Audrey Hepburn, The Children’s Hour (1961) starring Shirley MacLaine and James Garner

The Children’s Hour is a 1961 American drama film directed by William Wyler. The screenplay is based on the 1934 play of the same title by Lillian Hellman. The film, starring Audrey Hepburn, Shirley MacLaine, and James Garner is about a troublemaking student at a girls’ school, who accuses two teachers of being lesbians. It’s a remake of These Three, also directed by William Wyler.

Former college classmates Martha Dobie (Shirley MacLaine) and Karen Wright (Audrey Hepburn) open a private school for girls in New England. After two years of engagement to Joe Cardin (James Garner), a reputable OB/GYN, Karen finally agrees to set a wedding date. Joe is related to wealthy Amelia Tilford (Fay Bainter), whose granddaughter Mary Tilford (Karen Balkin) is a student at the school. Mary is a spoiled, conniving child who often bullies her classmates, particularly Rosalie Wells (Veronica Cartwright), whom she blackmails when she discovers her stealing another student’s bracelet. When Mary is caught in a lie, Karen punishes her by refusing to let her attend the weekend’s boat races. Furious, the young girl exacts her revenge by inventing a story about Martha and Karen being involved in a lesbian relationship. When the story is circulated by the local media, the reputation of the two teachers is destroyed…

• This post is part of the Celebrating Audrey Hepburn series, wich contains 350 high resolution pictures of the film icon Audrey Hepburn, including movie posters, stills, on-set pictures and fashion photoshoots (21 posts, 290 Mb) :
Beautiful Audrey Hepburn – Happy new year 2013 !
Audrey Hepburn, We will all go to Monte Carlo (1951)
Audrey Hepburn, Secret People (1952) starring Valentina Cortese
Audrey Hepburn, Roman Holiday (1953) starring Gregory Peck
Audrey Hepburn, Sabrina (1954) starring Humphrey Bogart and William Holden
Audrey Hepburn, War and Peace (1956) starring Henry Fonda and Mel Ferrer
Audrey Hepburn, Funny Face (1957) starring Fred Astaire
Audrey Hepburn, Love in the afternoon (1957) starring Gary Cooper and Maurice Chevalier
Audrey Hepburn, Green Mansions (1959) starring Anthony Perkins
Audrey Hepburn, The Nun’s Story (1959) directed by Fred Zinnemann
Audrey Hepburn, The Unforgiven (1960) starring Burt Lancaster
Audrey Hepburn, Breakfast at Tiffany’s (1961) starring George Peppard
Audrey Hepburn, The Children’s Hour (1961) starring Shirley MacLaine
Audrey Hepburn, Charade (1963) starring Cary Grant
Audrey Hepburn, My Fair Lady (1964) starring Rex Harrison
Audrey Hepburn, Paris when it sizzles (1964) starring William Holden
Audrey Hepburn, How to steal a million (1966) starring Peter O’Toole
Audrey Hepburn, Two for the road (1967) starring Albert Finney
Audrey Hepburn, Wait until dark (1967) starring Alan Arkin and Richard Crenna
Audrey Hepburn, Robin and Marian (1976) starring Sean Connery
Audrey Hepburn, Always (1989) directed by Steven Spielberg