Description:

Tracy, Hepburn & Cukor Signed "Adam's Rib" Publicity Photo

A publicity photo showing Spencer Tracy (1900-1967), Katharine Hepburn (1907-2003), and George Cukor (1899-1983) on the set of the 1949 MGM romantic comedy "Adam's Rib," signed by Tracy as "Spencer Tracy" at lower left; signed by Hepburn as "Katharine Hepburn" at lower center; and signed and inscribed by Cukor as "To the / students of Daycroft School / George Cukor" at right. N.d., n.p. The vintage glossy black and white photograph is stamped "Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer" in large blue block letters at the top verso. The photo caption is stamped in part verso as: "When a Director takes over…George Cukor knows what he wants in a picture and has no hesitancy in telling what it is. The candid cameraman on the set of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's 'Adam's Rib' caught the famous director with stars Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn…" Expected surface wear including file holes punched along the left edge and isolated surface abrasions mostly confined to the margins and edges. Scattered minor wrinkles, folds, and scuffs, else very good. 8.125" x 10.125." Provenance: From the collection of a relative of Teddy Getty Gaston (1913-2017), the fifth and last wife of J. Paul Getty (1892-1976).

The casting of real-life partners Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy in "Adam's Rib" was announced in April 1949. In fact, screenwriters Garson Kanin and Ruth Gordon specifically wrote the screenplay for Tracy and Hepburn, in what would be their sixth on-screen collaboration. The couple would portray Adam and Amanda Bonner, husband-and-wife lawyers who serve as opposing counsel during a domestic violence attempted murder case. Hepburn's clothing in this photograph indicates that it was taken during the filming of one of the hilarious courtroom scenes. Directed by George Cukor, "Adam's Rib" was filmed on location in New York City, Newtown, Connecticut, and on stages in Culver City, California between June and September 1949. The movie was released to great fanfare on November 18, 1949.

George Cukor dedicated this photograph to the pupils of the Daycroft School, a private co-educational boarding and day school that operated on several Connecticut campuses (including Darien, Stamford, and Greenwich) from its founding in 1928 to its closing in 1991. The mission of the school, established by area educator Sara Pyle Smart, was to fulfill both the academic and spiritualist needs of Christian Scientist children, from pre-school through high school. Timothy "Timmy" Getty (1946-1958), the only son of Teddy and J. Paul Getty, briefly but very happily attended the Daycroft School before he died of a brain tumor at age 12 in August 1958.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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