The Children's Hour (1961)

Fantastic!

True to its essence, the characters remain on the same line and manage to entertain the viewer, each highlighting their own distinctive qualities or touches.

The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.

Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.

"The Children's Hour" is a wonderful film. It's story is timeless, having to do with the power of lies and with society's preoccupation with rumors and scandal.A hateful young girl is responsible for unloosing the lie that destroys reputations and lives (reminiscent of "The Bad Seed" and "The Crucible"). One can never predict all the consequences of a lie. In the film, a private school's reputation is built on propriety, meaning it depends on the approval of the surrounding society, which is always a shaky situation. Such reputations are often the altars upon which the reputations of individuals are sacrificed.Based upon a play by Lillian Hellman, "The Children's Hour" reveals the destructive nature of society. It is a story that could have been written by William Inge, who was very aware of the phenomenon. The three leads are played by Audrey Hepburn, Shirley MacLaine, and James Garner. This is terrific casting and director William Wyler finds the best in all of them. Hepburn's "Breakfast at Tiffany's" was released the same year. MacLaine's "The Apartment" was released the year before.The young actress who plays Mary, the accuser, is perfect for her role. And young Veronica Cartwright shows her dramatic skills as well.The script is brilliant and not limited by its era, as has been suggested. In fact, placing the story in the early sixties makes the story more effective, by focusing on innuendo and whispers.

Though this movie was made well over 50 years ago, the subject matter of friendship, love and loyalty is timeless. This is a less well known film of Audrey Hepburn and of Shirley MacLaine, but it is absolutely well worth a watch - as much as all of their other films. The movie gives a beautiful insight into strong friendships and the nature of children. What a fantastic and moving film.

A trouble-making student at a girls' school accuses two teachers of being lesbians.Audrey Hepburn is probably best known for her lighter fare, and stuff that is typically shown in color. This is not light, and it is not in color. In fact, it deals with some rather modern themes, because it is hard to imagine William Wyler making a film about lesbians, and yet this is (sort of) what we have here.Kids are treacherous. You cannot help but believe the, but if you get a lying student, he or she can cause a lot of issues and pain. The kid here is the worst. If it were not wrong to do so, this is the sort of child you would want to slap. She is almost pure evil.

Karen Wright (Audrey Hepburn) and Martha Dobie (Shirley MacLaine) are best friends with their own little boarding school Wright and Dobie School for Girls. Karen is engaged to Dr. Joe Cardin (James Garner) who is the nephew of Mrs. Amelia Tilford. Her granddaughter mean girl Mary Tilford goes to the school. She gets punished by Karen for telling a lie and refusing to admit it. Martha feels abandoned by Karen. Martha's argumentative aunt Lily Mortar accuses Martha of having an UNNATURAL relationship with Karen. Mary's roommates eavesdrops on the argument and tells Mary who in turn tells her grandmother Amelia. To avoid going back to school, she adds even more lies. Talkative aunt Mortar is leaving and adds even more fuel to the fire. The gossip quickly spreads to all the parents.The little girl Mary is so deliciously evil. Young Veronica Cartwright plays the other girl who stole a locket and threatened by Mary. The actors are great although the acting gets very melodramatic. It's also very intense. It doesn't let go. Everybody is just so insanely annoying. It's overwrought and proud of it.