movie review keeper of the flame

Log in or sign up for Rotten Tomatoes

Trouble logging in?

By continuing, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes and to receive email from the Fandango Media Brands .

By creating an account, you agree to the Privacy Policy and the Terms and Policies , and to receive email from Rotten Tomatoes.

Email not verified

Let's keep in touch.

Sign up for the Rotten Tomatoes newsletter to get weekly updates on:

• Upcoming Movies and TV shows
• Trivia & Rotten Tomatoes Podcast
• Media News + More

By clicking "Sign Me Up," you are agreeing to receive occasional emails and communications from Fandango Media (Fandango, Vudu, and Rotten Tomatoes) and consenting to Fandango's Privacy Policy and Terms and Policies . Please allow 10 business days for your account to reflect your preferences.

OK, got it!

Movies / TV

No results found.

• What's the Tomatometer®?
• Login/signup

Movies in theaters

• Opening this week
• Top box office
• Coming soon to theaters
• Certified fresh movies

Movies at home

• Fandango at Home
• Netflix streaming
• Prime Video
• Most popular streaming movies
• What to Watch New

Certified fresh picks

• Civil War Link to Civil War
• Monkey Man Link to Monkey Man
• The First Omen Link to The First Omen

New TV Tonight

• The Sympathizer: Season 1
• Our Living World: Season 1
• Under the Bridge: Season 1
• The Spiderwick Chronicles: Season 1
• Conan O'Brien Must Go: Season 1
• Orlando Bloom: To the Edge: Season 1
• The Circle: Season 6
• Dinner with the Parents: Season 1
• Jane: Season 2

Most Popular TV on RT

• Fallout: Season 1
• Ripley: Season 1
• 3 Body Problem: Season 1
• Parasyte: The Grey: Season 1
• Shōgun: Season 1
• Sugar: Season 1
• We Were the Lucky Ones: Season 1
• Baby Reindeer: Season 1
• X-Men '97: Season 1
• A Gentleman in Moscow: Season 1
• Best TV Shows
• Most Popular TV
• TV & Streaming News

Certified fresh pick

• Fallout Link to Fallout
• All-Time Lists
• Binge Guide
• Comics on TV
• Five Favorite Films
• Video Interviews
• Weekend Box Office
• Weekly Ketchup
• What to Watch

Best Movies of 2024: Best New Movies to Watch Now

25 Most Popular TV Shows Right Now: What to Watch on Streaming

What to Watch: In Theaters and On Streaming

Awards Tour

Fallout : What It Gets Right, and What It Gets Wrong

CinemaCon 2024: Day 3 – Disney Previews Deadpool & Wolverine , Moana 2 , Alien: Romulus , and More

• Trending on RT
• Play Movie Trivia

Keeper of the Flame

1942, Drama, 1h 40m

Where to watch Keeper of the Flame

Rent Keeper of the Flame on Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango at Home, or buy it on Prime Video, Apple TV, Fandango at Home.

Rate And Review

Super Reviewer

Rate this movie

Oof, that was Rotten.

Meh, it passed the time.

It’s good – I’d recommend it.

So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

What did you think of the movie? (optional)

You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

Step 2 of 2

How did you buy your ticket?

Let's get your review verified..

AMCTheatres.com or AMC App New

Cinemark Coming Soon

We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

Regal Coming Soon

Theater box office or somewhere else

By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.

You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

Keeper of the flame   photos.

Steven O'Malley (Spencer Tracy) expects his reporting assignment to be a run-of-the-mill story. He is to cover the death of Robert Forrest, a hero in World War I, who died when a bridge collapsed under his car. The press conference given by Forrest's secretary (Richard Whorf), however, does not satisfy O'Malley, who decides that questioning his widow (Katharine Hepburn) could expose a richer story. The lies continue to build, until he discovers an estate building that may hold the true story.

Genre: Drama

Original Language: English

Director: George Cukor

Producer: Victor Saville

Writer: I.A.R. Wylie , Donald Ogden Stewart

Release Date (Theaters): Mar 20, 1944  original

Release Date (Streaming): Nov 21, 2016

Runtime: 1h 40m

Distributor: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, Loew's Inc.

Production Co: Metro Goldwyn Mayer, Loew's Inc.

Sound Mix: Mono

Cast & Crew

Spencer Tracy

Steven "Stevie" O'Malley

Katharine Hepburn

Mrs. Christine Forrest

Richard Whorf

Clive Kerndon

Margaret Wycherly

Old Mrs. Forrest

Forrest Tucker

Geoffrey "Geoff" Midford

Frank Craven

Doctor Fielding

George Cukor

I.A.R. Wylie

Donald Ogden Stewart

Screenwriter

Leon Gordon

Associate Producer

Victor Saville

Bronislau Kaper

Original Music

Ludwig van Beethoven

Non-Original Music

William H. Daniels

Cinematographer

James E. Newcom

Film Editing

Critic Reviews for Keeper of the Flame

Audience reviews for keeper of the flame.

The last chapter was unexpected. Refreshing not to always know an ending before it gets there.

An intense, yet also extremely heavy-handed political drama. It leads on like a film noir with the writer played by Tracy as the detective, trying to figure out a mystery about the famous Mr. Forrest, and then becomes something very outrageous in the end. I enjoyed it, but it is a little too unbelievable, if you see it you know what I mean. Overall it is pretty good, though.

Somewhat weird downbeat drama, definitely an oddity from Tracy/Hepburn. But still worth a viewing.

Movie & TV guides

Play Daily Tomato Movie Trivia

Discover What to Watch

Rotten Tomatoes Podcasts

Keeper of the Flame

• Photos & Videos

Film Details

• Articles & Reviews

Brief Synopsis

Cast & crew, george cukor, spencer tracy, katharine hepburn, richard whorf, margaret wycherly, forrest tucker, photos & videos, technical specs.

