What Traumatized Katharine Hepburn for the Rest of Her Life? 

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My step father was mentioned in her book. He was a discrete private driver for her whilst she was filming in Wales and England so had plenty of time to discuss life. Apparently, he was the only person ever allowed or trusted to see her without any dressing up first thing in the morning before filming began. A great compliment from any woman. I only learned of this after he died.

The only person that didn't know about Tracy and Hepburn was the Pope. I like what Hepburn said about "Never establish a lifestyle on the way up that you can't maintain on the way down." Good advice.

So many fantastic Hepburn films to choose from ,but at the top of my list is "lion in Winter". Her expertly crafted sarcastic lines can never be duplicated or forgotten.

So sorry you didn't mention that gem of a movie"The African Queen" that also starred Humphrey Bogart.

Kate Hepburn was the greatest actress of them all and her 4 Oscars only prove the fact that she was beloved.

Why does every bio of Katharine Hepburn NEVER mention one of her BEST films with Spencer Tracey....DESK SET...??!?!?!? If you have not seen it yet DO IT! AWESOME MOVIE with lots of great actors.

In her autobiography, Hepburn displayed a very strong New England stoicism that was part of her upbringing. She claimed to not have time for tears when her brother died. In spite of that, you could tell that she wouldn't publicly admit to having deep feelings.

I love Kate in "Bringing up Baby". Apparently she enjoyed working with the leopard but Carey Grant was terrified of it. Her intelligence always showed in her acting. A wonderful person!

if Katharine Hepburn had been born a man, she would have been held in high esteem for her work and outspoken ideas and her determination. The fact Barbara Walters asked her if she owned a skirt is the most ridiculous and down putting question and she would never have asked a man about his clothes. Like or dislike Katharine, she danced to the beat of her own drum and opened up Hollywood to the fact a strong independent woman is more than capable of standing shoulder to shoulder in a mans world. Her affair with Tracey was the worst kept secret. Yet it worked for them where they lived separately yet not legally tied to each other. On Golden Pond (Henry Fonda's last film) was a true show of strength as an actress, diagnosed with a neurological disorder, she pulled off a great role while dealing with her tremors.

One of my favorite actresses. She took on the unsympathetic role of Mrs. Venable in the adaptation of Tennessee Williams' "Suddenly, Last Summer" with Clift and Taylor. It took guts.

Katherine Hepburn, wasn't from the same era as Audrey Hepburn! In fact, Katherine was old enough to be Audrey's mother.

She always reminds me of my mother who after chance meeting with strangers in the town of Ramsey on the Isle of Man where she lived would get letters addressed to ''The Girl Who Wears Trousers '' and they would be delivered.

Very emotional, & somewhat negative comments. I think she would be amused. Her sexuality is no ones business. She remained friendly with her husband. She was a VERY GOOD actress. Please, just see her films. Strong, intelligent, women still threaten for some reason. FYI, she found her brother's body. He had hung himself. I think that would have effected her. I hope we can all please be compassionate & less angry in general. ❤️🦋🦋🦋🦋

I grew up in Hartford CT...my church was down the street from her family home. She went to the same school as my brother-Kingswood Oxford...her family plot is in Cedar Hill Cemetery-where my family has their plots....she is completely a stoic New Englander and one of my most favorite actresses of all time

she was the first stranger I ever cried over when she passed .

Katherine Hepburn first entered films via an RKO contract. For awhile, as per the studio system, she entered their 'stable of stars'. Hepburn was always her own agent, negotiating contracts herself, very unusual in the 1930's.

Hubert de Givenchy stated when it came their first meeting, he was expecting Katherine Hepburn instead of Audrey. However, he and latter Ms. Hepburn had a very successful collaboration.

"I'll wear it to your funeral"😂😂 .. Such an icon

She was beautiful in a non Hollywood way, intelligent and talented. Fascinating. Thank heavens she stuck to her slacks. I didn't own a skirt for 25 years.

What a fantastic era to be in Hollywood working with all those iconic actors, always enjoyed her films.

What she said to Barbra Walters was priceless. 🤣

The big tragedy (and possibly trauma) of her life was losing her brother by suicide. Maybe it explains why she was the actress that she was.

So here we're told Howard Hughes bought the rights to the Philadelphia Story, but Kathrine Hepburn sold them and thereby managed to control who got hired etc...How does that work...am I missing something...???

Nice to hear the obvious respect in the narrator's voice for this remarkable woman. It's also the first time I've heard a man admit that 'the patriarchy' feel threatened and mimimized by women who do not bother to try to be attractive to them. That would explain their bizarre hostility towards certain notable female intellectuals.

