7.6/10
16,837
106 user 41 critic

Adam's Rib (1949)

Domestic and professional tensions mount when a husband and wife work as opposing lawyers in a case involving a woman who shot her husband.

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(screen play), (screen play)
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Nominated for 1 Oscar. Another 1 win & 3 nominations. See more awards »
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Cast

Complete credited cast:
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Olympia La Pere
Eve March ...
Grace
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Judge Reiser
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Jules Frikke
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Mrs. McGrath
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Judge Marcasson
Elizabeth Flournoy ...
Dr. Margaret Brodeigh
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Storyline

When a woman attempts to kill her uncaring husband, prosecutor Adam Bonner gets the case. Unfortunately for him his wife Amanda (who happens to be a lawyer too) decides to defend the woman in court. Amanda uses everything she can to win the case and Adam gets mad about it. As a result, their perfect marriage is disturbed by everyday quarrels... Written by Chris Makrozahopoulos <[email protected]>

Plot Summary | Plot Synopsis

Taglines:

You'll split your sides laughing! See more »

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

Certificate:

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Details

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Release Date:

18 November 1949 (USA)  »

Also Known As:

A Costela de Adão  »

Filming Locations:

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Company Credits

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Technical Specs

Runtime:

Sound Mix:

(Western Electric Sound System)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1
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Did You Know?

Trivia

In the opening scene Tom Ewell, followed by Judy Holliday, walks into a building to meet his mistress Jean Hagen. The location is 52nd Street, just east of Lexington Avenue. See more »

Goofs

When Adam is "lifted" in the courtroom by a lady weightlifter, the wires that actually lift him are plainly visible, even on a TV screen. They continue to be visible as he is lowered down. See more »

Quotes

Warren Francis Attinger: [to Adam Bonner] Listen, you don't get a split lip from imagination!
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Crazy Credits

Opening credits are little curtains that go up and down, on a stage in a performance hall. See more »

Connections

Featured in Hollywood et les hommes (2013) See more »

Soundtracks

"Sleepy Time Gal' (uncredited)
Music by Richard A. Whiting and Ange Lorenzo
Lyrics by Ray Egan and Joseph R. Alden
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User Reviews

 
This is what Tracy/Hepburn comedies are all about.
13 June 2005 | by See all my reviews

Sometimes in life, we experience the most embarrassing situations. But no matter how embarrassing these situations are, they can't possibly be as whacked-out as what the characters in "Adam's Rib" experience.

It all begins when Doris Attinger (Judy Holliday) shoots her husband Warren (Tom Ewell) after she finds him cheating on her. She is promptly arrested for attempted murder. High-priced lawyer Adam Bonner (Spencer Tracy) is assigned to represent Warren in court. However, Adam's wife Amanda (Katharine Hepburn) finds it despicable that a woman was arrested for punishing her unfaithful husband, and decides to represent Doris in court.

Well, as you can imagine, with husband and wife on opposite sides of the trial, things get a little crazy. It only makes sense that they can't help but maintain their spousal attitudes towards each other while in court (especially under the table). But even Amanda starts to find Adam unpleasant for defending Warren, and she plays a few tricks on him in court, namely with a very muscular woman.

One thing that you have to wonder after seeing a movie this good is: how did Ruth Gordon and Garson Kanin come up with such a great story? Well, the point is that they did. It focuses not only on sexism, but also on how the whole trial is affecting their marriage.

Anyway, the point is that in my opinion, "Adam's Rib" should have won Best Picture for 1949. Perfect.


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