Ooops…should have chopped off the bottom part of my cut and paste from the TCM website.
Of course, if any of you actually enter the contest and win the free copy of Ismail Merchant’s memoir, you have me to thank.
I, too, took the “cause of death” jokes not as insulting, but as a tribute to a woman for whom it would not have seemed out of character to be skiing or riding a Harley at 96. I suspect she’d probably get a kick out of the thought. She was my role model for proving that a woman could kick ass and be beautiful and a lady, not to mention human, at the same time. (Not to mention a fellow old-line New Englander.) Always an original, and will be much missed. As for anyone saying she was difficult… well, originally said of a much lesser actress, but very appropriate for Katharine Hepburn as well - “You want brilliance? You won’t get it for free.”
when a person dies at 96 surronded by family, and has lived her life her way, it is a bit difficult to totally give over to mourning.
miss hepburn had great up and downs in her life, she had a great love that no doubt had heavenly highs and hellish lows. she had 13 nieces and nephews to spoil horribly and then give them back to their parents (no doubt with a drum set). she had enough money to keep her comfortable and not have to worry where her next meal was coming from and whether it would be cat food. she said what she wanted, when she wanted and no one could shut her up.
her films will keep her memory alive and even if all of her films disappeared stories would be told to keep her memory eternal.
i feel sad for her family that thought aunt kate would always be there like the old man of the mountain perhaps. this year has taught us that even new england granite can crumble and pass out of view.
Hmmm, that TCM tribute schedule could be a lot better–no Stage Door? Christopher Strong? Sylvia Scarlett? Sounds kinda tossed-together. Oh, well, if you can only catch a few, I’d recommend Holiday, The Lion in Winter, The Philadelphia Story and Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.
I’m terribly late in all this posting. I just want to say that Hepburn was a remarkable lady and a grand talent. I am thankful to have gotten interested in her before this happened. As I watch her movies more and more I begin to realize something I had never noticed, she’s a true actress. Many people have said that the true mark of a great actor or actress is to be able to loose yourself and not think of who or where you are but only of this part you are playing. I believe, however, that it is the ability to act each part while still partially shining through with your own vibrant personality. Katharine Hepburn has done that in all her pictures. She is a much better role model than any of the others I have had in the past (Bette Davis, Joan Crawford, Gloria Swanson), for these were women with troubles that couldn’t be solved, healed, or even put aside. They all had the necessary drive but they didn’t live their lives the way they would be allowed to had they not become stars, not that I don’t still ike them. Katharine Hepburn remained herself her entire life. Something most people, famous or obscure, have not been able to do. “Listening to the song of life” was what Hepburn’s life was all about.
Welcome to the SDMB, VintageStar. Better late than never.
Thanks!