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IMDbPro

The Children's Hour

  • 1961
  • Not Rated
  • 1h 48m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
17K
YOUR RATING
The Children's Hour (1961)
Watch Trailer
Play trailer1:49
1 Video
65 Photos
DramaRomance

A rebellious student at a girls' school accuses two teachers of lesbianism.A rebellious student at a girls' school accuses two teachers of lesbianism.A rebellious student at a girls' school accuses two teachers of lesbianism.

  • Director
    • William Wyler
  • Writers
    • Lillian Hellman
    • John Michael Hayes
  • Stars
    • Audrey Hepburn
    • Shirley MacLaine
    • James Garner
  • See production, box office & company info
  • IMDb RATING
    7.8/10
    17K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • William Wyler
    • Writers
      • Lillian Hellman
      • John Michael Hayes
    • Stars
      • Audrey Hepburn
      • Shirley MacLaine
      • James Garner
    • 160User reviews
    • 45Critic reviews
    • 49Metascore
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 5 Oscars
      • 1 win & 11 nominations total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:49
    Watch Trailer

    Photos65

    9686-4 "Children's Hour, The" Audrey Hepburn, Shirley MacLaine and James Garner
    9686-2 "Children's Hour, The" Fay Bainter, Shirley MacLaine, Audrey Hepburn, James Garner, Karen Balkin 1961 UA
    9686-5 "Children's Hour, The" Audrey Hepburn, Shirley MacLaine and James Garner
    9686-18 "Children's Hour, The" Audrey Hepburn 1961 UA
    9686-17 "Children's Hour, The" Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacLaine 1961 UA
    9686-16 "Children's Hour, The" Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacLaine 1961 UA
    9686-10 "Children's Hour, The" Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacLaine 1961 UA
    9686-9 "Children's Hour, The" Audrey Hepburn 1961 UA
    9686-7 "Children's Hour, The" Audrey Hepburn 1961 UA
    "The Children's Hour" Director William Wyler 1961 MGM
    "The Children's Hour" Director William Wyler, Karen Balkin 1961 MGM
    "The Children's Hour" Director William Wyler, Shirley MacLaine 1961 MGM

    Top cast

    Edit
    Audrey Hepburn
    Audrey Hepburn
    • Karen Wright
    Shirley MacLaine
    Shirley MacLaine
    • Martha Dobie
    James Garner
    James Garner
    • Dr. Joe Cardin
    Miriam Hopkins
    Miriam Hopkins
    • Mrs. Lily Mortar
    Fay Bainter
    Fay Bainter
    • Mrs. Amelia Tilford
    Karen Balkin
    • Mary Tilford
    Veronica Cartwright
    Veronica Cartwright
    • Rosalie Wells
    Mimi Gibson
    Mimi Gibson
    • Evelyn
    Debbie Moldow
    • Student
    Diane Mountford
    Diane Mountford
    • Student
    William Mims
    William Mims
    • Mr. Burton
    Sallie Brophy
    • Rosalie's Mother
    Hope Summers
    Hope Summers
    • Agatha - the Tilford Maid
    Jered Barclay
    • Grocery Boy
    • (uncredited)
    Paul Bradley
    • Parent at Piano Recital
    • (uncredited)
    Stuart Hall
    Stuart Hall
    • Mourner
    • (uncredited)
    George Holmes
    George Holmes
    • Mourner
    • (uncredited)
    Pete Kellett
    Pete Kellett
    • Taxi Driver
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • William Wyler
    • Writers
      • Lillian Hellman(play) (adaptation)
      • John Michael Hayes(screenplay)
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Veronica Cartwright (Rosalie) said in an interview that she and the other children were told not to hang around with Shirley MacLaine on set because she "cursed a lot". They all did, however, because they thought she was "cool" and "very generous". She also became Cartwright's mentor throughout the making of the film.
    • Goofs
      Upon learning that Mrs. Tilford is telling everyone in town she's a lesbian, Martha Dobie (a schoolteacher who should know the difference) threatens to sue her for libel (which pertains to printed defamation of character), rather than slander (oral defamation). However, later in the film, "slander" is used correctly.
    • Quotes

      Martha: There's always been something wrong. Always, just as long as I can remember. But I never knew what it was until all this happened.