When venerated World War I hero Robert Forrest dies in an automobile accident, the nation mourns his loss and the press congregates outside the gates of his estate in pursuit of a story. Just returned from Berlin, esteemed war correspondent Steven O'Malley joins his peers Freddie Ridges and Jane Harding, but remains aloof from the pack. As Freddie questions the police report of Forrest's death, Steven maintains that he wants to write the story of Forrest's life as an inspiration for the "dark days ahead." To placate the journalists, Forrest's private secretary, Clive Kerndon, holds a press conference. Determined to win an interview with Forrest's widow Christine, Steven takes a taxi to the estate but is turned away by the gatekeeper, Jason Rickards, an embittered man who cryptically states that he was Forrest's top sergeant until a war wound relegated him to gatekeeper. As Steven walks away, he notices a sobbing little boy, Jason's son Jeb, who blames himself for his idol Forrest's death because he failed to warn him about the precarious state of the bridge that collapsed under the weight of Forrest's car, sending him crashing to his death in the river below. After Steven consoles Jeb and explains his mission, the boy agrees to lead him along a secret path to the Forrest house. There, Steven watches as Christine reverently arranges a bouquet of flowers in front of her late husband's portrait. After Christine refuses to help Steven write his "memorial to her late husband's memory," Kerndon privately rebukes her and warns her to cooperate lest Steven become suspicious of her behavior. As Steven drives back to the hotel, his talkative cab driver, Orion Peabody, gossips about the animosity that existed between Forrest and Christine's cousin, Geoffrey Midford. Soon after Steven retires to his room, Christine appears at the hotel and offers to help him write her husband's story, and they arrange to meet the following day at her house. From his hotel room window, Steven watches as Christine drives away with Geoffrey. On the taxi ride to the Forrest estate the next day, Orion chats away about Christine paying the overdue mortgage on Geoffrey's farm. Distracted, Orion runs into Dr. Fielding's car and Steven learns that the doctor has come to the gatehouse to treat Jeb, who has fallen ill with a fever. As the ailing boy tells Steve about his sister Janet, who worked as Forrest's secretary until she abruptly went away, Jason enters the room and interrupts their conversation. Picking up the gatehouse phone, Steven calls the big house but is instead connected to Forrest's elderly mother. When Jason forbids Steven to use the phone, Steven begins to suspect that he is hiding something. Upon returning to his hotel, Steven finds a group of children from Forward America, the youth group founded by Forrest, waiting there with a deep sense of loss because Christine has refused to see them. The next day, Steven returns to the Forrest house and is surprised that Christine has left on a mysterious trip with Geoffrey. When Steven questions Kerndon about Forrest's mother, Kerndon discourages him from approaching her. Later, Steven asks the doctor about Jeb's sister and he replies that the girl was sent to a sanitarium after suffering a nervous breakdown. After returning from her trip, Christine visits Jeb at the gatehouse and Steven finds her there. On the drive back to the big house, Steven asks Christine about a windowless stone building on the property and she responds that is the arsenal, the place that her husband went to collect his thoughts. As Steven studies Forrest's papers at the house, Kerndon berates Christine for failing to give him the keys to the arsenal in her absence. Afterward, Christine runs out to the stone building, piles papers from her husband's desk into the fireplace and sets them on fire. Questioned by Steven about the stone building, Kerndon lies that it is a storehouse. When Steven leaves the house for a stroll, the panicky Kerndon calls New York to reassure his superior that he will "take care" of the arsenal. After meeting Christine at the door to the arsenal, Steven proceeds with her to the stable, where her horse is being treated for an leg injury he suffered on the day of Forrest's accident. Steven is skeptical when Christine explains that her horse's mishap prevented her from riding to the bridge and discovering that it had collapsed. As the two mount up for a ride, Steven confides that he thinks the bridge was sabotaged and implores Christine to trust him. They then ride to Forrest's mother's house where the demented woman raves on about her son's murder and accuses Christine of deliberately failing to warn Forrest about the condition of the bridge. Frustrated, Steven announces that he is abandoning the story and rides back to the house alone. Along the trail, he spots Freddie sketching the broken bridge and finds a discarded horse shoe near the river bank. When Steve discovers that the shoe matches Christine's injured horse's hoof, he realizes that she must have ridden to the bridge. That night, as Kerndon demands that Christine hand over the keys to the arsenal's filing cabinet, Steven knocks at the door, shows her the horse shoe and charges her with her husband's death. After accusing her of complicity with Geoffrey, Steven departs and Christine hurries to destroy the evidence locked within the arsenal. As Steven prepares to leave the estate, he encounters Geoffrey, who introduces him to Janet and announces their engagement. Jason then explains that Geoffrey and Janet had been childhood sweethearts. Janet, suffering from hero worship of Forrest, suffered a nervous breakdown and was institutionalized by Christine and Geoffrey, who had spent the last few days visiting her and arranging for her discharge. Realizing that he has wrongly accused Christine, Steven proceeds to the arsenal, declares his love to Christine and offers his support. Despondent, Christine recounts that the masses' worship of her husband transformed him into an arrogant, power hungry monster intent on smashing democracy. Unlocking the filing cabinet, Christine displays papers documenting Forrest's diabolical scheme to turn Americans against one another, thus weakening the country and enabling the institution of a fascistic form of government. Aware that Forrest was on his way to meet his fellow saboteurs, Christine decided not to warn him that the bridge was out, thus insuring his death. After Christine agrees to help Steven tell her husband's true story, Steven notices smoke pouring into the building and realizes that Kerndon has started a fire. Kerndon then shoots Christine, who dies in Steven's arms, begging him to expose Forrest. After locking Steven inside the burning building, Kerndon runs onto the road and fires at on oncoming car carrying Freddie and Jane. After their vehicle collides with Kerndon, Freddie and Jane rush to the arsenal, break down the door and rescue Steven, who then writes an expose about Forrest and a loving tribute to Christine.

Frank Craven

Horace Mcnally

Percy Kilbride

Audrey Christie

Darryl Hickman

Donald Meek

Howard Da Silva

William newell, mary mcleod, clifford brooke, blanche yurka, craufurd kent, mickey martin, manart kippen, don gallaher, cliff danielson, rita quigley, dick elliott.

