The Children's Hour

Plot synopsis:
Former college classmates Martha Dobie (Shirley MacLaine) and Karen Wright (Audrey Hepburn) open a private school for girls. Martha's Aunt Lily (Miriam Hopkins), an aging actress, lives and teaches elocution at the school. After an engagement of two years to Joe Cardin (James Garner), a reputable obstetrician, Karen finally agrees to set a wedding date. Joe is related to the influential Amelia Tilford (Fay Bainter), whose granddaughter Mary (Karen Balkin) is a student at the school. Mary is a spoiled, conniving child who bullies her classmates, particularly Rosalie Wells (Veronica Cartwright), whom she blackmails when she discovers her in possession of a student's missing bracelet.
When Mary is caught in a lie, Karen punishes her by refusing to let her attend the weekend's boat races. Mary goes home to her grandmother and twists a story so that she will not have to return to school that day. Karen learns what the story is from a father of a departing student and confronts Amelia about Mary accusing Martha and Karen of being lovers. Mary is foiled at convincing others that she personally saw the interactions between Martha and Karen. Mary coerces Rosalie to corroborate her story. Joe is frustrated by the situation, saying that he has finished cleaning up his grandmother's home, and maintains his engagement to Karen and his friendship with Martha. The two women intend to file a suit of libel and slander against Mrs. Tilford.
Martha and Karen are isolated at the school. Aunt Lily returns after the suit has been lost because she would not return to testify on behalf of her niece and Karen. The incident had been circulated widely by the media. Joe wants to continue with his intention to marry Karen and wants Martha to restart life with them in a rural area where he has found a practice.
Karen insists that Joe tell her whether he believes that there was a relationship between Martha and Karen. Joe tells Karen that he believes it's untrue. She then says that nothing ever happened and that she could not continue with the engagement.
Rosalie's mother (Sally Brophy) discovers a cache of items among her daughter's belongings, including the bracelet inscribed to Evelyn. Mrs. Wells takes her daughter to Mrs. Tilford who, while walking over to meet her granddaughter, Mary, on the stairs collapses on the floor.
Karen tells Martha that Joe will not come back. Martha is distraught at Karen's cryptic explanation and urges her to not let Joe go. Karen, however, wants to leave town with Martha the next day. She believes they can go where they will not be recognized and can start a new life, but Martha does not. As Martha tries to talk herself into believing she and Karen are just good friends, she realizes that she does truly love Karen. While Karen does not believe her, tries to dissuade her and maintains her own heterosexuality, Martha comes to believe she has loved Karen ever since they met and that she was simply unaware of the true nature of her feelings. Despite Karen's assurances to the contrary, Martha feels responsible for ruining both their lives and is appalled by her feelings towards Karen.
Mrs. Tilford visits the two teachers. She has learned about the falsehood perpetrated by her; the court proceedings will be reversed and the award for damages settled. Karen refuses Mrs. Tilford's gesture.
Martha no longer wants to continue with the conversation. Karen leaves her for a walk on the school grounds. Aunt Lily asks Karen about the whereabouts of Martha as her door is locked. Karen breaks loose the door's slide lock with a candleholder and discovers Martha has hanged herself in her room. After Martha's funeral, Karen walks away alone, while Joe watches her from the distance.

Tags: tragedy, romantic, queer

Review:
The answer, however, is not in a re-make (the film is itself a re-make of a 1936 film by the same director called "These Three", and an adaptation of a play of the same name by Lillian Hellman), but a re-release of this fine example of moviemaking.Boasting a terrific cast including Audrey Hepburn, Shirley MacLaine and James Garner, "The Children's Hour" is the story of two teachers, Miss Dobie and Miss Wright, who found a school for young girls in an idyllic town in America.
From the icy Regina in "The Little Foxes" to the sisters of "Toys In The Attic" - Jane Fonda played her, brilliantly, in "Julia", Here, her women walked a slightly edgier plane."The Children's Hours" was a big Broadway success and William Wyler, one of the best, directed the film version as "These Three" in the 1930's, washing away any reference to homosexuality.
Cruel and Heartbreaking Story about the Destructive Power of a Lie. Karen Wright (Audrey Hepburn) and Martha Dobie (Shirley MacLaine) are best friends since college and they own the boarding school Wright and Dobie School for Girls with twenty students.
