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Message: <blockquote data-quote="ClassyCo" data-source="post: 268209" data-attributes="member: 7">Forgive me, but I tried searching for a discussion going here solely devoted to Katharine Hepburn. I know there's a lengthy discussion concerning a popularity poll between Hepburn and Bette Davis, but I failed to find anything that singled out Miss Hepburn by herself. I have been known to be semi-critical of Katharine Hepburn in the past. While I have always acknowledged her gifts as an actress, I have occasionally found her lacking in a certain versatility that I see in other actresses of the same period. At the same time, I have to admire Hepburn's career longevity and how she overcame many odds to solidify herself as Queen of the Movies. The American Film Institute ranks her as the best Hollywood motion picture actress in the history of cinema. There are few specific eras in Hepburn's career I generally think about when thinking of her: 1) Her early career success that was quickly followed by a series of high-profile flops and her "box office poison" era, and 2) Her later career reemergence as a grand lady of critically and commercially successful prestige pictures. I was thinking earlier today just how many films Miss Hepburn turns up in that I hold close to my heart. She was a perfect example of art meets life in STAGE DOOR, the 1937 melodrama about young female hopefuls trying to make a name for themselves on the New York stage. It showcased some fine performances, not only out of Hepburn, but also out of Ginger Rogers, Gail Patrick, Andrea Leeds, Lucille Ball, Eve Arden, and Ann Miller. I love those classic, Old Hollywood ensemble pieces. Hepburn was also superb in BRINGING UP BABY, the hilarious 1938 screwball comedy with comedy king Cary Grant. Her ability to play a high society airhead seems effortless, and I find that movie to be the pinnacle of the classic screwball comedy sub-genre. It also fascinates me that both of these movies were not mainstream hits during their time, but yet have earned appreciation in the years since. As she aged, Katharine Hepburn seemed only to get better. Her reputation had vastly improved, and she slid into a successful career playing likable older spinsters. THE AFRICAN QUEEN (1951), co-starring Humphrey Bogart, is as good a film as any to describe this later career reemergence to cinematic greatness. She seemed to get first choice for those roles intended for an actress "of a certain age", and continued wracking up Oscar nominations along the way. She continued strong in such works as SUDDENLY, LAST SUMMER (1959) and LONG DAY'S JOURNEY INTO NIGHT (1962). Although I personally wish she would have given it a shot, I have to admire Hepburn's determination not to lower herself to the hagsploitation sub-genre that swept through the movie industry in the sixties and seventies. Katharine Hepburn was truly great. She made her duds, sure, but I feel she is one of the few who had her share of better pictures than bad ones. Not only was she gifted in terms of acting, she was indeed a very beautiful woman. It baffles me just how rarely it is mentioned that she was a very attractive woman.   [ATTACH=full]26716[/ATTACH]</blockquote>

Verification: Who played JR Ewing?