She was wonderful with Henry and Jane Fonda in 'On Golden Pond'...

She was beautiful. She had the kind of face that required no makeup.

Really good video. Pity though you didn’t touch on her later work. Brilliant with Humphrey Bogart in African Queen. And even the later western Rooster Cockburn with John Wayne. Very much her normal fiesty self but as an older woman. Great actress and personality. 🙋‍♂️🇬🇧

Hepburn was a lesbian/bi sexual. Tracy was gay. This was well known in the business. But the public was never to find out or they wouldn’t have careers anymore. And worse. They were great friends. Many complications,especially in those days with their sexuality caused them to put a public persona to show they were lovers. One of the great publicity stunts ever. It worked. Also for many other stars who were gay/lesbian or bi sexual.

I knew Ms Hepburn late in her life. You accurately described her. She was a strong opinionated woman who even in old age had a commanding presence. She never liked to talk about Hollywood or acting. She preferred to just be a normal person and not be treated like a celebrity. I once mentioned Spencer Tracy and she immediately let me know that subject was off limits. The only movie she talked to me about was African Queen. She told me of her and Bogarts experiences on location filming that movie. She had nothing but good things to say about Humphrey Bogart. We often talked about her young life growing up during summers at her family home in Old Saybrook CT.

She was a great screen actress.

No one ever confused her with Audrey

Brilliant in "Lion in the Winter."

katherine is one of the most striking actress ever, you can see it in the shape of her face, a tour de force of hollywood golden age

No mention of the best work she ever did, with John Wayne in Rooster Cogburn!!!

How could ANYONE confuse Katherine Hepburn and Audrey Hepburn?????

I am not one of Hepburn's admirers but there were roles she did brilliantly, films that were variations on her own personality. For me, she bombed out in Mary of Scotland. Not a huge range. But yes, effective in specific roles. Thank you for the video.

Audrey Hepburn was not on the scene until after WW II. Katherine Hepburn’s career had begun in the 30s ten or more years before. Audrey Hepburn was in the Netherlands during the war (1939-1945).

Can't remember where I read it but apparently she loathed Joe Mankiewicz for they way he was treating Monty Clift in Suddenly Last Summer so much that after she completed her scenes she asked Mankiewicz if he needed her for anything else. When he said no she spit in his face and left.

She was the Queen in a stormy relationship with her King and sons,.in a movie called 'Lion in Winter.' I was hiding under the seat most of the time since it reminded me of the fights between my Mother & Father. For me, it was a scary horror movie.

Great video! Very informative. Thank you 😊

Ms Hepburn was great to me . Sorry you didn’t mention about her later work. But you described the foundation very well. I didn’t care about feminism. I cared very much about her talent and out of the ordinary characters. I first saw ‘The Philadelphia Story’ in the 1980’s Thanks A precious piece of Hollywood moviedom, to me.

She is my all time fave. Her attitude on life is what all women should strive for.

Interesting actress with little reach beyond being Katharine Hepburn, which she pulled off magnificently in several roles, most notably slapstick outings with Cary Grant. She also had an interesting snooty appearance that she seemed to enjoy in most roles, as well as a weird beauty even, in movies like The Philadelphia Story and Bringing up Baby, but then it's like she suddenly aged into a different human being overnight. At the same time she also had a distinct coldness about her and somehow had zero female sensuality/sexuality, period, which isn't all that unusual, but it could explain her life with Tracy I guess.

The narrator says that when a female star of this era dressed up in mannish clothes, she was saying that sexiness didn't matter or wasn't pertinent to her. Evidently he never saw Marlene Dietrich dressed up in tux and tails in a couple of her movies of the 30s. In Shanghai Express she dressed up like that and gave a big kiss to a young woman who was in an evening dress at a nightclub. Was very sexy.

No mention of The African Queen with Humphrey Bogart, one of my favorite films.

Thanks for this, Katherine was my first crush as a young boy seeing her on Saturday tv matinees.

I just love Age of Vintage! You dig in and find the cool facts and all of us love it!!

This kinda explain why she is the way that she is: "I pledged to Tom and myself that he would live in my heart and mind as long as I lived. I decided I had to live my life for two... The real date of his death would not be until the day I died."

There was a girl at my high school who had a picture of Katherine Hepburn next to her own picture & I was curious as to why another classmate asked me about that & I didn't have the answer. After hearing about Katherine's personality, character & her disdain for Hollywood I now understand why.

I didn't find her trauma. She just lived herself. That's great!

There was a long history of suicides in the Hepburn/Houghton family.

She should have won Oscars for best actress for The Philadelphia Story....PERIODT!

