One of the most engaging George Cukor comedies, this was the director's eighth and last film with Katharine Hepburn. With exceptionally witty dialogue (the Kanin/Gordon script got an Academy Award nomination), PAT AND MIKE was tailor made for its two stars, presenting a picture of sexual politics far ahead of its time. The film tells the story of the unlikely professional and romantic relationship between a classy female golfer and a street smart sports promoter. Pat Pemberton (Katharine Hepburn) is a physical education teacher who, entering a golf tournament, is approached by Mike Conovan (Spencer Tracy), a sports promoter and manager. Impressed by her game, he convinces her to sign a pro contract to compete in various sporting competitions. Now it is Mike's task to get Pat into professional shape. Hepburn did all of her own golfing in the finished film. Appearing in the movie as themselves were some of the most celebrated sportswomen of the era, including golfer Babe Didriksen Zaharias and tennis star "Gorgeous" Gussie Moran.
A classy female golfer (Katharine Hepburn) and a street smart sports promoter (Spencer Tracy) join forces with comic mishaps aplenty in this George Cukor picture. The pair find themselves battling mobsters, a jealous boxer, and a growing mutual attraction, as they try to get her into competitive shape.
Theatrical release: June 13th, 1952.
One of the gangsters is played by a young Charles Bronson, here credited as Charles Buchinsky
Cukor got the idea for Katharine Hepburn's tennis court nightmare from tennis legend
Bill Tilden, who had described the feeling of not playing well, to the director.
Garson Kanin wrote PAT AND MIKE to showcase Hepburn's athletic prowess; Hepburn did all the sports herself, though she was worried about her tennis form.
Academy Award Nominations: Best Story and Best Screenplay.
The following sports figures made cameo appearances: Don Budge, Frank Parker, Beverly Hanson, Alice Marble, Betty Hicks, and Helen Dettweiler.
DVD Features:
Region 1
Snap Case
Additional Release Material:
Theatrical Trailers
Interactive Menus
Production Notes
Scene Acess
Director of Photography
William Daniels: Famous Cinematographer
Writer
Ruth Gordon: American Actress/Screenwriter, HAROLD & MAUDE, ROSEMARY'S BA
Production Designer
Cedric Gibbons: Art Director/In USA
Review 1:
"...By the time of this seventh Spencer Tracy-Katharine Hepburn teamings, it was sheer privilege to watch them interact..."
Source: USA Today
p.3D 06/09/1989
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