Alice Adams (1935)

Director:

George Stevens

Writers:

Booth Tarkington
Dorothy Yost (screen play) ...
(more)

Release Date:

13 November 1935 (Argentina)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Tagline:

Twenty-two and wonderful ... as Booth Tarkington's loveliest heroine!

Plot:

The misadventures of two social-climbing women in small town America.

Plot Keywords:

Dinner | Small Town | Flowers | Lie | Insecurity

Awards:

Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 2 wins

Cast

Katharine Hepburn	...	Alice Adams
Fred MacMurray	...	Arthur Russell
Fred Stone	...	Virgil Adams
Evelyn Venable	...	Mildred 'Georgette' Palmer
Frank Albertson	...	Walter Adams
Ann Shoemaker	...	Mrs. Adams
Charley Grapewin	...	J. A. Lamb
Grady Sutton	...	Frank Dowling
Hedda Hopper	...	Mrs. Palmer
Jonathan Hale	...	Mr. Palmer
Hattie McDaniel	...	Malena Burns - Maid Serving Dinner (as Hattie McDaniels)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Walter Brennan	...	(scenes deleted)
Brooks Benedict	...	Henrietta's Dance Partner (uncredited)
Harry Bowen	...	Laborer Putting Up Sign (uncredited)
Monte Carter	...	Waiter at Restaurant (uncredited)
Kid Herman	...	Black Servant at Party (uncredited)
Virginia Howell	...	Mrs. Dowling (uncredited)
Ella McKenzie	...	Ella Dowling (uncredited)
Janet McLeod	...	Henrietta Lamb (uncredited)
Margaret Morris	...	Party Guest Saying 'Organdy' (uncredited)
Larry Steers	...	Extra Dancing at Party (uncredited)
Zeffie Tilbury	...	Mrs. Dresser (uncredited)
Frank Ward	...	(uncredited)
George Warrington	...	Postman (uncredited)
Frank Yaconelli	...	Violinist at Restaurant (uncredited)

Directed by
George Stevens

Writing credits
Booth Tarkington		(as Booth Tarkington's Alice Adams)
Dorothy Yost		(screen play) &
Mortimer Offner		(screen play) and
Jane Murfin		(screen play)

Produced by
Pandro S. Berman	....	producer (uncredited)

Original Music by
Roy Webb		(uncredited)

Cinematography by
Robert De Grasse		(photographed by)

Film Editing by
Jane Loring		(uncredited)

Art Direction by
Van Nest Polglase

Costume Design by
Walter Plunkett		(costumes)

Makeup Department
Mel Berns	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
J.R. Crone	....	unit manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Richard Green	....	assistant director (uncredited)
James Hartnett	....	assistant director (uncredited)
Edward Killy	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Perry Ferguson	....	associate art director

Sound Department
Denzil A. Cutler	....	recordist (as D.A. Cutler)

Special Effects by
Harry Redmond Sr.	....	special effects supervisor (uncredited)

Music Department
Roy Webb	....	musical director
Maurice De Packh	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Russell Beach	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Ann Coleman	....	script clerk (uncredited)
Patricia Doyle	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Herb Hirst	....	location manager (uncredited)
John Huffner	....	stand-in (uncredited)
Jane Loring	....	directing staff (uncredited)
Elizabeth McGaffey	....	researcher (uncredited)
A.D. Schroeder	....	assistant location manager (uncredited)
William Van Vleck	....	stand-in (uncredited)

Production Companies

• RKO Radio Pictures (presents) (as Radio Pictures) (A Pandro S. Berman Production)

Distributors

• RKO Radio Pictures (1935) (USA) (theatrical) (as A Radio Picture)
• C&C Television Corporation (1955) (USA) (TV)
• Turner Home Entertainment (1989) (USA) (VHS)
• Turner Home Entertainment (1998) (USA) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2003) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Warner Home Vídeo (2006) (Brazil) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Turner Entertainment  VHS package design

Also Known As:

"Booth Tarkington's Alice Adams" - USA (complete title)

Runtime:

99 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Victor System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #1101) | Argentina:Atp | Portugal:M/12 (DVD rating) | USA:TV-G (TV rating)

Filming Locations:

RKO Encino Ranch - Balboa Boulevard & Burbank Boulevard, Encino, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company:

RKO Radio Pictures

Trivia:

RKO executives wanted Randolph Scott for the Fred MacMurray role, but he was involved in the production of So Red the Rose (1935).

Goofs:

Continuity: In a closeup, Alice is putting long stemmed flowers into a vase and they droop. In the long shot, the flowers are standing straight up in the vase.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Florist:Good afternoon.
Alice Adams:Yes, I'd like to buy a corsage, something nice to wear to the party.
Florist:Yes. Ooh, that's the - that's the Palmer party, I suppose.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in George Stevens: The Filmmakers Who Knew Him (2001) (V)

Soundtrack:

YOU'RE AN ANGEL

Glimpses of Katharine Hepburn at her most luminous

This is an often under-rated film, and nowadays would certainly have been completely forgotten but for Katharine Hepburn's presence. As a satirical view of the 1920s filmed in the mid 1930s it feels somewhat dated. But not Hepburn's performance. This is is among the best of her RKO contract movies. Her innocence, her (modest) social pretension, her search for love, they all ring verosimilar - if not entirely true to life. And the celebrated window scene with tears and rain and sobs being one with Alice's feelings is far more than just 'clever'. Hepburn fans will like it. Others might very well follow along.