I was surprised that you did not mention that in 1939, while she was taking a break from Hollywood, she was at her family’s beach home on the Connecticut shore when the great hurricane cut across Long Island and tore into Connecticut and Rhode Island. She helped many if her neighbors during the storm and even got them away in time when the family home was being taken by the storm surge. Then after the storm ceased, she chose between a terrible Hollywood script and doing Broadway . She chose Broadway and it was “The Philadelphia Story.”

A gay friend I worked with in the 1980s told me about going to a personal appearance by the actress where she wore a man's suit and called herself as "he."...well, it was an interesting story.

Love the subtitles: "Bryn 'Moore'" College, "marcao" for RKO....etc.

Very good documentary! Katherine was more than just a character, She was clever and a force to be reckoned with! I was never really sure I liked her as a actress, but now have a clearer understanding about her complexed psyche. Thank you!👍🏻🌅🎆🎇❤️❤️

I really enjoy your work. Quite often you make me laugh. Burgeoning weirdo was a good one! I think K. Hepburn was great. Thank you.

I liked Catherine Hepburn she was a natural rest In peace,your not forgotten,God bless you amen🌹🌹🌹💖🌸🌈

You should read "Full Service"by Scotty Bowers. According to him, the impossible romance with Spencer Tracy was a coverup to hide the fact that Katherine was exclusively lesbian.

What an amazing woman!

Great and good story, i like that and it is good quality understandt.

Alain Delon is a big fan of her and he met her in the early 70's and she let him know that she felt the same way about him. A mutual admiration.

I haven’t worn a dress or skirt in I don’t know how many years! Maybe my brother’s wedding 20 years ago? I still have a few, but I prefer to wear slacks.

I am a fan of these videos but not sure what traumatized her for the rest of her life, as noted in the title.

Katherine Hepburn was once labelled "Box Office Poison" because so many of her films bombed. I am not sure her relationship with Tracy was romantic. She and Tracy probably had a relationship that fulfilled their needs but did not meet the criteria of an affair". Offscreen, Tracy had a severe drinking problem and an uncertain temper;

She was so gorgeous and talented

🌹❤ Enough Said!

Always a favorite!

A Hollywood treasure. Hollywood is rightfully criticized and maligned BUT without that system we would never have known Katharine or Marilyn. If Marilyn had had Katharine's personality, she would not have been Marilyn but it would have been interesting seeing her fire back at her critics with that Katharine fortitude @Robert She was amazing in Lion in Winter and made her character totally believable. @bovnyccc Love the movie Suddenly, Last Summer but it's hard to compete with Elizabeth's beauty and acting skills. A strange and disturbing movie; not because of its Gay theme but because of the way that Gay character was treated.

I especially love 'On Golden Pond', also not mentioned.

I think what traumatized her was meeting Gary "Baba Booey" Dell'Abate and getting frightened by his enormous choppers.

The actress with the most wins at the academy awards with her 4 oscars that she never took strangely. Strange also that she didn't like Meryl Streep who is her dignified succesor. She thought she was a bad actress. Frank opinion or opinion hiding some frustration ? Jane Fonda, told too that Katherine didn't like her either. She was a loving person. Rather rude in life just like Jane's father : Henry.

she chilled the blood in Long Day's Journey Into Night 1962 which was Eugene O'Neill writing about his own mother ...

Katherine & Audrey Hepburn's "era" overlapped, but they were emphatically not the "same era." By the 1950s Katherine played parts for older women whilst Audrey was still an ingenue. Katherine was born more than 20 years before Audrey but died ten years later in 1993 at age 90!

You seem to have forgotten her films after 1950’s

Does this ever get to the point?

Katherine Hepburn was truly a trailblazer..

