The Warner Archive has released a Blu-ray edition of the beloved 1952 Spencer Tracy/Katharine Hepburn romantic comedy "Pat and Mike". Tracy and Hepburn had gelled with critics and audiences in their previous teamings. The film was directed by the estimable George Cukor, who Tracy and Hepburn had teamed with previously with great success. The screenplay is by Ruth Gordon and her husband Garson Kanin, who also provided the script for the earlier movie. Gordon and Kanin were close friends of Tracy and Hepburn and were inspired by the offbeat nature of their relationship. (Tracy remained married throughout his lifelong romance with Hepburn and he was noted for being short-tempered but charismatic.) They were also impressed by Hepburn's athletic abilities, especially in golf and tennis, and this formed the basis of the screenplay for "Pat and Mike". Indeed, Hepburn performs all of the sometimes incredible athletic feats seen onscreen.
Hepburn plays Pat Pemberton, an athletic coach at a college who also moonlights by developing her own career as an up-and-coming athlete who is making a name for herself on the golf and tennis circuit. She's engaged to Collier Weld (William Ching), a fellow college employee who has looks and charm but tends to be a bit bossy in his treatment of Pat. Worse, although he attends tournaments in which she competes, he seemingly does so out of politeness more than enthusiasm and let's Pat know that after they wed, he would prefer to live the life of a typical housewife. This doesn't fly very well with Pat, who is too intimidated to argue with him. Instead, she abruptly runs away temporarily to contemplate her future. Ultimately, she meets Mike Conovan (Spencer Tracy), a sports manager and promoter who talks big but who is barely hanging on by his fingernails. His sole remaining client is Davie Hucko (Aldo Ray), a beefy but simple-minded boxer who shows potential. Upon witnessing Pat's abilities on the tennis and golf courses, coupled with her abilities to excel at other sports, Mike believes she will be his dream ticket to success. With his savvy promotional abilities, Mike helps increase Pat's name recognition and acclaim. Amusingly, he plays a mother hen figure in her life, keeping her on a strict daily schedules of work outs and proper diets. Despite this paternal attitude, it's clearly he's becoming romantically enticed by her. The slow-rolling coupling of Pat and Mike is the heart of the story. We know they are falling in love even before they do. However, one obstacle remains: every time Collier attends one of her competitions, she becomes intimidated and loses. In a lively romance in which there are no major crisis, this is presented as the only roadblock standing in the way of Pat and Mike becoming a pair.
The doesn't strive for big belly-laughs and must rank as one of the most low-key romances ever filmed but the witty screenplay allows Tracy and Hepburn to banter, argue, talk over each other and provide plenty of amusing moments. Aldo Ray impresses with his first major screen role and there are fine contributions by familiar supporting actors including up-and-comers Jim Backus, Charles Bronson and Chuck Connors (in his screen debut). The movie also features a number of real-life legendary athletes of the period who appear as themselves. "Pat and Mike" is a true gem largely because it showcases two American acting legends at their best.
The Warner Archive Blu-ray is right up to the company's high standards and features the original trailer.