Between 2000 - 2006 , I set off on a quest to see
all of Katharine Hepburn's films from cinema and TV.
The Iron Petticoat was the last of the cinematic features I needed and I got it by way of E-Bay on video tape.
It was one of those bidding war items ... oh yeah, I won it but I spent *gulp* $40.00! So, when I got it in the mail, and long thereafter, I watched it at least 3 times a year. That's not an exaggeration, as I now know the movie like the back of my hand.
The movie : One day over an American air base in Germany, female Russian aviator Vinka Kovelenko accidentally invades American Military air space. She's been passed over for promotion, which is given to a male with less rank and tenure than she, so is angry at her Government's sexism.
She's brought down / escorted by U. S. pilots in their planes, Most notably Chuck Lockwood. Lockwood doesn't seem to take much 'too' seriously in the events that unfold or as a military man.
Chuck gets assigned by his commanding officer to get Vinka to denounce the U. S. S. R. and 'swing her over to the American side'. As propaganda against the Soviets.
What happens is that Chuck, who is engaged to an heiress named Constance, inadvertently ends up falling for Vinka and she for him. (Hope, at age 53, either trying to convince the audience or himself, that he's 33).
Essentially leading to both having problems, with their superiors and Chuck with his fiance'. Whom he may be really only marrying for the money and comfort.
Bob Hope, a very great comedic legend, falls short here in comedy. His jokes and funny lines, honestly, don't carry any punch or energy. There were a few (kind of silly) lines that got a laugh or two from me. Still it wasn't enough and really, no one else here is funny either.
Save, Hepburn. She (in my opinion) actually was funny in this . Hepburn gets a few good humorous lines in but also some of her actions are, unintentionally, funny. I can only speak for myself of course.
Her, very noted in reviews here, Russian accent as well as some reactions facially and physically. Her & Hope later, in the cockpit of the plane heading back to the USSR was pretty amusing too.
On another level though, she really outshines everyone in this film. When she goes from military wear and dresses up in something beautiful for Chuck's sake, her emotions seem very real. (Chuck has yet to realize he's falling for her).
The dinner scene she wears this in, while having a few humorous moments, goes on just a little too long. We have her and Chuck, the Colenol , Constance and her brother and we even get a stereo-typical old time Senator from the American South!
On the treacherous side, are a Soviet team in the restaurant, who are plotting to kidnap Vinka and take her back to the Soviet union.
Anyhow, as most know by now, Hope (allegedly) tried to get all the best lines for himself and leave very little for Hepburn. Stating 'Hepburn has no sense of humor'. Whatever he was trying to achieve, it backfired in every way. Again , she truly was the best thing about this 'comedy almost in name only'.
Amazing with 2 people against each other like that, that they had to kiss on screen. Hepburn was only asked to be in this because it's producers found out she was in Europe, having just wrapped filming for "Summertime". (Saving them a lot of time in casting!)
The film flopped in it's January 1957 release. I always liked Bob Hope's comedies but , to use a slang term from today, this was an 'Epic Fail' . As for worst Hepburn film? Sorry, but for me that honor goes to 1985's "Grace Quigley". (Equally as bad for him was the early 1970s, "Cancel My Reservation".
I rated this 8 stars for Hepburn's acting and for the fact that, there 'is' a plot you can actually follow.
The detractors are the otherwise blandness of the other actors and how this was directed into a mostly bland, almost unfunny film...that somehow does have it's moments.
Though, I'd hardly say it was worth $40.00.
... or for that matter 50 to 75 cents in 1957. (END)
