It’s in the Name of the Title Blogathon–Alice Adams (1935)

This blogathon event is devoted to films named after the name of one or more characters in a film. Typically, the titular character is the main character, though in some cases (e.g., 1971’s Klute) it could be argued that the film is named after a supporting character. In 1935’s Alice Adams, the titular character, portrayed by Katharine Hepburn, is very much the main character. It could also be argued that she is the only main character, as everyone else in the film is very much supporting. Hepburn’s Oscar-nominated performance is tremendous and she deserved to win the Best Actress award. Bette Davis ended up winning for her turn in Dangerous, and felt that Hepburn was robbed. Davis felt like her award was an attempt by the Academy to make up for her lack of a nomination for Of Human Bondage (1934) and it came at Hepburn’s expense.

Alice Adams, based on Booth Tarkington’s 1921 Pulitzer Prize winning-novel of the same name, is simply about a young woman trying to move up the social ladder in her small Indiana town. Alice lives with her father, Virgil (Fred Stone), her mother (Ann Shoemaker) and brother Walter (Frank Albertson). Mrs. Adams’ first name is never revealed. The Adams family is made out to be impoverished, but they live in a decent 2-story home and seem to have enough food and things they need. It does appear however, that there isn’t much money leftover for any luxuries.

However, despite the Adams family’s lack of wealth, Alice isn’t exactly ostracized by her wealthier peers. At the beginning of the film, Alice is at a local florist looking for a corsage for a party to which she’s been invited–a party thrown by the wealthy Mildred Palmer (Evelyn Venable). At first Alice is looking at a rather extravagant corsage and is forced to ask to see the more modest corsage of violets. However, even the $2 ($45.77 in 2024) is too expensive for Alice’s pocketbook. In a motif that would repeat itself throughout the film, Alice refuses to admit that she cannot afford to purchase any merchandise and laments that she didn’t come in sooner when the florist had a bigger selection. She ends up making her own free corsage with violets she finds outside.

Alice has Walter escort her to Mildred’s party. He clearly couldn’t care less about impressing the rich set, but agrees to take Alice at the behest of their mother. Alice on the other hand, immediately starts putting on airs, but is quickly identified as a poser. However, Alice’s social faux pas do not turn off everyone at the party. A young man, the wealthy Arthur Russell (Fred MacMurray), finds Alice charming and talks her up at the party.

Alice and Arthur start seeing each other which of course attracts the attention of the upper classes. Mildred is supposedly engaged to Arthur and cannot understand what he sees in the lowly Alice Adams. Alice, who is always conscious of her family’s status and wealth (or lack thereof) continues to put on airs with Arthur so that he doesn’t catch on that she’s part of a much lower social set. Alice’s lies come to a head in one of the funniest and most bittersweet moments in the film.

To impress Arthur, Alice invites him over to her family’s home for a fancy dinner. She frets over the position and condition of the family’s furniture, trying to strategically hide stains and tears by turning the furniture at an angle, flipping over the cushions and placing pillows. Alice even goes as far as to hire a maid, Malena (Hattie McDaniel) to serve the meal. Unfortunately for Alice, she is unequipped and inexperienced to entertain and makes many faux pas at her dinner: the family is way overdressed in formal wear and the meal is too heavy for the hot summer day. Credit must be given to Arthur for enduring one soup and stew after another while he heavily perspires while wearing a wool (or tweed) suit jacket.

Hattie McDaniel’s performance as maid Malena must be singled out, because she is hysterical and brings some much needed levity for a very heartbreaking (for Alice) scene. Malena is a terrible cook and comes up with a series of soups and stews for the family dinner. She also serves things like pickled watermelon rind and melted ice cream. As she gets hotter and sweatier, Malena’s maid headband (hat? headpiece?) keeps falling and covering half her face. The funniest part though are her facial expressions. As Alice pretends that the family eats caviar and fancy food all the time, Malena’s face tells the real story. She just barely keeps from rolling her eyes when Alice yammers on about her family’s fancy diet and lifestyle.

Eventually, the jig is up when Virgil tells Arthur the truth about the family’s wealth and exposes Alice’s lies. Alice is heartbroken and horrified and fully expects Arthur to dump her due to her lack of wealth and social class. The scene after the dinner party, when Alice looks out the window and sobs, is heartbreaking. She thinks that she’s probably lost her best chance to achieve her dream of moving into the higher social class. However, because Arthur is a genuine sweetheart throughout the entire film, he only finds Alice’s attempts to impress him endearing and tells her that he loves her. We have to hope that he and Alice will live happily ever after.

There is a subplot involving Virgil and his employment at a glue factory where he regularly butts heads with Mr. Lamb (Charles Grapewin) and eventually strikes out on his own with his own “glueworks.” Why a small town needs two glue factories, who knows. Walter eventually embezzles money from Mr. Lamb, which horrifies Virgil. I don’t want to focus on this subplot however, because frankly Virgil’s incessant whining gets on my nerves. I don’t have sympathy for Virgil Adams because he’s such a sad sack.

Back to the best part of the film, Alice and Arthur. Alice Adams is a story about social class. Alice and her family are part of the lower class. Alice desperately wants to be part of the upper class. She recognizes that the upper class have the privilege that allow them to live a life free of struggle. However, because her peers know about her social standing, Alice cannot pretend to be part of their lifestyle–she needs another “in.” Arthur represents that in, as he’s already part of that social set. Meanwhile, Alice’s father, Virgil, seems resigned to being part of the working class and feels that Alice’s attempts to move up the social ladder are a waste of time. He repeatedly thwarts Alice’s attempts to try and be more than she is. Alice’s mother however, also recognizes that there are benefits to being part of a higher class. She urges her husband to strike out on his own to hopefully become a successful business owner, hereby giving them not only the income, but a boost in their social standing.

Katharine Hepburn’s performance is what makes Alice Adams work. She is adept at conveying hope and joy when Alice comes up with her latest tale to tell about her family’s wealth. When her charade is ruined by her father at the dinner, our hearts break for her. The amount of torment and despair is evident on Alice’s face as she weeps. She lights up when she sees Arthur, the man who throughout the entire film has never wavered in his love for Alice–even when she assumes the worst about him. Hepburn is known for playing strong willed, independent women. However, Alice Adams allows her to reveal a softer, more vulnerable side. Hepburn was robbed of the Oscar.