So you see, the premise of "The Children's Hour" is not at all out-of-date!What is absolutely fascinating about this film, and what makes it unique in all the dramas which have been made on the subject of homosexuality, is the treatment of the road of self-discovery taken by these two very different women.MacLaine wants Hepburn to buy some new clothes in an early scene, because she remembers how stylish her friend liked to be in her university days, and she even shares the memory of her first sight of Hepburn, when she said to herself, "What a pretty girl!" By the time the action of this movie begins, these two women have already lived and worked together for at least ten years.
William Wyler's atmospheric drama has two teachers (Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacLaine) be accused of lesbianism by a guileful schoolgirl, and then have that rumour ruin their job, their lives and their friendship.Somewhat of a taboo for the 60s, Wyler bravely tackles the subject with honesty and integrity, and his cast work well to bring the tense atmosphere to us.
It is not on whether the allegations were true (it is clear from the off that they are just slander of the worst kind from a bored, vindictive little girl) that the mystery of the film lies, but in whether her character does secretly love Hepburns', as more than a friend.The children are less apt in their roles.
Audrey Hepburn stars in William Wyler's film, based on Lillian Hellman's play, The Children's Hour.
It's a story about a girls' school and its two teachers Karen Wright (Audrey Hepburn) and Martha Dobie (Shirley MacLaine).
It's based on avery famous play from Lillian Hellman and it's directed by WilliamWyler (The Best Years of Our Lives, Roman Holiday, Ben-Her), and it stars Audrey Hepburn, Shirley MacLaine, James Garner, Miriam Hopkins, Fay Bainter, Karen Balkin, and Veronica Cartwright.
There is a little overacting (Maclaine's 'confession' to Karen) and James Garner at times (some thought he was miscast), but Faye Bainter gives one of the best performances on film as Mrs Tilford.While the theme may seem a little outdated, this film was great, and still stands strong when you view it again and again..
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.
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.
The Children's Hour stars two of it's days biggest female stars; Audrey Hepburn and Shirley Maclaine, who play teachers, and owners, of a private girls boarding school.
Add a brilliant script and some fine acting performances into the mix; and you've got a film that's damn near perfect.Despite the fact that it stars two of the biggest stars of it's day in Audrey Hepburn and Shirley Maclaine; the standout performance of the film for me comes from the young Karen Balkin, in the role of the troublesome child at the centre of the scandal.
I strongly urge anyone who enjoyed "The Children's Hour" to view the 1936 version; just one interesting factoid is that Miriam Hopkins, who turns in a brava performance as Martha's flaky (alcoholic?) aunt in this film, originally played the role of Martha in the earlier film, a stupendous casting coup, IMHO.As a child of the 1950's-60's, I am always grateful to have a chance to watch intelligent character studies which reflect the mores of the times, and this one is a stunning example.
Hepburn and MacLaine need no comment, but I especially appreciated Fay Bainter as the grandmother, a very 'proper' lady of the day; loving her granddaughter, she is both unwilling and unable to see through Mary's quasi-demonic nature, and her apologia scene at the end may be her best on film ever.My only real gripe with this film was its dreadful editing--rarely have I seen such poor work in a film of its stature and pedigree; in some scenes, it's like a record skipping a beat or two.
The themes explored in The Children's Hour are far from dated, so i just can't conspire to other writers who feel this way.Karen and Martha are best friends who share a home together, they also work at the same all Girls school.
James Garner plays Karen's beau, Dr. Joe Cardin, he's a crucial part of the story but Garner never really dominates the screen in the way you feel the character should, however in the face of the films best performance, it's probably understandable that Garner is hardly worth a second glance.
The tale begins as a fascinating look at a girls boarding school with its range of vividly defined characters among the students and staff...becomes a tremendously suspenseful tale where the viewer has no idea the direction it will take, causing the audience to really sit on the edge of their seats as the events unfold, and then, in an astonishing dramatic twist, becomes a tortured tale of those hidden personal feelings that well up in heartbreaking, searing emotion--made all the more powerful and gut-wrenching by the amazing performance of Shirley MacLaine and the carefully calibrated relationship she has with Audrey Hepburn.
