Christopher Strong
| Christopher Strong | |
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| Directed by |
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| Produced by | David O. Selznick |
| Screenplay by | Zoë Akins |
| Based on |
Christopher Strong (novel) by Gilbert Frankau |
| Starring | |
| Music by | Roy Webb |
| Cinematography | Bert Glennon |
| Edited by | Arthur Roberts |
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Production
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| Distributed by | RKO Radio Pictures (US) |
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Release date
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Running time
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78 min. |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $284,000 (estimated) |
Christopher Strong (a.k.a. The Great Desire and The White Moth) is a 1933 American Pre-Code film, produced by RKO and directed by Dorothy Arzner. The film starred Colin Clive and Katharine Hepburn (in her second screen role). The film is a tale of illicit love among the English aristocracy. The screenplay by Zoë Akins was adapted from the 1932 novel by Gilbert Frankau.
In London Monica (Helen Chandler) and her boyfriend Harry attend a scavenger hunt party given by Monica's aunt, Carrie. When nearly everyone wins, Carrie announces a new challenge: women must find a man who has been married over 5 years who is still faithful and men must find a woman over 20 who has never had a love affair. Though Harry has been married over 5 years and Monica is 21 neither fits the other requirement.
Monica departs to find her father, Sir Christopher Strong (Colin Clive), a member of parliament, who she knows has always been faithful to her mother. Harry goes to follow her and has a motorbike crash where he is helped by Lady Cynthia Darrington (Katharine Hepburn), a pilot, who he discovers is over 20 and has never had a love affair. At the party Cynthia and Christopher are introduced and Cynthia and Monica become friends.
Despite Christopher's wife, Lady Elaine (Billie Burke), being suspicious of the friendship between Christopher and Cynthia, Christopher puts her off by insisting that Cynthia is a good influence on Monica.
After Monica comes home drunk with Harry one night, Elaine tells him if he is an honourable man he won't see her daughter again. Harry assents and breaks things off with Monica. Upset, Monica begs Christopher to take her to Paris to see Cynthia perform in an aerial show. From there, they invite Cynthia on to their vacation home in Cannnes.
At Cannes Christopher realizes that he is in love with Cynthia. At a party, when his wife has gone home alone, he lets Monica go home with a strange man, Carlos, so that he and Cynthia can be alone. They confess they are in love with one another, but Cynthia decides to break off the affair before anything can begin. She and Christopher vow not see one another.
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