Edward Mcwade

Gloria tucker, dr. charles frederick lindsley, robert pittard, louis mason, harold miller, cedric gibbons, leon gordon, bronislau kaper, james e. newcom, warren newcombe, victor saville, douglas shearer, donald ogden stewart, lyle wheeler, edwin b. willis, edward woehler, photo collections.

According to a December 1941 Hollywood Reporter news item, M-G-M bought the rights to the I. A. R. Wylie novel from RKO for $50,000. RKO had bought the property when it was an "embryonic idea," but later decided that it would need too many changes to film and presented too many casting difficulties due to the lack of suitable stars at RKO. Although Hollywood Reporter news items add Dorothy Morris, Jay Yard and Barry Bernard to the cast and state that Glenn Anders was testing for a role, their appearance in the released film has not been confirmed. A July 22, 1942 news item notes that Pauline Lord was in the cast, but in a modern interview, director George Cukor stated that Lord was originally cast as "Mrs. Forrest." According to Cukor, the scene with Lord was shot, but didnt work, and so she was replaced by Margaret Wycherly. This picture marked the screen debut of Audrey Christie and Mary McLeon. According to a June 1942 Hollywood Reporter news item, Hepburn suggested that Christie be tested for the role of "Jane Harding." Previous to her appearance in this film, McLeod was an unknown Canadian school teacher, according to a December 1942 Hollywood Reporter news item.        Keeper of the Flame was the last picture made by costume designer Adrian before leaving M-G-M. He had been head of the costume departmart for many years and was credited as being largely responsible for the M-G-M "look" popular throughout the 1930s. Adrian worked at various other studios throughout the 1940s and opened his own fashion house. He returned to M-G-M as costume designed for Lovely to Look At (see AFI Catalog of Feature Films, 1951-60 ).        According to an October 1943 New York Times news item, several Republican legislators complained to the Production Code Administration that this picture was propagandistic. In a modern interview, Cukor stated that the picture was made "during a period of undercover Fascism in the country. Certain things were in the air but hadnt come out into the open I suppose, to draw attention to them, we exaggerated." The New York Times review commented that this film "touches frankly upon a phase of American life that is most serious and pertinent today."

Miscellaneous Notes

Released in United States 1942

Sign Up now to stay up to date with all of the latest news from TCM.

Your Browser is Not Supported

To view this content, please use one of the following compatible browsers:

Safari v11+

Firefox Quantum

Microsoft Edge

Turn autoplay off

Turn autoplay on

Please activate cookies in order to turn autoplay off

• Jump to content [s]
• Jump to site navigation [0]
• Jump to search [4]
• Terms and conditions [8]
• Your activity
• Email subscriptions
• Account details
• Linked services
• Press office
• Guardian Print Centre
• Guardian readers' editor
• Observer readers' editor
• Terms of service
• Privacy policy
• Advertising guide
• Digital archive
• Digital edition
• Guardian Weekly
• Buy Guardian and Observer photos

Today's paper

• Main section
• G2 features
• Comment and debate
• Editorials, letters and corrections
• Other lives
• EducationGuardian
• Life & style
• Environment

Keeper of the Flame

Details: 1943, Rest of the world, USA, 100 mins

Direction: George Cukor

With: Katharine Hepburn ,  Richard Whorf and Spencer Tracy

User reviews

Today's best video, the week in tv, 'get your arse out, mate', spanish football player's stunning solo goal, whitewater kayaking: 'i wanted to spend every day on the river'.

• Most viewed

Last 24 hours

• 2. Star Wars Episode VII: what we know as shooting starts
• 3. The Goonies sequel confirmed by director Richard Donner
• 4. After Gremlins and The Goonies, what other 80s films need a remake?
• 5. My guilty pleasure: Trading Places
• More most viewed
• 2. Quiz: Can you match each of these Bond villains with their own evil plot?
• 3. Russian cinemas fined for showing The Wolf of Wall Street
• 4. 2 States and screen kisses: 'Bollywood is cranking it up a notch'
• 5. After Gremlins and The Goonies, what other 80s films need a remake?
• All today's stories

Film search

Latest reviews.

Noah review – 'a preposterous but endearingly unhinged epic'

Russell Crowe wrestles angels and demons in Darren Aronofsky's $125m mashup of the ancient story of Noah, writes Mark Kermode

Honour review – Shan Khan's 'conflicted' first feature

The Double review – Richard Ayoade's dark doppelganger drama

Divergent review – lacks lustre and grit

A Story of Children and Film review – Mark Cousins's 'spine-tingling' visual essay

Sponsored feature

• Across the site
• Film reviews
• Film trailers
• Video interviews
• License/buy our content
• Terms & conditions
• Accessibility
• Inside the Guardian blog
• Work for us
• Join our dating site today
• © 2014 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved.

Awesome, you're subscribed!

Thanks for subscribing! Look out for your first newsletter in your inbox soon!

The best things in life are free.

Sign up for our email to enjoy your city without spending a thing (as well as some options when you’re feeling flush).

Déjà vu! We already have this email. Try another?

By entering your email address you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy and consent to receive emails from Time Out about news, events, offers and partner promotions.

Love the mag?

Our newsletter hand-delivers the best bits to your inbox. Sign up to unlock our digital magazines and also receive the latest news, events, offers and partner promotions.

• Things to Do
• Food & Drink
• Arts & Culture
• Time Out Market
• Coca-Cola Foodmarks
• Los Angeles

Get us in your inbox

🙌 Awesome, you're subscribed!

Keeper of the Flame

Time out says, release details.

• Duration: 100 mins

Cast and crew

• Director: George Cukor
• Screenwriter: Donald Ogden Stewart
• Spencer Tracy
• Katharine Hepburn
• Richard Whorf
• Margaret Wycherly
• Forrest Tucker
• Howard da Silva

An email you’ll actually love

Discover Time Out original video

• Press office
• Investor relations
• Work for Time Out
• Editorial guidelines
• Privacy notice
• Do not sell my information
• Cookie policy
• Accessibility statement
• Terms of use
• Modern slavery statement
• Manage cookies
• Advertising

Time Out Worldwide

• All Time Out Locations
• North America
• South America
• South Pacific

MPAA Rating

Produced by, released by, keeper of the flame (1942), directed by george cukor.

