Greatest Film Scenes
and Moments



Adam's Rib (1949)

 



Written by Tim Dirks

Title Screen
Movie Title/Year and Scene Descriptions
Screenshots

Adam's Rib (1949)

In director George Cukor's battle-of-the-sexes romantic comedy:

  • the scene of the attempted assault/murder of her philandering, two-timing husband Warren Attinger (Tom Ewell) by wife Doris Attinger (Judy Holliday) after reading an instruction manual about how to use a gun
  • the two main characters - husband/wife Amanda and Adam Bonner (Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy) - who revealed their different viewpoints about the sexes during an early driving scene in the city: Amanda: "There are lots of things that a man can do and in society's eyes, it's all hunky-dory. A woman does the same thing - the same, mind you, and she's an outcast...All I'm saying is, why let this deplorable system seep into our courts of law, where women are supposed to be equal?"
  • the realization that they would be dueling lawyers -- prefaced by Adam's first learning of his wife's role as defense attorney against him: "I'm going to defend her" - (he toppled a tray of drinks)
Dueling Lawyers
Arguing
Confrontation on Massage Table
("A little slap")
Battling in Court
  • also the scene of the Bonner's confrontation on a massage table at home when he slapped her behind hard: ("What are you - sore about a little slap?" and her reply: "I know a slap from a slug")
  • the scene of Doris' speech in court to defend herself
  • and the closing dialogue including Adam's phrase to Amanda: "Vive la difference!"

Doris Reading Gun Instruction Manual

"Deplorable System"

Adam Spilling Tray of Drinks

Doris in Court

"Vive la difference!"

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