''Spitfire'' is a 1934 American

Pre-Code Pre-Code Hollywood was the brief era in the Cinema of the United States, 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 censorshi ...

drama film In film and television, drama is a category or genre of narrative fiction (or semi-fiction) intended to be more serious than humorous in tone. Drama of this kind is usually qualified with additional terms that specify its particular super-g ...

based on the play ''Trigger'' by Lula Vollmer. It was directed by John Cromwell and starred

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 ...

, Robert Young and

Ralph Bellamy Ralph Rexford Bellamy (June 17, 1904 – November 29, 1991) was an American actor whose career spanned 65 years on stage, film, and television. During his career, he played leading roles as well as supporting roles, garnering acclaim and ...

.''

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 ...

'' film review; March 10, 1934, page 39.

Premise

Two engineers building a dam in the mountains, John Stafford (Robert Young) and George Fleetwood (Ralph Bellamy), are attracted to local

hillbilly Hillbilly is a term (often derogatory) for people who dwell in rural, mountainous areas in the United States, primarily in southern Appalachia and the Ozarks. The term was later used to refer to people from other rural and mountainous areas west ...

"spitfire" Trigger Hicks (Katharine Hepburn) who is the local

faith healer Faith healing is the practice of prayer and gestures (such as laying on of hands) that are believed by some to elicit divine intervention in spiritual and physical healing, especially the Christian practice. Believers assert that the healing ...

. Things come to a head when the locals think that she is a

witch Witchcraft traditionally means the use of Magic (supernatural), magic or supernatural powers to harm others. A practitioner is a witch. In Middle Ages, medieval and early modern Europe, where the term originated, accused witches were usually ...

Cast

as Trigger Hicks * Robert Young as John Stafford *

as George Fleetwood *

Martha Sleeper Martha Sleeper (June 24, 1910 – March 25, 1983) was a film actress of the 1920s–1930s and, later, a Broadway stage actress. She studied dancing for five years with Russian ballet master, Louis H. Chalif, at his New York dancing studio. ...

as Eleanor Stafford *Louis Mason as Bill Grayson *

Sara Haden Sara Haden (born Catherine Haden, November 17, 1898 – September 15, 1981) was an American actress of the 1930s through the 1950s and in television into the mid-1960s. She may be best remembered for appearing as Aunt Milly Forrest in 14 entrie ...

(as Sarah Haden) as Etta Dawson *Virginia Howell as Granny Raines *

Sidney Toler Sidney Toler (born Hooper G. Toler Jr., April 28, 1874 – February 12, 1947) was an American actor, playwright, and theatre director. The second European-American actor to play the role of Charlie Chan on screen, he is best remembered for his p ...

as Jim Sawyer *

Will Geer Will Geer (born William Aughe Ghere; March 9, 1902 – April 22, 1978) was an American actor, musician, and social activist, who was active in labor organizing and other movements in New York and Southern California in the 1930s and 1940s. In Ca ...

(as High Ghere) as West Fry *John Beck as Jake Hawkins *Therese Wittler as Mrs. Jim Sawyer

Reception

The film was popular and (after cinema circuits deducted their exhibition percentage of box office ticket sales) made a profit of $113,000.

References

External links

* * 1934 films 1934 drama films American drama films American black-and-white films Films directed by John Cromwell Films with screenplays by Jane Murfin RKO Pictures films 1930s English-language films 1930s American films Films scored by Bernhard Kaun Films about witchcraft Films about faith healing Films about hillbillies {{1930s-drama-film-stub