• AllMovie Rating 6
• User Ratings ( 0 )
• Your Rating
• Overview ↓
• AllMovie Review Review ↓
• User Reviews ↓
• Cast & Crew ↓
• Releases ↓
• Related ↓

Synopsis by Hal Erickson

Characteristics, related movies.

"We waste our money so you don't have to."

"We waste our money, so you don't have to."

Movie Review

Keeper of the flame.

US Release Date: 03-18-1943

Directed by: George Cukor

Starring ▸ ▾

• Spencer Tracy ,  as
• Steven 'Stevie' O'Malley
• Katharine Hepburn ,  as
• Mrs. Christine Forrest
• Richard Whorf ,  as
• Clive Kerndon
• Margaret Wycherly ,  as
• Old Mrs. Forrest
• Forrest Tucker ,  as
• Geoffrey 'Geoff' Midford
• Frank Craven ,  as
• Doctor Fielding
• Stephen McNally ,  as
• Freddie Ridges
• Percy Kilbride ,  as
• Orion Peabody, Taxi Driver
• Audrey Christie ,  as
• Jane Harding
• Darryl Hickman ,  as
• Jeb Rickards
• Donald Meek ,  as
• Mr. Arbuthnot
• Howard Da Silva ,  as
• Jason Rickards
• William Newell as
• Piggot, the Horse Handler

Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn in Keeper of the Flame

After working so well with Spencer Tracy in Woman of the Year , Katharine Hepburn was eager to work again with Tracy, who had been cast in Keeper of the Flame as journalist Steve O'Malley, who returns from Europe to write a biography on a recently deceased national hero, Robert Forrest. Hepburn asked to play the female lead. The studio hesitated as Woman of the Year was a romantic comedy hit and this was a dramatic, political mystery. They, of course, relented and Keeper of the Flame became the second film in the Tracy/Hepburn team ups. Although it made a profit on its initial release, it was their least financially successful film.

Robert Forrest was a former war hero and nationally recognized figure who had started a popular political movement called Forward America Association. One rainy night, his car went off a bridge and Forrest was killed. Although almost everyone seemed to love Forrest, O’Malley starts to think more and more that Forrest was murdered.

Forrest lived on a huge estate with several homes on it. His widow, Christine, played by a still youthfully attractive Hepburn, is a recluse on the estate who refuses to talk to any reporters. Leaving Clive, a spokesman of Forrest’s, to deal with the reporters. With the help of the gatekeeper’s distraught son, O’Malley is able to sneak onto the estate and meet Christine. She knows him from his work but is utterly unwilling to help him write his story.

Clive convinces Christine to assist O’Malley in his writing endeavors. Clive believes they can use O’Malley’s writing to help in their cause, the cause being the bigger mystery than how Forrest died. Christine seems to want to encourage the hero worship image of Forrest, all the while giving the audience slight hints on the truth of Robert Forrest.

His organization was called Forward America Association, with the term, “Forward” being the key word. Another clue is when Christine tells O’Malley how popular Forrest was when they visited Germany and France. Because of the political angle of this film, it may very well remain more relevant than originally assumed. His birthplace is uncertain. His supporters are mostly young idealists from all over the country. His mother is kept locked away in a house on the estate so as to keep her from talking to reporters. The media eagerly jumped on the bandwagon and wrote supportive articles on Forrest. SPOILER ALERT: His politics are secretly fascist. “Of course they didn’t call it fascism; they painted it red, white and blue and called it Americanism.” Does this sound familiar to anyone else?

Most of Hepburn’s and Tracy’s films together were politically or socially relevant. What makes Keeper of the Flame so different from their other films is the dark tone. This is as close to a film noir as they ever made together. Although I enjoyed it, it was a bit slow and lacked that light spark so often found in their other work.

Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn in Keeper of the Flame .

It's not hard to see why this film didn't fare very well in 1943. Audiences in the midst of fighting a world war, didn't want to see a movie about (*Spoiler Alert*) an American Icon who turns out to be fascist. They were too busy fighting a real Hitler to want to see a fictionalized right-wing, racist, anti-Semitic version of our own Hitler. Lowell Mellett, the head of the Office of War Information's Bureau of Motion Pictures disapproved of the film and legendary MGM chief, Louis B. Mayer, reportedly stormed out of a screening of it, angry over the way it equated wealth with fascism. Republican congressmen complained to Will Hays, demanding that the Motion Picture Production Code be amended to include clauses against producing leftist propaganda.

Seen out from under the shadow of World War II, the film is easier to watch, but it's not much better and those who made a fuss about its release need not have worried. Whatever message noted Left Wing writer Donald Ogden Stewart wanted to get across is lost in the heavy-handed delivery. The final denouement is delivered by Hepburn without a trace of subtlety and sounds more like a civics lesson delivered in a Political Science 101 class than movie dialogue.

The pity is that the first half of the film is quite intriguing. There's a dark and ominous feel to the story while we wonder about the mystery of this famous man's death. Eric's probably right that this is as close as Tracy and Hepburn ever got to a film noir. Even though I don't think it meets the criteria of a film noir, I know what he means. There are some camera shots that could be from a noir film. And while we wonder what Hepburn's character's real motives are, she does seem to be playing the part of a femme fatale.

It's too bad the movie didn't stay in the noir mode. The entertainment lasts only as long as the mystery does. It's fun watching Tracy snoop about trying to worm his way into the Forrest household, flirt with the female reporter, and befriend the young boy. By the third act though, when the payoff starts to become obvious, the story starts to lose its way and spin its wheels a little.

