ksf-2 Hepburn had been in the biz for a few years when she made "Quality Street", a story from Barrie, the creator of Peter Pan. Hepburn is "Phoebe", who had her heart set on Doctor Brown (Franchot Tone), but it was not to be. Off to war for him. Look for the awesome Estelle Winwood, in only her third role at age 54 ! And the amazing Eric Blore, who was so great as the impish butler in all those fred astaire films. When Phoebe has a reunion with Brown, she poses as her own, much younger, niece, confusing Miss Willoughby (Winwood) and her neighbors, as well as Brown. (Did you see that HAT?? it's hilarious., at 43 minutes in) Watch it just for that hat, if nothing else. It's kind of a "much ado about nothing" story, but it IS a fun, goose-chase of a caper. Fay Bainter does a great job as the fragile flower, Phoebe's sister, afraid of her own shadow. Bainter won the best supporting for Jezebel the year after making Quality Street. In our story, "the niece" spends her time flirting with Brown and everyone else. Will that make him jealous? Which one will Brown choose? or maybe neither one. Directed by George Stevens, who directed Hepburn three times. Stevens won two Oscars in the 1950s, but it wasn't while working with Hepburn. Fun running gag where every time someone knocks at a front door, all the neighbors look through the the curtains to see who is calling on their neighbor. For some reason, they hardly ever show this on Turner Classics. Granted, it's pretty lightweight, plot-wise, but it IS a fun chance to see early Hepburn and Tone. There's a blending here, where the actors are all having fun, and it comes through to the viewer. I recommend this one, if you can catch it.

abcj-2 I appreciated this as a delightful play literally put to the screen. It was a bit of a mix of Jane Austen's Emma and perhaps Elizabeth Gaskell's Cranford with a touch of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night. Of course, as written by James Barrie it had its own twist on British society as set in the early 1800's on Quality Street where every woman on it knows everyone's business. This is more of an endorsement and less of a plot review, though. I rarely love Katharine Hepburn. I appreciate her as a fine actress, and it was nice to see her acting feminine without fighting for feminism. She was sweet and restrained with just the right amount of tears, smiles, and feminine wiles. This is not something we see much of or at all after this film. This is definite a 1930's version of a chick flick. The supporting cast shines all the way. I adore Franchot Tone and love seeing him in the lead. The women on Quality were written and acted so well but with the satiric and comic flare to make this a fun little romp. I particularly noticed they got the costuming right with the Empire waist gowns and not the hoop skirts used in 1940's delightful but totally inaccurate as to wardrobe in Pride and Prejudice. Just as the above authors' work still holds up today, so does this delightful little film.

ajrabbits I was about to go to bed one night and was watching a movie on TCM. The movie I was watching had just ended and Quality Street started to play. I was so charmed by this movie that I had to stay up quite late and finish watching it. I just couldn't make myself push the off button on my remote:) Katharine is quite charming as Phoebe and plays her niece quite well too. I honestly don't think Katharine looks too old, as other reviews have stated. Franchot Tone is very handsome as the gullible soldier. A good supporting cast as well. It is a light, entertaining romantic comedy. Just as long as you think this while the movie plays, it won't disappoint.

dm032 Delightful comedy of errors. Pheobe (Hepburn) is in love with the dashing Dr. Brown, but alas her love is unrequited. They meet again 10 years later on his return from the Napoleonic Wars. She has wilted under the strain of teaching little children and is self-conscious about her age. On a whim she decides to dress in her former radiant style, and ends up being mistaken by Dr. Brown for Pheobe's niece. They start to court, and from there it's all silly and predictable, but... sparkling dialogue, great acting and wonderful supporting parts (especially the nosy old spinsters at the windows)