Laura Lansing Slept Here

This was a Katharine Hepburn film, it was written for her and no one else could have done it. Kate really is playing herself and there is nothing wrong with that. She descends on a family and changes their lives completely. It reminded me of that old Bette Davis film 'The Man Who Came To Dinner' although not in the same league. The story is slight and not up to the standard of Kate in her prime but its a feel good film and thats something we need more of. Good meaty roles were then as they are today in short supply for an actress of her age. The film is similar to many of the TV films that she made at the end of her life. Not a work of art but I think its well worth taking the time to view if you haven't seen it already.

"Laura Lansing Slept Here" is a most unusual film. This is because later in life, Katharine Hepburn made relatively few films and seemed pretty selective in her roles. Yet, oddly, here she stars in a quirky sit-com sort of film...the sort of thing you just wouldn't expect from her. Now I am not saying it's a bad movie...but it is rather slight and sure looks like a pilot episode of a TV series that never materialized.

The story starts off very poorly (hence my score of only 6) and my advice is to resist the urge to turn off the DVD! It's good...but you need to wade through some relatively shallow writing to get to the better stuff!

When the story begins, you learn that Susan (Hepburn) is a rather clueless lady. She's a successful author but has been living the high life for so long that she's completely lost touch with the average reader...and as a result, her books no longer sell. So her publisher makes a bet...that she can't live a normal life with a normal family. She takes the bet and soon moves in with a Long Island family...complete with various problems. At first, Susan does NOT fit in well...she's bossy and imperious...and clueless. But over time, she grows and the family begins to like her...and she decides to help them in her own special way.

The first 15-30 minutes didn't impress me. But the story DID get better and was actually eventually quite charming. It's too bad that it started off so poorly...and it's a shame that the 'normal' family she moves in with lives in, of all places, Hicksville! Now isn't that subtle?!

By the way, I saw this on DVD and the film did not have captions but really needed them. The picture itself was only fair.

Even if you've never seen Katharine Hepburn in a film when she's younger, you'll absolutely fall in love with her in Laura Lansing Slept Here. She's an adorable little old lady, with spunk and charm twice as large as her stature. She plays a famous romance novelist who gets sucked into a bet by her publisher, Lee Richardson. Lee accuses her of being out of touch with her readers and challengers her to survive for one week in a normal family's home. For their trouble, the family will be paid $500 per day. How lucky, to get $3500 and spend a week with Katharine Hepburn!

The family is struggling for money, the teenage daughter Schuyler Grant has attitude, the husband Joel Higgins is distracted by a floozy at the office, and the wife Karen Austin lets her appearance take third priority to raising their three children and being mindful of their pocketbook. When Kate moves in, there's only the slightest adjustment period before she starts improving everyone's lives. While the story might give you a little cavity, I find the sweetness charming. Kate is adorable; where would the fun be in portraying her as an unreasonable grouch? It's much more enjoyable to see her helping out and making a difference. She truly is delightful, and there are several scenes where you'll want to reach into your television and give her a big hug. For Kate Hepburn fans, this is a must-see. For others, it's still a must-see. You'll probably become a fan after the first ten minutes.

My favorite part about this was the 1980s score, and everything 1980s! There's something cozy about that era. Something that felt easy going about it.

My least favorite part about this movie is that the family that Lansing goes to stay with not all that likable in the first place. When they do turn around and start to love her, I don't understand how such a change could have happened in such a short time. And besides how they felt about Laura, I still didn't find the family all that likable.

And a trifle little thing that kept bugging me throughout was how the TV set directly on the floor! I'm sorry, but I grew up in a TV cabinet household, if you didn't have a cabinet, you had a little table or something that you set the TV on. For the TV to just sit directly on the floor and for you to have to look down at it, no thank you! That's about as bad as today, where people tend to put their TVs up high close to the ceiling, where we have to look up at it. Whatever happened to eye level?!

One thing I really loved about it though, was that the character of Laura Lansing had some words of wisdom sprinkled throughout that would serve as good things for us to remember. She wasn't a perfect character, but she wound up being very likable!

Anyway, overall, a pretty good movie for people who like 1980s movies that are light, easy-going, and especially feature film stars from the golden age in their more sophisticated years.

Having seen this,all I can say is that Irecall a very bright and fun performance by Miss Hepburn as well as the supporting cast. As far as TV films go,this is one of the better ones and I don't think any other cinematic actor does TV movies better than she.

Good news for those Hepburn fans out there by the way,on August 9th,2005...this movie will finally be available on home video! Yay!!! This will be a great chance to see it again for the first time in 17 years! If you haven't seen it then trust me it's worth it!

She plays the title character,a famous female writer who suddenly finds herself labeled out of touch with the everyday world. Meaning,she has no real knowledge of the everyday person. Her novels are usually about the rich & powerful.

Her close friend and business associate that brings her this news,along with the news that the publishing house has rejected her latest effort,makes a bet with her that she wouldn't last a week with a normal family. She ends up in a small suburban town called Hicksville. Moving in with a Dad ("Silver Spoons" Joel Higgins) a Mom and three kids). A loud teenage girl,a sarcastic boy and a toddler who cries at the sight of her!

She learns quickly that the rules of her world basically don't exist in theirs but she somehow works a few of them in. A side plot about Higgin's possible affair with a young co-worker makes for a more serious story. I wont ruin the rest for you!

For me personally,along with acquiring a copy of "Iron Petticoat",finally being able to purchase "Laura Lansing Slept Here" will complete my quest to view for the first time or re-view,all 52 of her films. I have it now :(Aug. 22nd,2005): and it's still as good as I recall! A great salute to you Miss Hepburn!