Although it doesn't show, reportedly Tracy was drinking heavily while filming. His relationship with Hepburn had recently begun and those on set with them have mentioned that she was his constant companion and nursemaid during production. She kept him sober long enough to shoot his scenes and positively doted on him, according to eyewitnesses. Tracy, so was said, took her devotion for granted and often seemed to be ignoring her. On camera though, Tracy remained a professional and his performance is quite good. Hepburn's is the supporting role, and while I agree she's never looked better, isn't really given all that much to do.

This isn't typical Tracy/Hepburn material, but that actually made me more intrigued to watch it. It was interesting to see them in something besides a romantic comedy. It's just too bad it had to happen in this clumsy melodrama. What a wasted opportunity.

Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy in Keeper of the Flame .

Like Scott I found the opening set-up to be intriguing. However, for me the intrigue stopped the moment Spencer Tracy's journalist finally manages to find a way in to see Katharine Hepburn's reclusive widow. From there on the script is pretty much one big predictable yawn and I never bought the character of Christine.

SPOILER ALERT: She is the one responsible for her husband's death because she cannot stand the fact that he's become a fascist. So she's willing to see the man dead but somehow still wants to keep his memory sacred? And when she goes to burn up his papers and any evidence of his true political leanings and/or illegal schemes, she conveniently leaves the most damning evidence against him safely filed away. Wouldn't those papers be the first things she would destroy?

Tracy and Hepburn are both playing their stock characters here but Christine is a bit of a departure for Hepburn. Although she's still an upper-class New England type, she rarely played a character of such questionable morality (and she rarely died in a movie). The closest other role I can think of is her mad mother -also hiding a secret- in Suddenly, Last Summer (1959).

Clearly this is left-wing propaganda posing as a movie. Fascism is a favorite target of liberals (the fear of one person with too much power) just as Socialism is for conservatives (the fear of too many people with too much power). Republican members of Congress were outraged upon the release of Keeper of the Flame . But they would take their revenge a few years later in the form of witch hunts against anyone in Hollywood labeled a Communist.

My favorite scene comes courtesy of the wonderful Margaret Wycherly. She plays the dead man's elderly, mentally-ill mother. She plays her one scene to the hilt, easily stealing it away from the movie's stars. Her most famous role, of course, was as another mother. It was she to whom James Cagney declared, “Made it ma! Top of the World!” in White Heat (1949).

Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn are a revered classic movie couple, and deservedly so, yet I've always preferred them apart. Keeper of the Flame is easily one of their weakest films together as well as being one of George Cukor's least inspired directorial efforts.

Photos © Copyright Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1943)

Related Reviews

© 2000 - 2017 Three Movie Buffs. All Rights Reserved.

Dennis Schwartz Movie Reviews

• Top Ten Lists

KEEPER OF THE FLAME

• Post author: eenableadmin
• Post published: August 5, 2019
• Post category: Uncategorized

(director: George Cukor; screenwriters: from the book Keeper of the Flame by I. A. R. Wylie/Donald Ogden Stewart; cinematographer: William H. Daniels; editor: James Newcom; music: Bronislau Kaper; cast: Spencer Tracy (Stephen O’Malley), Katharine Hepburn (Christine Forrest), Richard Whorf (Clive Kerndon), Margaret Wycherly (Mrs. Forrest), Forrest Tucker (Geoffrey Midford), Frank Craven (Dr. Fielding), (Jane Harding), Darryl Hickman (Jeb Richards), Donald Meek (Mr. Arbuthnot), Howard Da Silva (Jason Richards), Horace McNally (Freddie Ridges), Mary McLeod (Janet Richards), Percy Kilbride (Taxi Driver, Orion Peabody); Runtime: 100; MPAA Rating: NR; producer: Victor Saville; MGM; 1942)

“ An ill-conceived political melodrama modeled after Citizen Kane. “

Reviewed by Dennis Schwartz

An ill-conceived political melodrama modeled after Citizen Kane (thankfully MGM had nothing to do with Orson Welles’ 1941 masterpiece!). George Cukor is the director; it’s adapted by writer Donald Ogden Stewart from the book Keeper of the Flame by I. A. R. Wylie. Despite the teaming of Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy and the excellent performance by Margaret Wycherly, the story is too stiffly told and the simple-minded propaganda conveyed is too absurd to be credible and is delivered in too shrill of an oratory style to be effective. It only proves that Hollywood has trouble handling films with serious themes.

Warning: spoiler in next paragraph.

Brash war correspondent Stephen O’Malley (Spencer Tracy) leaves Berlin to cover the accidental death of an American millionaire, the industrialist-patriotic icon, Robert Forrest. O’Malley admired Forrest and wants to write a hero-worshiping but true biography to keep the memory of the Great American alive. He wants to tell what he stands for that endeared him to the public, and why his death has affected so many Americans with sorrow. O’Malley visits Forrest’s New England Xanadu-like mansion and enlists the help of his reclusive widow, Christine Forrest (Katharine Hepburn), as he requests she make him the official biographer. At the urging of her handler, secretary Clive Kerndon (Richard Whorf), she agrees to play ball with O’Malley. Soon the reporter gains the confidence of the reticent widow and by continually prying he finds there’s something not kosher about Robert Forrest. Christine, as the keeper of the flame for her late husband, wants to keep out any memories of him that will soil his reputation. But O’Malley finds many cracks in the Forrest legend, including how his elderly, delusional and invalid mother (Margaret Wycherly) is kept almost as a prisoner on the estate, that the secretary feeds false publicity to the media about the Great Man (plugging him as he would a product), and that Christine is burning revealing papers about her hubby that show he was a fascist who was misleading the American public so that his elite group of contributors can take control of the government by getting around the electoral process. O’Malley, also, finds that Christine failed to warn hubby about driving over the downed bridge during the rainstorm even though she knew about it, and the great reporter (though it’s hard to think of him as such a hot-shot reporter if he fell for the Forrest fairy tale story without sensing something was wrong!) eventually attributes her act of murder as a patriotic act. In a hard to watch scene, Christine in a fit of histrionics tells out how her loving husband changed overnight to an arrogant despot and hated those who worshiped him, as well as Jews and blacks. When Christine is discovered telling all to the famous reporter, Clive kills her. But her story gives O’Malley the inspiration to write the truth about Forrest, as he debunks the myth, in his paper, and he calls the widow the real American hero who gave her life for the American way of life.

