A child's lie has life-shattering consequences in this Oscar®-nominated* daring adaptation of Lillian Hellman's celebrated play from legendary director William Wyler. Starring Academy Award® winners** Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacLaine and co-starring James Garner, Miriam Hopkins and Fay Bainter, this landmark film is "one of the most finely wrought dramas in the history ofthe screen" (Motion Picture Herald). Karen (Hepburn) and Martha (MacLaine) are theheadmistresses of an exclusive school for girls. When they discipline a malicious little girl, the vindictive child twists an overheard comment into slander and accuses her teachers of questionable behavior. Soon the scandalous gossip engulfs the school's community, with repercussions that are swift, crushing and tragic. *1961: Supporting Actress (Bainter), Art Direction, Cinematography, Costume Design, Sound **Hepburn: Actress, Roman Holiday (1953); Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award (1992); MacLaine: Actress, Terms of Endearment (1983)
Customer Reviews:
Avg. Customer Rating: 4.5 / 5.0
Further proof that there is no such thing as a harmless lie...:
This is one of those movies I didn't expect to hit me the way that it did. I love Hepburn and MacLaine and so I was anticipating finally getting to sit down and watch this film, but I truly had no idea what to expect. Hepburn was such a wonderfully light actress, an actress who filtered in and out of breezy comedies with such effortless charisma, so I was expecting something a little less dramatic and little more entertaining. What I got instead was one of those films that socks you in the gut and leaves... more info
Great performances and direction..as contemporaray as you gcan get.:
The Children's Hour comes from an older play by Lillian Hellmann (1920,s), and it was given a bad film And it treatment in the 30,s with Miriam Hopkins and Merle Oberon. This was not the play at all, and the performances are not that good. William Wyler directed the 30;s version, and so he directs this version, so much better and very very close to the play. Shirley MaClaine thinks that her role was watered down, and that Lesbians do not behave this way. Ms. Hepburn thought that it was very much... more info
the children's hour not enjoyable:
I bought this movie because of the actresses and actor that are in the movie. I didn't enjoy the movie at all. It had a moral, but it made life so very bleak. I would not recommend this movie.
Wonderful!:
Audrey Hepburn has always been one of my favorites. In this film, in the company of Shirley MacLaine and James Garner, she is again phenomenal. The entire cast is truly brilliant, not to mention the story itself.
Even though it's been years since the film was made, the topic itself remains (unfortunately) very much up to date. Don't waste naother minute - watch this movie now!
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