In Adam’s Rib (1949), Spencer Tracy plays Adam Bonner, a prosecutor whose wife Amanda, played by Katharine Hepburn, defends the woman Adam is prosecuting. Directed by George Cukor, the comedy turns a courtroom battle into a battle of the sexes at home, with the Bonners arguing by day and trying to keep the peace by night.
Tracy is at his comic best here: gruff, exasperated, and completely fond of the woman out-arguing him. The film’s charm lies in that balance — he never becomes a villain for holding his ground, and Hepburn never becomes a caricature for holding hers. It is one of the finest Tracy-Hepburn pairings, and a reminder of how modern their partnership could feel.
