George Stevens' adaptation of BoothTarkington's Pulitzer Prize-winning 1921 novel, and his breakthrough film, stars Katherine Hepburn in the title role. A pretty young woman who dreams of reaching beyond her middle-class origins, Alice attends a party being hosted by Mildred Palmer (Evelyn Venable), a wealthy local debutante. Wearing a two-year-old gown, Alice is pointedly ignored by all, before Arthur Russell (Fred MacMurray), an attractive, unassuming young man from an affluent family, is taken with her, and asks her to dance. Despite the strength of her attraction to Arthur, Alice insists on keeping him at a distance, ashamed of her family's lack of money. After lavishing compliments on the young woman, he finally succeeds in persuading her to attend a party at the home of J.A. Lamb (Charley Grapewin), her father's well-to-do employer. While Mrs. Adams (Ann Shoemaker), pours abuse upon her invalid husband (Fred Stone) for allowing their limited means to interfere with their daughter's marriage prospects, Arthur's interest in romancing the girl continues unabated. ALICE ADAMS is a charming slice of Americana, both comic and poignant, sensitively directed by Stevens, with an unforgettably touching performance by Hepburn. The opening party scene is almost exactly reproduced, but with gender reversed, in A PLACE IN THE SUN, the director's far more somber reflection on social class in America.

Theatrical release: August 8, 1935 (New York)

Hepburn argued with Stevens throughout the production on the manner in which various scenes would be shot. Her resistance to his direction was such that one porch scene required over 80 takes.

Katharine Hepburn was nominated for Best Actress, an honor she had won for the first time the year before for the film "Morning Glory."

This was director George Stevens' first big success; after ALICE ADAMS Stevens directed two very different films--the musical SWING TIME and the action/drama GUNGA DIN.

DVD Features:

Region 1
Snap Case
Full Frame - 1.33
Audio:
Dolby Digital Mono - English
Subtitles - English, French, Spanish - Optional
Additional Release Material:
Documentary - Excerpts From The Documentary George Stevens: A Filmmaker's Journey
Featurette - KATHARINE HEPBURN: THE RKO YEARS ESSAY
Interactive Features:
Interactive Menus
Scene Access

Katharine Hepburn: Oscar-winning American actress, ON GOLDEN POND
Fred MacMurray: American Film/TV Actor
Fred Stone: American Character Actor
Frank Albertson: American Actor
Hedda Hopper: Columnist, actress
Hattie McDaniel: Oscar winning actress, singer, GONE WITH THE WIND

George Stevens: American Director/Producer, SWING TIME (1936), GIANT (1956)

Pandro S. Berman: Producer

Dorothy Yost: Screenwriter
Mortimer Offner: Screenwriter
Jane Murfin: Playwright/Screenwriter

Max Steiner: Score composer

Jane Loring: Editor\1930-1940s