and her derriere. He's willing to make amends but the only thing that makes her happy is when she immediately quits her crying and kicks him in the shin. If you laugh at that scene, you'll love the rest of the movie.Besides Guess Who's Coming to Dinner, because that film's totally different than the usual films they made together, Adam's Rib is my favorite of the Tracy-Hepburn movies. It's a hilarious battle of the sexes, with the offscreen duo playing an on screen married couple who are both lawyers and in constant competition with each other. When they take opposing sides in a trial, the courtroom erupts with tension!While Katharine Hepburn was famous for being an early feminist icon, in real life, she took everything Spencer Tracy dished out, even when it wasn't pretty. So, if you like seeing her give as good as she gets from Spence, you'll love the ninety-minute sparring match. The screenplay is funny and smart, as true to life today as it was in 1949. Ruth Gordon and Garson Kanin's script will make you think about the roles in a marriage and what society will accept from a man versus a woman. When Spence claims men can use tears to get what they want just as effectively as women, or when Kate continually fights for gender equality at home and at work, you'll find yourself torn between the arguing pair—which shows it's well-written, since the script never blatantly takes sides! Watch the hilarious preview to see if you'll like it, and then rent the perfectly titled Adam's Rib for a fun afternoon with your sweetie-pie. It'll make for some very interesting conversations!

1st watched 5/14/2014 -- 7 out of 10(Dir-George Cukor): Entertaining and thought provoking comedy from George Cukor with two very likable stars in Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn. The story is about a husband and wife lawyer team who pickup opposing sides of a case where a woman catches her husband with another woman and shoots him. The point that Hepburn's character is trying to make is that she was defending the honor of her family and the children, and intends to make the case about treating a woman as an equal to a man. This was made in an era where this had to be controversial, but there is enough light comedy to help make it entertaining and not just a hardline stand on the subject. Tracy's character becomes offended by his wife's court outbursts and temporarily leaves her. Don't fret though -- it's a Hollywood movie so you can guess that they're might possibly be a happy ending. The interesting thing about this movie is that although it's labeled as a comedy it actually does a very good job of displaying the two sides of views for equality for women. In my opinion, that is what puts this movie above other comedies -- yes it's whimsical, but the writing shows men acting like women -- women acting like men -- and even one male character who acts like a woman but seems to still like women from a romantic perspective -- so there is a good mix for the viewer to mull over. The deliberateness in the portrayals towards this subject surprised me and was welcomed. This is kind of a pre-television sitcom-like directed movie on it's look but has a lot more to offer. Give this one a chance -- you will be pleasantly surprised by this classic movie, and it's amazingly still applicable storyline for today's audiences.

often billed as a funny battle of the sexes, it really isn't; it's no contest; tracy comes off as asoft-spoken guy who treats his wife pretty well; hepburn on the other hand is frequently strident and rude; he seems devoted to her while she constantly flirts with the neighbor; he treats her respectfully, she revels in humiliating him at home and at work in court; sure, some of the disconnected skits are funny, mainly helped by judy holiday, not hepburn; and his moment of ethical and legal revenge is instantly dismissed by her; overall needed more give and take like other tracy-hepburn movies, and less of the relentless, one-sided pounding where tracy in the end has to pull a girlish trick to win back the woman who treats him as an incompetent fool

Lawyers Spencer Tracy (Adam) and Katharine Hepburn (Amanda) spend the film on opposite sides during the trial of Judy Holliday (Mrs Attinger) who is up on a charge of attempted murder after she shoots her husband Tom Ewell (Mr Attinger). Given that the film is a comedy, it can only really end one way for Judy Holliday.Tracy and Hepburn undoubtedly work well together but the film has occasions where these two characters talk across each other and it just seems too shouty. It may be realistic but it certainly is not entertaining. Hepburn tends to over-exaggerate and lay on the dramatics when she acts and Spencer Tracy is clearly the better actor of the two. Actually, the best character is that played by Tom Ewell. He steals the film in all his scenes because he is genuinely funny. Judy Holliday is good if you can get past her terrible voice but musician neighbour David Wayne (Kip) is awful – not in the fact that he is meant to be an annoying character, but in the fact that he doesn't know how to convincingly portray a realistic person. He plays it gay one minute, then straight another minute, he's rubbish at acting. Nothing about his character rings true.At the heart of the film is Hepburn's ridiculous notion about women's lib and some sort of feminist ideals – you know, the sort of thing that makes women annoying. Face the facts Hepburn, Judy Holliday had just tried to kill someone for goodness sake – it's got nothing to do with gender! It's certainly a watchable film with some amusing parts (mainly with Tom Ewell), and some annoying parts (Katharine Hepburn and every appearance of David Wayne), and overall, it's more annoying than funny. Certainly not a classic as people seem to believe because they are told that it is. Everyone has done better.