In Woman of the Year (1942), Spencer Tracy plays Sam Craig, a sports journalist who marries Tess Harding, a famous political commentator played by Katharine Hepburn. It was the first film to pair Tracy and Hepburn, and their sparring — warm, quick, and equal — became one of Hollywood’s great partnerships.
Tracy’s Sam is no pushover and no stereotype. He is plainspoken and stubborn, but he genuinely admires Tess’s work, and the comedy comes from two strong people learning to share a life. The film’s success launched nine films together for Tracy and Hepburn, and it showed Tracy at his most relaxed and modern.