      Karen: Stop it Martha! Stop this crazy talk!

      Martha: You're afraid of hearing it, but I'm more afraid that you.

      Karen: I won't listen to you!

      Martha: No! You've got to know. I've got to tell you. I can't keep it to myself any longer. I'm guilty!

      Karen: You're guilty of nothing!

      Martha: I've been telling myself that since the night I heard the child say it. I lie in bed night after night praying that it isn't true. But I know about it now. It's there. I don't know how, I don't know why. But I did love you! I do love you! I resented your plans to marry. Maybe because I wanted you. Maybe I've wanted you all these years. I couldn't call it by name before, but maybe it's been there since I first knew you.

      Karen: But it's not the truth, not a word of it is true! We've never thought of each other that way.

      Martha: No, of course you didn't. But who's to say I didn't. I'd never felt that way about anybody before you. I've never loved a man. I never knew why before, maybe it's that.

      Karen: You're tired and worn out.

      Martha: It's funny. It's all mixed up. There's something in you, and you don't know anything about it because you don't know it's there. And then suddenly, one night a little girl gets bored and tells a lie, and there, for the first time, you see it. Then you say to yourself, did she see it? Did she sense it?

      Karen: But you know it could have been any lie. She was looking for anything to...

      Martha: But why this lie? She found the lie with the ounce of truth. Don't you see? I can't stand to have you touch me! I can't stand to have you look at me! Oh, it's all my fault. I have ruined your life and I have ruined my own. I swear I didn't know it! I didn't mean it! Oh, I feel so damn sick and dirty I can't stand it anymore!

    • Connections
      Featured in Homo Promo (1991)
    • Soundtracks
      Loch Lomond
      (uncredited)

      Traditional Scots-Gaelic song first published in 1841

      Included in piano medley

    User reviews160

    Review
    Review
    Featured review
    8/10
    The Crucible Lillian Hellman Style
    Lilliam Hellman was a modern female writers and ahead of all of the female writer of her time (except for my fave Zora Neale Hurston). The film "The Children's Hour" based on Hellman's play tells the story of two young women whose lives and reputations are destroyed after a horrible little girl tells everyone that the two young women are lesbians. In a time period from which the play was set does not use the words "lesbian" or "homosexual" and are substituted with "unnatural." Homosexuality in the play/film was treated the same way as it was back then: a tragic and horrible disease punishable by death for certain. It is a painful film to watch. Audrey Hepburn is lovely as always as Karen and she was also one of the few actresses who was not afraid to take on a role that was avaunt garde. She has tender and sweet moments with James Gardner, who is also wonderful as Dr. Joe Cardin, Karen's fiancée. And then there is my favorite: Shirley MacClaine who steals scenes with such agony as Martha, a young woman who realizes that she is in fact different and is a lesbian, but lives in a time and place that would not never allow her to be free to express her feelings. In a touching and agonizing scene, Martha reveals her true feelings for Karen. MacClaine breaks your heart and many can relate to her. She wins us over and breaks our hearts. Other supporting actors included are Fay Bainter as Mrs. Tilford, the rich and powerful woman who is made the pawn of spreading the lies told by her granddaughter; the wonderful Miriam Hopkins is Martha's judgmental and hypocritical Aunt Lilly Mortar; Veronica Cartwright is sweet and innocent as the young girl tortured into confirming the lie. And of course, the little girl we all love to hate: Mary played by Karen Balkin. Mary is a nasty little girl and throughout the film all you want to do is strangle her. Why the character of Mary Tilford didn't make the AFI list of 100 Greatest Villains I will never know because here is an "innocent" child telling a horrible lie without realizing the consequences of her actions. "The Children's Hour" is a very hard film to watch at times, but one of the most important films pivotal to the 1960s.
    helpful•15
    1
    • bondgirl6781
    • Aug 13, 2006

    FAQ10

    • What is "The Children's Hour" about?
    • Is "The Children's Hour" based on a book?
    • Is it true that "The Children's Hour" was inspired by a true story?

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • December 19, 1961 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • Infamous!
    • Filming locations
      • Shadow Ranch, Vanowen Street, West Hills, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • The Mirisch Corporation
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Budget
      • $3,600,000 (estimated)
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      1 hour 48 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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