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''Christopher Strong'' (also known as ''The Great Desire'' and ''The White Moth'') is a 1933 American
pre-Code Pre-Code Hollywood was the brief era in the American film industry between the widespread adoption of sound in film in 1929LaSalle (2002), p. 1. and the enforcement of the Motion Picture Production Code censorship guidelines, popularly known ...
romantic drama film Romance films or movies involve romantic love stories recorded in visual media for broadcast in theatres or on television that focus on passion, emotion, and the affectionate romantic involvement of the main characters. Typically their journey ...
produced by RKO and directed by
Dorothy Arzner Dorothy Emma Arzner (January 3, 1897 – October 1, 1979) was an American film director whose career in Hollywood spanned from the silent era of the 1920s into the early 1940s. With the exception of longtime silent film director Lois Weber (who d ...
. It is a tale of illicit love among the English aristocracy and stars
Colin Clive Colin Clive (born Colin Glenn Clive-Greig; 20 January 1900 – 25 June 1937) was a British stage and screen actor. His most memorable role was Henry Frankenstein, the creator of the monster, in the 1931 film ''Frankenstein'' and its 1935 sequel ...
and
Katharine Hepburn Katharine Houghton Hepburn (May 12, 1907 – June 29, 2003) was an American actress in film, stage, and television. Her career as a Hollywood leading lady spanned over 60 years. She was known for her headstrong independence, spirited perso ...
(in her second screen role). The screenplay by
Zoë Akins Zoe Byrd Akins (October 30, 1886 – October 29, 1958) was an American playwright, poet, and author. She won the 1935 Pulitzer Prize for drama for '' The Old Maid''. Early life Zoe Byrd Akins was born in Humansville, Missouri, second of three ...
is an adaptation of the 1932 British novel '' Christopher Strong'' by
Gilbert Frankau Gilbert Frankau (21 April 1884 – 4 November 1952) was a popular British novelist. He was known also for verse (he was a war poet of World War I), including a number of verse novels, and short stories. He was born in London into a Jewish fami ...
.


Plot

In
London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...
, Monica Strong (
Helen Chandler Helen Chandler (February 1, 1906 – April 30, 1965) was an American film and theater actress, best known for playing Mina Seward in the 1931 horror film '' Dracula''. Career Born in Charleston, South Carolina,A 1935 Associated Press ...
) and her married lover, Harry Rawlinson, attend a
scavenger hunt ''Scavenger Hunt'' is a 1979 American comedy film with a large ensemble cast which includes Richard Benjamin, James Coco, Scatman Crothers, Ruth Gordon, Cloris Leachman, Cleavon Little, Roddy McDowall, Robert Morley, Richard Mulligan, Tony R ...
party given by Monica's aunt, Carrie Valentine. Carrie announces a tie-breaking challenge: Women must find a man married more than 5 years and faithful, and men must find a woman over 20 who has never had a love affair. Monica departs to find her father, Sir Christopher Strong (
Colin Clive Colin Clive (born Colin Glenn Clive-Greig; 20 January 1900 – 25 June 1937) was a British stage and screen actor. His most memorable role was Henry Frankenstein, the creator of the monster, in the 1931 film ''Frankenstein'' and its 1935 sequel ...
), who is devoted to her mother. Harry follows on a motorbike and crashes. Lady Cynthia Darrington (
Katharine Hepburn Katharine Houghton Hepburn (May 12, 1907 – June 29, 2003) was an American actress in film, stage, and television. Her career as a Hollywood leading lady spanned over 60 years. She was known for her headstrong independence, spirited perso ...
), a famous aviator, helps him, and goes along: She has never had a love affair and is a great deal older than 20. At the party, Cynthia meets Christopher, a friend of her late father. She takes him flying. Cynthia and Monica become friends. Lady Elaine Strong (
Billie Burke Mary William Ethelbert Appleton Burke (August 7, 1884 – May 14, 1970) was an American actress who was famous on Broadway and radio, and in silent and sound films. She is best known to modern audiences as Glinda the Good Witch of the North ...
), fears the friendship growing between Cynthia and Christopher, who insists that she is a good influence on their daughter. Monica comes home with Harry one night, drunk, and Elaine tells him that if he is an honourable man he won't see her daughter again. Harry agrees. Christopher asks Cynthia to persuade Monica to go with the family to
Cannes Cannes ( , , ; oc, Canas) is a city located on the French Riviera. It is a commune located in the Alpes-Maritimes department, and host city of the annual Cannes Film Festival, Midem, and Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity. The ...
. Monica agrees, if Christopher takes her to see Cynthia in an aerial show. At their villa, Elaine anticipates having a whole month alone with her husband. A telegram arrives: They have persuaded Cynthia to join them. Elaine is crushed. Two weeks later, Monica is miserable. At Carrie Valentine's party, Christopher and Cynthia have eyes only for each other. Elaine goes home with a headache. Monica allows Carlo, a stranger, to kiss her, and Christopher, eager to be alone with Cynthia, lets Carlo drive his daughter “home.” Christopher and Cynthia confess that they are deeply in love, but agree never to meet again. A heartbroken Elaine sees them saying farewell and believes they are lovers. Cynthia joins a race around the world, starting in
New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
. A distraught, suicidal Monica arrives to tell her that Harry, now divorced, refuses to marry her: She told him about her night with Carlo. Cynthia convinces her that Harry will forgive her. Cynthia calls Christopher and tells him not to read Monica's letter. He does and, in a fit of gratitude, goes to her an hour before she leaves for New York. All they can do is say goodbye. When she lands in San Francisco, Christopher, on a mission to
Washington Washington commonly refers to: * Washington (state), United States * Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States ** A metonym for the federal government of the United States ** Washington metropolitan area, the metropolitan area centered o ...
, calls her from New York to say he is waiting. She wins the race. Their reunion is passionate. She did not want to die without knowing love. He promises never to ask her to give up anything. A lamp turns on. Her hand reaches up. “I love my beautiful bracelet… I'm shackled.” He translates the motto on her ring: “Courage conquers death.” “But not love,”:she adds. “Give up this altitude flight, for me.” She agrees. Harry and Monica reconcile. Christopher, just home from the States. agrees to their marriage, but Elaine refuses to go to the registry office with them. Six months later, Christopher and Cynthia meet for lunch in an out-of-the-way inn. She misses flying. Monica and Harry, who used the same trysting place, drop by for sentimental reasons. They overhear Cynthia and Christopher confessing their love, and leave. Monica and Harry tell her parents that they are expecting a child. They are delighted. Elaine thanks Cynthia for being Monica's friend. Meanwhile, Cynthia's doctor has told her not to fly because she is pregnant. She plans to tell Christopher that night, but he stays with the family, celebrating. The next evening she asks him, “Suppose it were I?” Christopher makes it clear that it would be his duty to leave his wife and marry her. Cynthia never tells Christopher about the pregnancy. She writes to him, saying that she plans to break the world altitude record—33,000 feet—and not come back. She adds: “Courage can conquer even love.” As the plane climbs, flashbacks over the
altimeter An altimeter or an altitude meter is an instrument used to measure the altitude of an object above a fixed level. The measurement of altitude is called altimetry, which is related to the term bathymetry, the measurement of depth under water. The m ...
show her memories. At 34,000 feet, weeping, she pulls off her oxygen mask. She tries to put it on again but loses consciousness. The plane nosedives into a fiery crash. In London, a winged statue honors her.