If you are a fan of Hepburn and Tracy and love their usual lively repartee, you’re better off sticking with their lighthearted battle-of-the-sexes comedy-romance romps such as Adam’s Rib or Pat and Mike.

REVIEWED ON 1/25/2005 GRADE: C

You Might Also Like

Accident (2009), girl who played with fire, the.

Keeper of the Flame

Verónica De Negri Michelle Foster Charles Fulwood Peter Gabriel (Self) Dick Gregory (Self) Jack Healey (Self) Carolyn Just Fred Just David Levine John Lewis (Self)

Recommendations

Advertisement

Practical Magic Book vs Movie Review

Sandra Bullock and Nicole Kidman are a fantastic duo in this movie about witches based on the book by Alice Hoffman. Find out how the two compare!

Big Fish Book vs Movie Review

Tim Burton adapted this story of a man who is trying to connect with his dying father-a man who couldn’t help but exaggerate the stories of his life.

The Dead Zone Book vs Movie Review

Stephen King’s first ever best seller was adapted by famed director David Cronenberg. Find out how the story of a man who can see the future differs from book to movie!

Arthur the King (the adventure racing dog) Movie vs True Story Review

Find out how the true story of a stray dog who becomes attached to an adventure racer compares to the new Mark Wahlberg movie!

The Boy in the Striped Pajamas Book vs Movie Review

This YA novel is about two boys who form a sweet friendship, but the whole story has a dark undercurrent due to it taking place during the Holocaust.

Dune: Part Two Book vs Movie Review

Denis Villeneuve’s highly anticipated Dune Part Two is finally out-but does he capture the messaging of the book that Frank Herbert intended?

All of Us Strangers Ending Explained Review

This book and movie are both a surrealist story of a man connecting with his past. Find out what was changed from book to film!

Life of Pi Book vs Movie/Ending Explained Review

Find out how this symbolic movie about a teenager at sea with a tiger, compares to the award winning book it was based on!

Dune: Part One Book vs Movie Review

Frank Herbert created the epic world of Dune which has recently been adapted by Denis Villeneuve.

Breakfast at Tiffany’s Book vs Movie Review

Audrey Hepburn turned Holly Golightly into an icon. But how does the movie compare with the book which was written by Truman Capote?

American Fiction vs Erasure Book vs Movie Review

This critically acclaimed movie starring Jeffery Wright was adapted from a book by Percival Everett. Find out how the two compare!

Mean Girls Book vs Movies 2004 vs 2024 Review

Tina Fey’s iconic comedy was adapted from a self help book! Find out how book and movie compare, and how the new remake compares with the original.

The Color Out of Space Book vs Movie Review

H.P. Lovecraft’s cosmic horror masterpiece was adapted nearly 100 years after it was published. Find out how book and movie compare!

The Virgin Suicides Book vs Movie Review

Sofia Coppola’s directorial debut is an adaptation about five sisters and the boys who are obsessed with them. Find out how the two compare!

The Island of Doctor Moreau Book vs Movies Review

There are strange experiments happening on the island of Doctor Moreau…Find out how this iconic book compares to three different movie adaptations!

The Color Purple 2023 Book vs Movie Review

How does this musical adaptation of Alice Walker’s book compare with the award winning novel?

Leave the World Behind Book vs Movie Review

Find out what is different between the New York Times best seller (how did that happen??) and its Netflix adaptation about the end of the world.

Eileen ending explained/Book vs Movie Review

This slow burn thriller by Otessa Moshfegh was adapted into a movie starring Anne Hathaway and Thomasin Mckenzie. FInd out how the two compare!

Forrest Gump Book vs Movie Review

written by Laura J. Forrest Gump by Winston Groom (1986) Forrest Gump directed Robert Zemeckis (1994) This is a book vs movie topic that was requested by Ryan, as well as Shelby from longdogbookreviews. Forrest’s childhood In the movie I’m not sure if Forrest’s dad left them, or if he died (I’m thinking he left …

Forrest Gump Book vs Movie Review Read More »

The Time Machine Book vs Movie Review

H.G. Wells first novel is about a man who travels thousands of years into the future and meets the Eloi and the Morlocks. Find out how the 1960 movie compares!

Shutter Island Book vs Movie Review

Martin Scorsese teams up with Leonardo DiCaprio to adapt the Dennis Lehane thriller, Shutter Island! This movie is stays very close to the book, bu there is still just so much to talk about with this mindbending story!

Elvis and Me/Priscilla true story vs movie Review

Sofia Coppola has adapted Priscilla Presley’s memoir into a stunning movie all about Priscilla’s relationship with Elvis Presley. But is the movie all vibes and no substance?

Willy Wonka/Charlie and the Chocolate Factory Book vs Movies Review

Roald Dahl’s whimsical story of a magical chocolate maker has been adapted twice. One starring Gene Wilder and the other starring Johnny Depp. Find out how each movie compares to the book!

Killers of the Flower Moon Movie vs True Story Review

Martin Scorsese’s 3.5 hour movie about the Osage tribe who were murdered over the span of years, was adapted from a book by David Grann who researched the true story. Find out how the movie compares with the truth.

1408 by Stephen King Book vs Movie Review

Stephen King’s novella about an evil hotel room was adapted into the movie with John Cusack and Samuel L. Jackson. Find out how the two compare!

We Have Always Lived in the Castle Book vs Movie Review

Shirley Jackson’s story about a family that is isolated from the town gives you a lot to analyze. But does the movie adaptation from 2018 capture the ambiguity or do they dumb it down?

Dracula Book vs Movies Review

Bram Stoker’s Dracula has taken on a life of its own. After reading the book I watched 6 different Dracula movies to find out which one is the most faithful, and if being more faithful makes for a better adaptation.

Casino Royale Book vs Movie Review

The first James Bond book wasn’t (truly) adapted until 2006, when Daniel Craig made his first appearance at the British spy. Find out how the movie compares with the book!

