Wesleyan University

Summer Continuing Studies Lectures

Katharine Hepburn
Summer Film Series & Lectures

In conjunction with the Town of Old Saybrook, The Katharine Hepburn Cultural Arts Center and Theatre Project, and the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism, Wesleyan University presents four of Katharine Hepburn's greatest films each Tuesday this July.  Before each film, learn more about Hepburn with Wesleyan's film studies faculty and staff.  Examining each film in detail, the lectures will discuss Hepburn's performance, the film's production techniques, its context within Hollywood and the studio system, and its role in film history.  They will also describe Hepburn's career as an actor and screen persona, exploring the details of her acting techniques, and will discuss how she progressed within and ultimately rebelled against the Hollywood studio system.  An exhibit in the Rick Nicita Gallery, featuring original film posters, accompanies this series.

All films and lectures are free and open to the public.  The lectures end at 7 PM and the screenings start at 7:30 PM.

Tuesday, July 10:  Philadelphia Story

6-7 PM, Center for Film Studies room 124
Jeanine Basinger, Corwin-Fuller professor and chair of film studies, offers an overview of Hepburn's career, her early work, and her screen persona.  Basinger is narrator on the DVD release of Philadelphia Story. 

7:30 PM, Goldsmith Family Cinema
Screening of Philadelphia Story (in 35mm) with an introduction by Ed Herrmann, star of "Gilmore Girls."  Following the screening will be Q & A with Herrmann and a reception with refreshments.

Tuesday, July 17:  Little Women

6-7 PM, Center for Film Studies room 124
Lisa Dombrowski, associate professor of film studies, discusses Hepburn's image as a feminist, considers the problems of screen adaptations of famous novels, and discusses the work of this film's director, George Cukor. Discussion will include Hepburn's famous label as "box office poison," her other collaborations with Cukor, and his influence on her work.

7:30 PM, Goldsmith Family Cinema
Screening of Little Women

Tuesday, July 24:  Summertime

6-7 PM, Center for Film Studies room 124
Scott Higgins, associate professor of film studies, discusses the use of location shooting and color, the work of director David Lean, the changing technology and industrial background, how this affected Hepburn's career, and her career longevity.

7:30 PM, Goldsmith Family Cinema
Screening of Summertime

Tuesday, July 31:  Adam's Rib

6-7 PM, Center for Film Studies room 124
Marc Longenecker, MFA, Cinema Archives Assistant, will discuss the Hepburn/Tracy collaboration in this and other comedies. He will present unseen archival materials, held in the Wesleyan Cinema Archives, from their screen collaboration in Frank Capra's State of the Union.  Longenecker will also discuss other male co-stars in comparison to Tracy, exploring how their collaboration changes under different directors.

7:30 PM, Goldsmith Family Cinema
Screening of Adam's Rib