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Adam's Rib

Play trailer Poster for Adam's Rib 1949 1h 41m Romance Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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96% Tomatometer 26 Reviews 86% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
A courtroom rivalry finds its way into the household when prosecuting lawyer Adam Bonner (Spencer Tracy) faces off against his wife, Amanda (Katharine Hepburn), who happens to be a defense attorney. Working on opposite sides of a lawsuit where a woman (Judy Holliday) has shot her cheating husband (Tom Ewell), Adam and Amanda are both determined to win the case, and their home becomes the setting for comical showdowns, with neither spouse willing to relent.
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Adam's Rib

Adam's Rib

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Critics Consensus

Matched by Garson Kanin's witty, sophisticated screenplay, George Cukor, Spencer Tracy, and Katherine Hepburn are all in top form in the classic comedy Adam's Rib.

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Critics Reviews

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Bob Thomas Associated Press 07/25/2019
Adam's Rib is one of the smartest comedies in years. It is a welcome return to the sophisticated spoofing that Hollywood seemed to have forgotten. Go to Full Review Penelope Gilliatt The New Yorker 01/14/2013
Katharine Hepburn conveys an extraordinary abundance of spirit. Go to Full Review Variety Staff Variety 02/03/2009
Adam's Rib is a bright comedy success, belting over a succession of sophisticated laughs. Go to Full Review Mike Massie Gone With The Twins 08/03/2020
4/10
It feels as if it's more about how a couple can playfully fight while facing off in a courtroom rather than whether or not women should be treated impartially. Go to Full Review Urban Cinefile Critics Urban Cinefile 05/23/2008
George Cukor directs with a light touch and the film leaps from one priceless moment to the next Go to Full Review Film4 10/16/2007
An impeccably crafted and scripted classic. Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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E S @Einstine Apr 26 The film says it"s a comedy, but I don't see it. The message is, because of a husband infidelity, a wife is justified in shooting him? What is funny about that? Sad to say but many of our modern problems are because people started to agree with this idea... that violence, if it is done in the name of any mistreatment, percived or real, is justified See more Farah R. @Farah Mar 7 Tracy and Hepburn portray a modern working couple whose home life is depicted as loving and intimate, emphasizing their enduring love and mutual respect despite their disagreements and professional rivalry. It’s a great film in many respects, featuring stellar acting and a brilliant script. See more Stephen C @bob25009 07/03/2025 Funny in 1 hour and 41 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Savannah G @Sgudino93 04/12/2024 This might be one of my Favorite KH Performances - This is a perfect example of the chemistry between Tracy and Hepburn. Really Strong performances and the topic is really revolutionary at the time. and the balance between the marriage of the couple and really what it means to be married and also the equality that often times does not show up within marriage. the storytelling and the bits of Humor really brought this movie to the forefront - Surprised that KH was not even Nominated for this performance! See more cato @Gilligan 03/13/2024 Watched on TMC tonight. Listed as a romcom. It's the opposite. Silly, contrived, poorly acted, typical of movies of that era. Attempted murder isn't funny no matter the rationalization. Skip this one. See more Shadowman4710 @RT96537255 01/12/2024 As a fan of Tracy and Hepburn, I really wanted to love this movie but I think the most I can manage is mild appreciation. It certainly has its good points. Tracy and Hepburn click very well together (as they usually did) and they have a good supporting cast. The problem is that the silliness of the situation wears very thing, very quickly. It's worth the time for Tracy and Hepburn fans but is probably too dated for anybody else to really enjoy. They did better in other films together. See more Read all reviews
Adam's Rib

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Cast & Crew

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George Cukor

Director

Spencer Tracy

Adam Bonner

Katharine Hepburn

Amanda Bonner

Judy Holliday

Doris Attinger

Tom Ewell

Warren Francis Attinger

David Wayne

Kip Lurie

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Adam's Rib

Adam's Rib (1949) Adam's Rib (1949) Adam's Rib (1949) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis A courtroom rivalry finds its way into the household when prosecuting lawyer Adam Bonner (Spencer Tracy) faces off against his wife, Amanda (Katharine Hepburn), who happens to be a defense attorney. Working on opposite sides of a lawsuit where a woman (Judy Holliday) has shot her cheating husband (Tom Ewell), Adam and Amanda are both determined to win the case, and their home becomes the setting for comical showdowns, with neither spouse willing to relent.
Director
George Cukor
Producer
Lawrence Weingarten
Screenwriter
Ruth Gordon, Garson Kanin
Distributor
Criterion Collection, MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Distributing Corp.
Production Co
Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Genre
Romance, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Nov 18, 1949, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
May 1, 2008
Runtime
1h 41m
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