A Haunting in Venice/Hallowe’en Party Book vs Movie Review

Kenneth Banagh’s latest Hercule Poirot movie is an adaptation of Halloween Party. This is the loosest Christie adaptation he has made, but were the changes from book to movie for the better?

Dumb Money movie vs true story-Analysis/GameStop/Robinhood 2021 Review

Dumb Money is the insane true story of when a group of people on Analysis caused a short squeeze in the stock market. Find out how the movie compares to this real life David and Goliath story!

My Cousin Rachel Book vs Movie Review

Daphne Du Maurier’s gothic thriller was adapted into a movie starring Rachel Weisz in the title role-find out how the two compare!

The Player Book vs Movie Review

The Player is a satire about the Hollywood film industry. Find out how the book compares to this star-studded movie!

Zodiac True Story vs Movie Review

The San Fransisco Zodiac killer has sparked numerous movies, but the 2007 David FIncher movie is based on the book by Robert Graysmith who has spent decades trying to crack the case.

The Last Voyage of the Demeter Book vs Movie Review

The Last Voyage of the Demeter is an adaptation of a chapter from Dracula. Find out what I think of the movie, and how it compares to the Bram Stoker book!

Mary Poppins Book vs Movie Review

Disney’s iconic movie is based on the popular children’s book by P.L. Travers. Find out the changes that were made from book to film!

Corner Office/The Room Book vs Movie-ending explained Review

Corner Office starring Jon Hamm is based on the surrealist Swedish novel about corporate life. What do each o them mean? And what is different between the two?

How Stella Got Her Groove Back Book vs Movie Review

Terry McMillan’s book (that is based on a real experience of hers) was adapted into the popular movie starring Angela Bassett and Taye Diggs. Find out how the movie compares to the book and what happened in the true story behind the book!

Jaws Book vs Movie Review

Find out how Peter Benchley’s novel compares to the iconic Steven Spielberg summer blockbuster!

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants 2 Book vs Movie Review

In the sequel we see the four friends in college, trying to balance school, romance, friendships, family, and of course, the pants.

Stronger Movie vs True Story Review

Stronger is the true story of Jeff Bauman, who lost both of his legs in the Boston Marathon bombing and how he learned to walk again-both literally and figuratively.

Ella Enchanted Book vs Movie Review

Ella Enchanted is a fun retelling of Cinderella which was adapted into the movie starring Anne Hathaway. Find out how different the book and movie are!

The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants Book vs Movie Review

This coming of age story follows four best friends who each learn different things about themselves over one summer. But how does the NY Times best seller compare with the movie?

The Perfect Find Book vs Movie Review

Find out how the Tia Williams novel compares with the Netflix movie starring Gabrielle Union!

The Pale Blue Eye Book vs Movie Review

This gothic mystery includes a fictionalized version of Edgar Allan Poe and the movie stars Christian Bale. Find out why this is a great adaptation and a great mystery!

No Country for Old Men Analysis-book vs movie Review

Cormac McCarthy’s best-selling book was adapted by Joel and Ethan Coen’s who made it into an Academy Award winning movie. When it comes to which is better, it’s a nearly impossible choice!

Confess, Fletch Book vs Movie Review

The character created by Gregory Mcdonald and made famous by Chevy Chase is returning with Jon Hamm in the lead! How does this comedic mystery novel compare to the movie??

Drive Book vs Movie (2011) Review

This gritty, noir novel was adapted into the atmospheric movie starring Ryan Gosling. Find out how the two compare and which I like best!

The Birds Book vs Movie Review

The Birds directed by Alfred Hitchcock starring Tippi Hedren has become so iconic. But did you know it is based on a short story by Daphne du Maurier? Find out how the two compare and which I like best!

BlackBerry Movie vs True Story Review

The new Matt Johnson movie starring Glenn Howerton and Jay Baruchel documents the true story of the BlackBerry phone. But how close does it stay to the truth? Check out today’s episode to find out!

The Talented Mr. Ripley Book vs Movie Review

Patricia Highsmith’s novel about a troubled man whose life starts to get out of hand, was adapted into movie starring Matt Damon, Jude Law, and Gwyneth Paltrow.

Keeper of the Flame (1943)

Streaming in:

We checked for updates on 247 streaming services on April 10, 2024 at 8:33:02 PM. Something wrong? Let us know!

Keeper of the Flame streaming: where to watch online?

You can buy "Keeper of the Flame" on Apple TV, Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Vudu as download or rent it on Amazon Video, Google Play Movies, YouTube, Apple TV, Vudu online.

Famed reporter Stephen O'Malley travels to a small town to investigate the death of a national hero.

Videos: Trailers, Teasers, Featurettes

Production country

People who liked keeper of the flame also liked.

Popular movies coming soon

Similar Movies you can watch for free

Letterboxd — Your life in film

Forgotten username or password ?

• Start a new list…
• Add all films to a list…
• Add all films to watchlist

Add to your films…

Press Tab to complete, Enter to create

A moderator has locked this field.

Add to lists

Where to watch

Keeper of the flame.

1942 Directed by George Cukor

The screen's most exciting lovers in their newest romantic triumph!

Famed reporter Stephen O'Malley travels to a small town to investigate the death of a national hero.

Spencer Tracy Katharine Hepburn Richard Whorf Margaret Wycherly Forrest Tucker Frank Craven Stephen McNally Percy Kilbride Audrey Christie Darryl Hickman Donald Meek Howard Da Silva William Newell Walter Bacon Barry Bernard Clifford Brooke Steve Carruthers Ricardo Lord Cezon Mabel Colcord Cliff Danielson Diana Douglas Rex Evans Donald Gallaher Stuart Hall Sam Harris Art Howard Colin Kenny Crauford Kent Manart Kippen Show All… Charles Frederick Lindsley Mickey Martin Louis Mason Claire McDowell Mary McLeod Harold Miller Dorothy Morris Barry Norton Robert Pittard Rita Quigley Dorothy Raye John Roy Jay Ward Blanche Yurka

Director Director

George Cukor

Producers Producers

Leon Gordon Victor Saville

Writer Writer

Donald Ogden Stewart

Original Writer Original Writer

I.A.R. Wylie

Editor Editor

James E. Newcom

Cinematography Cinematography

William H. Daniels

Art Direction Art Direction

Cedric Gibbons

Set Decoration Set Decoration

Edwin B. Willis

Special Effects Special Effects

Warren Newcombe

Composer Composer

Bronislau Kaper

Costume Design Costume Design

Makeup makeup.

