Christopher Strong (1933)

By CinemaSerf

The eponymous and successful politician (Colin Clive) is happily married to "Elaine" (Billie Burke) and both are trying to rein in their increasingly wayward daughter "Monica" (Helen Chandler) who is spending way too much time with the married "Harry" (Ralph Forbes). They've all read of the derring-do of aeronaut "Lady Cynthia" (Katharine Hepburn) and a chance meeting as a result of a silly bet introduces her to the erstwhile unimpeachable and loving father. Initially, they all take an hand in trying to keep "Monica" on the rails, but we can see the frequency of their associations is leading to a temptation that could have disastrous consequences for just about everyone. I thought the subject matter of this film quite racy for 1933 and the workmanlike Hepburn successfully exhibits a tom-boyish persona then seems equally at home in the shining "moth" dress that shows she can turn her sartorial hand as required to societal needs and expectations. The production is all a bit static, though, and the episodic nature of the storytelling does rather lead us by the nose. I couldn't decide if the denouement was a cop out or a clever and fitting one but that's really the only thing to ponder in this otherwise watchable but forgettable Dorothy Arzner drama.