Adam's Rib (1949)
(George Cukor, U.S. 1949, 100 min., 35mm)
Doris Attinger (Judy Holliday) follows her husband with a gun in Manhattan one day, suspecting he is having an affair with another woman. In a passionate rage, she fires wildly
around the room, one of the bullets hitting her husband in the shoulder and leaving his lover unscathed. The following morning, married New York lawyers Adam (Spencer Tracy) and Amanda Bonner (Katherine Hepburn) read about the incident in the newspaper and debate the case on their way to work. Adam, an assistant district attorney, argues that Doris is guilty of attempted murder while Amanda, a solo-practicing, defense attorney, argues that Doris is innocent, stating that there is a double standard regarding adultery. When Adam arrives at work, he learns that he has been assigned to the case. When Amanda hears this, she seeks out Doris and becomes her defense lawyer. A battle of the sexes ensues, where the couple needs to argue their sides not only in court, but also at home.
Post-screening discussion with Audrey Johnson, curator of the “Hollywood Pairings” series