Quality Street - DaaVeeDee

Quality Street (DVD) (*)

~~$26.99~~ $20.97

Screened, competed or awarded at:
Oscar Academy Awards

Language Selections:
English ( Mono )
Spanish ( Mono )
Spanish ( Subtitles )

Product Origin/Format:
Spain ( PAL/Region 2 )

Running Time:
83 min + 25 min extras

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen

Special Features:
Behind the scenes
Filmographies
Interactive Menu
Scene Access

Movie filmed in 1937 and produced in:
United States ( USA, Canada )

Directed By:
George Stevens

Written By:
J.M. Barrie
Allan Scott

Actors:
Katharine Hepburn ..... Phoebe Throssel
Franchot Tone ..... Dr. Valentine Brown
Eric Blore ..... Recruiting Sergeant
Fay Bainter ..... Susan Throssel
Cora Witherspoon ..... Patty
Estelle Winwood ..... Mary Willoughby

Synopsis:

Previously filmed with Marion Davies in 1927, the lightweight James M. Barrie play Quality Street proved an ideal vehicle for Katharine Hepburn ten years later. The setting of the Barrie original was switched from 1805 Scotland to 1815 Regency England, to avoid a preponderance of brogues and to take advantage of the latter era's more attractive costumes. (Candid home movies taken on the set indicate that this sumptuous production might have been even more resplendent in Technicolor.) Because she's nearly 30 and still unwed, Phoebe Throssel (Hepburn) is regarded as an over-the-hill spinster. Thus, when offered the opportunity for a reunion with Captain Brown (Franchot Tone), whom she hasn't seen in years, Phoebe desperately wants to rekindle his affections. To this end, she poses as her own teenaged niece -- and pulls off the ruse beautifully. Alas, despite Katharine Hepburn's wonderful performance and George Stevens' sensitive direction, Quality Street posted a loss of 248,000 dollars, further convincing movie exhibitors that Hepburn was "box office poison." Notably, one of the supporting players is an 18-year-old Joan Fontaine, making her first appearance under her RKO Radio contract.

Phoebe and Susan Throssel are sisters living in Quality Street. Phoebe is courted by Dr. Valentine Brown and her sister and noisy neighbors expect a proposal shortly. When he instead enlists in the British army during the Napoleonic Wars claiming he has no 'sweetheart', the two sisters are crushed. Ten years later, Valentine returns to find the sisters are teachers of their own school, 'Misses Throssel School for Boys and Girls', and are now both, 'old maids'. Valentine asks Phoebe to the homecoming ball, but he is very 'put out' at realizing how worn-out Phoebe looks. On a whim Phoebe puts on a ball gown and does her hair as if to prove that she is not that much different from 10 years earlier. When Valentine comes to try to persuade her to go to the ball, he doesn't recognize her. She decides to play on his confusion, telling him Phoebe doesn't feel well, and introduces herself as 'Livvy', Phoebe and Susan's niece. Dr. brown and Livvy go to the ball together. At the ball, Phoebe continues her game and attracts many male admirers, plus attracts the suspicions of three very snoopy spinster sisters. Everyone is persuaded that Dr. Brown is in love with Livvy, but just when Phoebe think she will propose he scolds her for being a flirt. He tells her that is Phoebe whom he loves and not her. Phoebe desperately wants to return his affection, but can't for three noisy spinsters are keeping her under control suspecting she is the one impersonating Livvy...

This product was added to our catalog on Thursday 14 May, 2009.

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