Cast

*
Katharine Hepburn Katharine Houghton Hepburn (May 12, 1907 – June 29, 2003) was an American actress in film, stage, and television. Her career as a Hollywood leading lady spanned over 60 years. She was known for her headstrong independence, spirited perso ...
as Lady Cynthia Darrington *
Colin Clive Colin Clive (born Colin Glenn Clive-Greig; 20 January 1900 – 25 June 1937) was a British stage and screen actor. His most memorable role was Henry Frankenstein, the creator of the monster, in the 1931 film ''Frankenstein'' and its 1935 sequel ...
as Sir Christopher Strong *
Billie Burke Mary William Ethelbert Appleton Burke (August 7, 1884 – May 14, 1970) was an American actress who was famous on Broadway and radio, and in silent and sound films. She is best known to modern audiences as Glinda the Good Witch of the North ...
as Lady Elaine Strong *
Helen Chandler Helen Chandler (February 1, 1906 – April 30, 1965) was an American film and theater actress, best known for playing Mina Seward in the 1931 horror film '' Dracula''. Career Born in Charleston, South Carolina,A 1935 Associated Press ...
as Monica Strong *
Ralph Forbes Ralph Forbes (born Ralph Forbes Taylor; 30 September 1904 – 31 March 1951) was an English film and stage actor active in Britain and the United States. Early life Forbes was born in Wandsworth, London, the son of Ernest John "E.J." and Eth ...
as Harry Rawlinson *
Irene Browne Irene Browne (29 June 1896 – 24 July 1965) was an English stage and film actress and singer who appeared in plays and musicals including ''No, No, Nanette''. Later in her career, she became particularly associated with the works of Noël Coward ...
as Carrie Valentine * Jack La Rue as Carlo *
Desmond Roberts Desmond Roberts (5 February 1894 – 11 January 1968) was a British stage and film actorLeibfried & Lane p. 105. who also played first-class cricket, 1913–1936, for Surrey. He was born in Hampstead, and died in Eastbourne. Partial filmograph ...
as Bryce Mercer * Agostino Borgato as Fortune teller * Margaret Lindsay as Autograph Seeker at Party *
Gwendolyn Logan Gwendolyn Logan was a British-born American actress and screenwriter. Career Born in Bellary, British India, she co-wrote the 1916 British film '' East Is East'', and the 1920 American film, '' A Tokyo Siren''. Acting roles included an uncredit ...
as Bradford * Donald Stuart as Joseph Drummond *
Pat Somerset Pat Somerset (28 February 1897 – 20 April 1974) was an English stage and film actor. Biography Born Patrick Holme-Sumner, after appearing in some British silent films early in his career, he moved to the United States. In 1922 he starred on ...
as Policeman


