PAT AND MIKE -- George Cukor, dir

©1952
studio: Warner Home Video
director: George Cukor
cast: Spencer Tracy, Katharine Hepburn, Aldo Ray, William Ching, Sammy White, George Matthews, Gussie Moran, Babe Didrikson Zaharias, Don Budge, Alice Marble, Frank Andrew Parker, Charles Bronson, Frank Richards, Jim Backus, Chuck Connors, Carl "Alfalfa" Switzer
screenplay: Ruth Gordon and Garson Kanin
B&W

Pat (Katharine Hepburn) is a brilliant athlete in nearly ever sport she chooses to play -- except when her fiancee is around, then she fumbles nearly everything. Spencer Tracy as her agent works hard not only to refine her talents, but to get her to forget her domineering boyfriend.

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I haven't seen a lot of Tracy/Hepburn movies, but I can see the wonderful chemistry the two have on screen.

This film came across as a rather "fluffy" piece of work, not to be taken too seriously, but I doubt it was intended that way. Perhaps it's a sign of changing times, or perhaps it's Cuckor's direction which kept it from getting maudlin. Hard to say.

I enjoyed the movie, but I always had trouble buying into Katharine Hepburn being as submissive as she was around her fiancee, and how modest she was about her incredible athletic talents.

Aldo Ray as the bumbling boxer was a delight to watch, and it was a real kick to see a few other stars making early, minor role appearance here.

Worth watching.