MGM’s suspense story Keeper of the Flame is one of 2 dramas that Spencer Tracy & Katharine Hepburn made, of their 9 films together. This film premiered a year since Pearl Harbor, when FDR strongly encouraged Hollywood to make movies that inspired patriotism. The story of a revered American hero who turns out to be a cult-ish fascist wasn’t exactly what FDR & L.B. Mayer had in mind! Though not enthralling as a thriller, Flame works as a moody character study with a great cast, especially Tracy as the reporter seeking the truth. And Hepburn's character feels like an early, gentler take on Suddenly, Last Summer. My take here:
Kate's the "Keeper of the Flame" & Spencer is the seeker of the truth
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| by Anonymous | reply 15 | June 2, 2025 11:59 AM |
Currently on Tubi, BTW.
| by Anonymous | reply 1 | May 30, 2025 5:06 PM |
Why was he even a star? Fugly and boring. Looks more like a minor character actor who plays parts like barkeep or 3rd cop on the left.
| by Anonymous | reply 2 | May 30, 2025 5:22 PM |
In one scene Hepburn enters through French doors in a long gown and carrying flowers. Cukor, the director said he allowed her this last great lady entrance.
| by Anonymous | reply 3 | May 30, 2025 5:27 PM |
Yes, mourning in white, like Aunt Violet! No elevator, though!
| by Anonymous | reply 4 | May 30, 2025 5:33 PM |
Katharine Hepburn's widow reveals her "hero" husband's hidden agenda, fascism disguised as patriotism, in "The Keeper of the Flame." Amazing that this was made over 80 years ago, but fascism playbook is so timeless.
| by Anonymous | reply 5 | May 31, 2025 2:30 AM |
Hepburn makes an incredible sppech in the film about the evils of American fascism that’s truer now than it was in 1942.
Or rather, these assholes have been around since forever and they finally got to run the show thanks to Trump.
| by Anonymous | reply 6 | May 31, 2025 3:29 AM |
No surprise that George Cukor cast strapping and packing 23 year old Forrest Tucker as Kate's cousin in "Keeper of the Flame." Just two years in the movie biz, Tucker already had nearly 20 films under his, um, belt. His debut was in Gary Cooper's "The Westerner," another show biz big boy!
| by Anonymous | reply 7 | May 31, 2025 12:22 PM |
I prefer the gay version, "Keeper of the Flamer."
| by Anonymous | reply 8 | May 31, 2025 12:44 PM |
Ha! I wonder if Scotty Bowers was brought in as an "intimacy coordinator!"
| by Anonymous | reply 9 | May 31, 2025 1:42 PM |
Very poor movie history, Rick.
| by Anonymous | reply 10 | June 2, 2025 4:36 AM |
Katharine Hepburn, in one of her last glam leading lady roles.
Really?!
| by Anonymous | reply 11 | June 2, 2025 4:37 AM |
… one of 2 dramas that Spencer Tracy & Katharine Hepburn made, of their 9 films together…
Nope.
| by Anonymous | reply 12 | June 2, 2025 4:37 AM |
Here's the trailer to "Keeper of the Flame," which plays up the suspense elements of the movie, which are pretty mild...
| by Anonymous | reply 13 | June 2, 2025 10:43 AM |
I find Spencer decidedly dull so it's a shame he wasn't cast as the fascist cult leader.
| by Anonymous | reply 14 | June 2, 2025 11:53 AM |
I have to laugh at how the headline Robert Forrest Killed! appears before his car even hits the ground after falling over a bridge.
| by Anonymous | reply 15 | June 2, 2025 11:59 AM |