...an user mentions in his comment did exist.If you do not believe it,you probably never worked in a school.A child like that,I met one three or four years ago.The French title is "la rumeur" (the rumor) ,and more than the right to be different,the main subject of "children's hour" (check the title) is slander which can destroy lives .Wyler's movie gains ,in spite of its dated side,an universal meaning because slander can be about anything and can lead anybody to humiliation,despair even death.And even in 2005,are all the parents prepared to accept a gay or a lesbian teacher for their child?Wyler was not happy with the first version (these three)which avoided the gay side.In 1961,it was a very courageous move to deal with a scandalous situation.The young audience will probably find it hard to understand what all the screaming was about.They have got to remember that the Production Code Administration Office (PCA)only began to change in 1958."The PCA finally altered its attitude toward "sexual perversion" (sic)- despite controversies over films like "suddenly last Summer"-when such major studio movies as "the children's hour " and "advise and consent" dealt with the subject."But it was 1966 before the code was revised ,this time drastically.Excellent performances by the two leads ,extremely moving,fine support by James Garner and Miriam Hopkins .Shirley McLaine is to be praised because she has the hardest part.Her evolution makes sense .What about the ending?Lilian Hellmann took the easy way out.But once again ,it was 1961.Mark Rydell ,in 1968,when the code had been revised ,did not improve on the ending with his own "the fox" .Neither did Claude Chabrol with "les biches".With his legendary depth of field,Wyler lightens what could have been a filmed stage protection.He places his characters in their space as a chess player (see the last scenes between the two women and the doctor;also the scenes with the old lady and the girls).Spoiler:Wyler refused to sweeten the final.Whereas today's cinema would have reunited Hepburn and Garner hugging and kissing with a full choir and orchestra behind ,he opts for an open ending.as an user already noticed ,everything is possible...William Wyler was never the academic director the French "cahiers du cinema" and the Godard clique used to spit at.He took more chances than they did .And it was not over."The collector",the follow-up ,four years later,tackled the real sexual perversion (The two heroines are normal for today's audience,and they were forty years ago as well ) and was definitely ahead of its time.Vive William Wyler!.
Karen Wright (Audrey Hepburn) and Martha Dobie (Shirley MacLaine) run a private school for young girls.Then one day one of the girls, Mary Tilford (Karen Balkin) decides to ruin their lives and lets her grandmother Amelia (Fay Bainter) think that these two women are having an affair.But is there a bit of truth in that lie?
William Wyler is the director of The Children's Hour (1961).The topic is mighty controversial, especially at that time.Wyler directed Audrey Hepburn again since Roman Holiday (1953) and their collaboration obviously worked.This may not be as good of movie as Roman Holiday but there's something good in this one too.Shirley Maclaine does excellent job in her role.Then there's James Garner playing Karen's boyfriend, Dr.Joe Cardin.This now 80 year old actor is very good in his part.There are times when you find this movie touching.Especially at the end.This is a good movie that is not meant to entertain..
Shirley MacLaine, Audrey Hepburn, James Garner, Miriam Hopkins, and Fay Bainter, Karen Balkin; produced and directed by William Wyler; written and adapted for the screen by Lillian Hellman.
I hope when you watch The Children's Hour you can appreciate how groundbreaking and scandalous it was in 1961.Based on a Lillian Hellman play (that's your cue to prepare yourself for a very heavy movie), Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacLaine play two teachers at an all-girls school.
Which was light years ahead of any other film which were few in numbers about this long, at least in movies from out of Hollywood, unmentioned and taboo subject.Running the Wright-Dobie school for young girls both Martha Dobie, Shirley McLaine, and Karen Wright, Audrey Hepburn, were close friends since they were teenagers.
It wasn't until problematic and always not telling the truth 12 year old student Mary Tilford, Fay Bainter, overheard Martha's Aunt Lily, Mariam Hopkins, say something very "queer" about Martha's strange relationship with her best friend Karen that things started to go sour for the two school headmistresses.
It never truly touches on any idea of acceptance of the sort of sexuality, but rather glints with the frustrating social reaction to it and the characters' defense against the malicious gossip.Shirley MacLaine and Audrey Hepburn give wonderful performances as two sweet young teachers who have known each other since they were in school together.
As an extension to the Commandment, we are also cautioned about repeating things about another that we don't know to be truthful; or telling stories about one's fellow man which would be unnecessarily harmful to his reputation.THESE are powerful words to live by and we would all be much better off if both the the Spirit, as well as the Letter of the Law were observed.ALL of which brings us to today's subject film; which is the film of the Lillian Hellman play, THE CHILDREN'S HOUR (The Mirisch Corporation, 1961).IN the story, two women (portrayed by Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacLaine), who are partners in an exclusive, upscale and apparently well established boarding-finishing school, are made victims of the willful and wanton spreading of untruthful stories about an "unholy and unnatural" relationship between the two.WITHOUT benefit of any real discussion or even of any open accusation, the two ladies loose their school as a mass exodus of students dries up any of the necessary operating capital.
Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacLaine play two women running a private boarding school for girls who find their lives destroyed when one wicked little girl tells a lie that the two teachers are lovers.
Audrey Hepburn, following up her fashionable triumphant as Holly Golighty in "Breakfast at Tiffany's", and Shirley MacLaine, one year after receiving her best notices for "The Apartment", star in this lugubrious reworking of 1936's "These Three", helmed by that film's director, William Wyler (apparently going for a no-holds-barred version of Lillian Hellman's play).
The main focus of THE CHILDREN'S HOUR is how the power of a lie can destroy meaningful relationships between innocent people and forever change their lives once the lie has spread.And yet, as gripping as Lillian Hellman's play is, this screen version fails to match the intensity and penetrating truths exposed in William Wyler's original version, THESE THREE ('36), so expertly crafted with fine performances by Merle Oberon, Miriam Hopkins and Joel McCrea.
Wyler knew that the powerful lie was the center of the piece.While I admire Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacLaine for giving sensitive performances here, it is really James Garner who impressed me most of all with what had to be a pretty thankless role.
Now I am sure some today may hate the film--as it could be construed as either pro- or anti-gay---I just admire its frankness for 1961.Audrey Hepburn and MacLaine play best friends who co-run a small boarding school for rich young ladies.
Directed with breathtaking brilliance by William Wyler for MGM, the film features intense and harrowing performances by Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacLaine as the two young women who have been friends since they were 17 and who now run a private school for girls in New England.
There's lots to appreciate in this solid, somewhat daring for its time examination of the taboo subject of lesbianism in high society as two likable go-ahead young female teachers (Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacLaine) become the victim of the scandalous accusations of one of their young pupils, but for me somehow it falls short of delivering the effect it should, although I appreciate my expectations of the film might differ from other viewers.
That same leap of faith is also required for the better-known "The Crucible" by Arthur Miller, so I suppose what's good for one is good for the other...I did wonder how homosexuals then and now might feel about Maclaine's character, who "comes out" in the film, but up to that point seems the tougher of the two women even without the emotional back-up of a loving fiancé James Garner who attends on Hepburn, but who hangs herself at the tragic conclusion - the implication for me is too strong that this is her only way out as a revulsion against her own sexuality which weakens the moral purpose of the film.As a movie, the direction is surely handled by producer / director Wyler who tells his tale well.
The Children's HourThe best way to keep your lesbian relationship secret is by telling everyone you're sisters.The lovers in this drama, however, choose to deny their passions outright.When a spiteful private school student spreads rumors that her teachers, Martha (Shirley MacLaine) and Karen (Audrey Hepburn), are lesbians, she puts Karen's engagement to Joe (James Garner) as well as both women's careers in jeopardy.As the validity of the allegations is scrutinized by the faculty so too do both women explore their own feelings for each other.
Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacLaine star as fellow teachers in a girls' school, and the targets of malicious gossip by one of the students, in this William Wyler remake of his own 1936 film, "These Three," both based on the Lillian Hellman play.This updated version is more faithful to Hellman's play and is meant to be much more shocking.
Miriam Hopkins is OK, but winds up taking a thankless role and doing very little with it.But really, this movie is such an anachronism, and so full of ridiculous relationships and decisions that it's best seen as a comedy.I like what Bosley Crowther of the New York Times said about it and mind you, this is what he said back in 1961: "IT is hard to believe that Lillian Hellman's famous stage play, "The Children's Hour," could have aged into such a cultural antique in the course of three decades as it looks in the new film version of it that came to the Astor and the Trans-Lux Fifty-second Street yesterday.But here it is, fidgeting and fuming, like some dotty old doll in bombazine with her mouth sagging open in shocked amazement at the batedly whispered hint that a couple of female schoolteachers could be attached to each other by an "unnatural" love.".
Still it is the acting by the glorious Audrey Hepburn, the brilliant Shirley MacLaine, the sensitive James Garner and the annoyingly real Miriam Hopkins, who plays Martha's aunt and employee, who bring this movie to life.
In this one, bratty girl Mary (Karen Balkin) lies to her grandmother (Fay Bainter) about a relationship between her teachers Karen Wright (Audrey Hepburn) and Martha Dobie (Shirley MacLaine).
It's not often that a director has an opportunity to remake his own film but with "The Children's Hour" (1962) William Wyler got a second crack at Lillian Hellman play about Martha and Karen, two schoolteachers (Shirley MacLaine and Audrey Hepburn) who are harmed by a resentful student.