Loew's Incorporated Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer

Releases by Date

02 dec 1942, 28 jan 1943, 18 mar 1943, 01 apr 1943, 15 nov 1987, releases by country.

• Premiere Office of War Information's Bureau of Motion Pictures
• Premiere Cincinnati, Ohio
• Premiere New York City, New York

100 mins   More at IMDb TMDb Report this page

Popular reviews

Review by Kevin Jones ★★★★ 5

33 Films x 6 Decades: 1940s

When Keeper of the Flame was released in 1943, it seemed as though everybody was lining up to hate the film. Even director George Cukor stated that the film’s ending was not that good with Katharine Hepburn embodying everything that made the general public hate her in the 1930s. The head of MGM was incensed that they had financed such a picture. Republicans decried it for its leftist politics, leading them to calling on the head of the Production Code to ban such a picture from being made for how it equates being rich with being fascist. Of course, Keeper of the Flame does nothing of the sort, Hepburn is brilliant, and the ending…

Review by Robert Hayes ★★★★

This wasn't anything I really expected from George Cukor or Tracy-Hepburn, but I'll be darned if it wasn't as engrossing as one of their lighthearted comedies. And if there's one key difference between when this was made and now, it's that the Robert Forrests of the world are hardly secretive these days.

Review by russman ★★★

You'd figure with so many Tracy/Hepburn movies, Hepburn would tell Tracy to fix his hat at least once

Review by RyanChag ★★★

The nerve of leaving Kate out until the 25 minute mark!!

Review by sher ★★★

more khep less tracy plz

Review by UltimateMovieRankings ★★★

Why I watched this one? Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn made 8 movies together....after watching this one I have now seen 7 of those movies...with Without Love being the only one I have not seen.

What is this one about? A national hero dies in a car accident. Tracy plays a newspaper writer that receives conflicting reports and tales that make him question what the truth about the hero is. The truth is being kept by the hero's widow, Hepburn.

What I thought about this one? Wow is this one dated movie...granted it was made right after Pearl Harbor so its themes of were much more important back then. Loosely based on Charles Lindbergh and his close relations with Germany.…

Review by kmarus ★★★

Happy birthday, Kate. Keeper of the Flame is a heavy-handed but provocative message movie made during WWII about the threat of homegrown fascism and the imperative to kill your heroes. In it, a journalist, played by Spencer Tracy in annoying civics teacher mode, probes into the accidental death of a popular war hero. Kate plays the fallen hero's widow. Since her husband's untimely passing, she's holed herself up at her own private Manderley where she refuses to speak to the press and glides around the manse like a ghost in white chiffon, leaving lilies beneath her dead husband's portrait. She looks as beautiful as she ever did on screen and does her best with an uncertain part, but the romance…

Review by mila ★★★

This review may contain spoilers. I can handle the truth.

kate hepburn killing a fascist 🥰

Review by teagan ★★

was so prepared to fall in love with this but i’ve watched more than half and it’s too much spencer, not enough kath (these stars are for her and her alone)

Review by JJ Arias ★★★

Perhaps to worship anyone is to destroy them 

That escalated out of nowhere

Review by tarheels77 ★★★★

A pretty good piece of WWII propaganda that I think still details the playbook used by wannabe fascists today. A little too heavy handed at times but overall enjoyable. Tracy and Hepburn together are always great!

Review by Michelle 🎄📚 MichelleBookAddict ★★★½

Cleaning out my DVR watch lists with this Katherine Hepburn & Spencer Tracy noir… also this would be my first noir movie for NoirVember 2022 .

Fun fact… this movie made the Motion Picture Production Code make “guidelines” for propaganda movies. It’s mostly due to the fact that the Republicans hated this film. (I liked it).

Right at the beginning we see the entire country give this dead guy so much devotion that it seemed like he was Royalty. From that point on there’s the mystery of how Robert Forrest died… and then just who he was.

It isn’t until the ending that the story becomes interesting. It’s a good Anti-Fascism movie. I’m curious how much this movie is based off of the book by I. A. R. Wylie . Katherine and Spencer are great in this! And even if George didn’t like the way this ended, I thought it was pretty good.

Similar Films

Select your preferred poster

• Cast & crew
• User reviews

After the death of the family patriarch, a mother and daughter's precarious existence is ripped apart. They must find strength in each other if they are to survive the malevolent forces that... Read all After the death of the family patriarch, a mother and daughter's precarious existence is ripped apart. They must find strength in each other if they are to survive the malevolent forces that threaten to engulf them. After the death of the family patriarch, a mother and daughter's precarious existence is ripped apart. They must find strength in each other if they are to survive the malevolent forces that threaten to engulf them.

• Zarrar Kahn
• Ramesha Nawal
• Omar Javaid
• Bakhtawar Mazhar
• 2 User reviews
• 13 Critic reviews
• 79 Metascore
• 12 nominations

• Uncle Nasir
• All cast & crew
• Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

More like this

Did you know

• Trivia Official submission of Pakistan for the 'Best International Feature Film' category of the 96th Academy Awards in 2024.

User reviews 2

• Apr 10, 2024
• How long is In Flames? Powered by Alexa
• April 12, 2024 (United States)
• Official site
• CityLights Media
• Other Memory Media
• Fae Pictures
• See more company credits at IMDbPro

Technical specs

• Runtime 1 hour 38 minutes

Related news

Contribute to this page.

• See more gaps
• Learn more about contributing

More to explore

Recently viewed