FACINATING lady

You forgot to mention that she adopted a child at a time when a single woman adopting a child was very difficult to do. And she was a far better mother than others who illegally adopted their children I won’t mention any names but there are a few that come to mind. Her granddaughter, not daughter also became an actress ironic that isn’t it. Spencer Tracy encouraged her desire for children even though he didn’t even try to break off his relationship with her, by encouraging her to adopt she told him she wanted to adopt a little girl what did you think about it, he supported her on it and said that if she needed a recommendation she could use him I don’t think she did but I don’t know beyond that. I suppose that the reason she could get away with the lifestyle she created for herself unlike others is because she was not dependent on Hollywood for money. Hollywood gnu that she could dump them and go elsewhere to the stage to Europe, and people came much like they do these days to see a movie because of who is acting in it who the Star was. imagine for a moment she had enough connections, but if she started her own studio, they would’ve been plenty of actors and actresses who would’ve gone with her. Hollywood knew it was better not to make give her a reason to do that she’s already proven to them that she could purchase her own. Scripps create her own movies, her own vehicles as it were and they would become smash hits. She was more worth their money to keep her then to go against her. Also bearing in mind she did come off a little bit like Queen Elizabeth the first the “virgin” queen it was easier for them to remember that such a woman can make your business great or she can sync it. I’m using voice to text and it’s a bit of a problem as you can see. I can’t keep fixing it some steaks it should say mistakes not steaks I can’t do anything about that, my hands are giving way safe in fixing it is a problem OK at the time when she was coming into her own in Hollywood. They were plenty of stars who did illegal adoptions, and a few who did legal ones, but most of the ones who did illegal adoptions were married. She was unmarried, and had no intentions of getting married, and following the Hollywood way of doing things in fact, my guess is she did not have the usual morality clause in her contract that most other actors had and actresses as well and that is probably more important to figure out than anything else. If she did not have that usual clause in her contract, it meant that trying to get rid of her by creating a scandal would have been more problematic than she was worth in other words like I mentioned before, Queen Elizabeth the first had a reputation as being the virgin queen, and she knew how to make the most of that. She also knew how to handle the men around her and it away Katharine Hepburn did the same and that says a lot more about her than just about anything else, and I think she was lucky that Spencer Tracy never got a divorce from his wife. He was a good Catholic boy because I gave her an excuse not to marry somebody who if she married him with not have been would’ve created problems for her he would not have made a good husband and she knew it. That’s why they lived in separate houses but they were what you would call very close lovers, but they didn’t share the same house And I think she may have come to realize that because there was a comment that she made about her costar in a certain movie she was in his name was John Wayne. He made a comment and self that she was quite a woman. In fact, he said himself that if he had met her And worked with her 20 years before she might’ve tried getting her way from Spencer Tracy course he didn’t say in those terms she said that he wishes met her 20 or 30 years earlier and ironically enough, she said pretty much the same thing about him in other words, the only reason her relationship with Spencer Tracy had worked out as well as it did was because they never got married. If he was such a big drunk ass you claim then she was probably happy that they didn’t get married for all that she loved him.

So….she slept with another woman’s husband for 27 years and didn’t attend his funeral “out of respect”??!! 🤪🤷🏾‍♀️

So, what did traumatize Kate?

Finding her hanging brother is what traumatizes her. She was a child and her family never talked about it.

Kate never got over al smith losing in 1928

Love Katherine and Spencer in Desk Set

I didn't know Spence was a notorious drunkard

Always one of my favorite actresses.

He got that wrong Audrey Hepburn was younger and not of the same era technically, Katherine was from 1932 while Audrey start in 1953 so not at all at the same period in history although both did work in pictures all be it one could have (and many people make the mistake of thinking they are related, though they are not) been the mother by age alone (if they ever played together in a film together) and the other could have been her daughter. But they where technically never really contemporaries.

She was rebellious!

I don't think that both the Hepburns were of the same era must've been over twenty years between the two. But I got to love both of them as I love old movies. 🤗

Loved this great actress.

Mentioned that Philadelphia story was written specifically by the playwright, for her… she was also a Hidden for time with a lot of other things as well. You only mention her style and her you know feminism, but miss out on so much that she was so far ahead of her time.

One of a kind.

Kate was a talented street brawler. She wanted to train Green Berets

Nobody's fooled, K-K-K-Katie.

What was her fear?

I have never cared for Kathrine Hepburn much as an actress. She was very good in the Philadelphia Story. Partially this is because her role mirrored her generally arrogant, upper-class, New England upbringing. Her best movies were comedies with Cary Grant. She was interestingly enough a fine comedian. Her other movies don't appeal and have never appealed to me very much. I find her characters very irritating and disruptive.If the other actors are not too bad or it is a comedy, I may still watch them. However, generally I don't put on or own movies with her in them (Philadelphia Story excepted).

I worked in a show that she was in in the 1960s. Luckily I had nothing to do with her because she was plain and simple a dragon. If you didn't agree with her your life within an end. You could hear her expanding all over the theater about what she thought about this and what she thought about that and almost insisted that you agree with her by saying you agree with me don't you. Oh thank God I never had to deal with her because I think I probably would have just not dealt with her I would have left the show. I don't do well with difficult people but nobody cares about that

I love Katherine. What a beautiful WOMAN as well as a feisty spirited woman. Great Video THANK YOU.

Sorry you spent so much time on woman’s issues and not more on her art. She was a tremendous actress and person. Sorry you didn’t mention her work I The African Queen and Rooster Cogburn, with two other great actors Bogart and The Duke.