Production

Originally under the working title of ''A Great Desire'', the film was intended as a vehicle for
Ann Harding Ann Harding (born Dorothy Walton Gatley; August 7, 1902 – September 1, 1981) was an American theatre, motion picture, radio, and television actress. A regular player on Broadway and in regional theater in the 1920s, in the 1930s Harding was ...
and
Leslie Howard Leslie Howard Steiner (3 April 18931 June 1943) was an English actor, director and producer.Obituary ''Variety'', 9 June 1943. He wrote many stories and articles for ''The New York Times'', ''The New Yorker'', and ''Vanity Fair'' and was one o ...
. Director Dorothy Arzner and playwright Zoë Akins based the character of Cynthia on British aviator
Amy Johnson Amy Johnson (born 1 July 1903 – disappeared 5 January 1941) was a pioneering English pilot who was the first woman to fly solo from London to Australia. Flying solo or with her husband, Jim Mollison, she set many long-distance records du ...
. In the novel, Cynthia is a racing driver. ''Christopher Strong'' represented the first opportunity for Hepburn to begin developing her screen image as an independent modern woman. This was the only time in her film career that Hepburn played the "other woman". One of the most notable scenes in the film had Hepburn's character dressed for a costume party in a stunning, form-fitting glittering silver moth costume designed by
Walter Plunkett Walter Plunkett (June 5, 1902 in Oakland, California – March 8, 1982) was a prolific costume designer who worked on more than 150 projects throughout his career in the Hollywood film industry. Born in Oakland, California, Plunkett studied ...
. As part of the impressive production values, the musical score was by noted composer Max Steiner.Landazuri, Margarita
"Articles: 'Christopher Strong' (1933)."
''Turner Classic Movies''. Retrieved: May 18, 2015.
''Christopher Strong'' utilized newsreel footage of takeoffs for the around-the world
Dole Air Race The Dole Air Race, also known as the Dole Derby, was a deadly air race across the Pacific Ocean from Oakland, California to Honolulu in the Territory of Hawaii held in August 1927. There were eighteen official and unofficial entrants; fifteen of ...
and the
ticker tape Ticker tape was the earliest electrical dedicated financial communications medium, transmitting stock price information over telegraph lines, in use from around 1870 through 1970. It consisted of a paper strip that ran through a machine called ...
parade celebrating
Charles Lindbergh Charles Augustus Lindbergh (February 4, 1902 – August 26, 1974) was an American aviator, military officer, author, inventor, and activist. On May 20–21, 1927, Lindbergh made the first nonstop flight from New York City to Paris, a distance o ...
's transatlantic flight.
Principal photography Principal photography is the phase of producing a film or television show in which the bulk of shooting takes place, as distinct from the phases of pre-production and post-production. Personnel Besides the main film personnel, such as ...
took place from December 21, 1932, to February 3, 1933.


Reception

''Christopher Strong'' earned a slim profit and positive film reviews. In his review for ''
The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...
'', film critic Mordaunt Hall described ''Christopher Strong'' as a star vehicle for Katharine Hepburn, "... who attracted wide attention through her efficient performance in ' A Bill of Divorcement', is the leading light in a pictorial version of Gilbert Frankau's novel, 'Christopher Strong' ... In this her first stellar rôle, Miss Hepburn is far more fortunate than several other stage actresses have been in their initial Hollywood ventures, for aside from giving her excellent opportunities to display her talent, the story is engrossing, and, furthermore, she is supported by a highly capable cast ..." It was nominated for the
American Film Institute The American Film Institute (AFI) is an American nonprofit film organization that educates filmmakers and honors the heritage of the motion picture arts in the United States. AFI is supported by private funding and public membership fees. Lead ...
's 2002 list AFI's 100 Years...100 Passions.


In popular culture

An image of Hepburn in ''Christopher Strong'' wearing her aviator's flight suit was used for the poster advertising the
Led Zeppelin North American Tour 1975 Led Zeppelin's 1975 North American Tour was the tenth concert tour of North America by the English rock band. The tour was divided into two legs, with performances commencing on 18 January and concluding on 27 March 1975. It was preceded with t ...
.Lewis and Pellett 1997, p. 103. A studio in-joke, the life preserver seen in the opening scavenger hunt sequence, the "SS Venture", is from the ship in "King Kong", another RKO production, shot earlier that year.


References


Notes


Citations


Bibliography

* Harrison, P.S. ''
Harrison's Reports ''Harrison's Reports'' was a New York City-based motion picture trade journal published weekly from 1919 to 1962. The typical issue was four letter-size pages sent to subscribers under a second-class mail permit. Its founder, editor and publisher ...
1932–1934''. Studio City California: Players Press, 1987. . * Lewis, Dave and Simon Pallett. ''Led Zeppelin: The Concert File''. London: Omnibus Press, 1997. .


External links

* * * * {{David O. Selznick 1933 films 1933 romantic drama films American aviation films American romantic drama films American black-and-white films Films scored by Max Steiner Films based on British novels Films directed by Dorothy Arzner Films produced by David O. Selznick Films set in London Films set in France RKO Pictures films 1930s English-language films 1930s American films