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.

This is a sweet story with a happy ending. Of course, most anything with Miss Hepburn in it is a class act, but we're suckers for the good, old-fashioned B-movies. What's wrong with a movie without violence, profanity, or vulgarity, anyway? We'd like to see it on tv, again, soon, and sure sould like to see it available on VHS!

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.

In her last dozen years of performing Katharine Hepburn went to television for several made for TV movies and each one of them was tailored to Kate's unique personality. If you were a Katharine Hepburn fan there's no way you could not love any one of them even though they're not the caliber of the material that won her four Best Actress Oscars.

Kate plays the title role in Laura Lansing Slept Here and where she's sleeping is Hicksville on Long Island. A frank conversation with her dutch uncle of a publisher Lee Richardson has told her she's lost touch with her reading audience and has become infatuated with her own celebrity. Richardson works out a bet with Hepburn that she can't spend a week with an average normal family. He's even got the normal family on tap. It's an accountant who works in his office and his wife Joel Higgins and Karen Austin and their three kids.

At first Hepburn comes on like a female version of Sheridan Whiteside, but gradually the family warms up to her and her life experience proves invaluable to Higgins, Austin and their offspring.

Hepburn is also rejuvenated creatively. If in real life that were ever possible because Kate never disappoints her audience in style or in substance. There's so much of her invested even in the worst of her performances on the big screen or small.

Fans of the great Kate will love Laura Lansing Slept Here. And I predict a few fans will be made if they see this movie.

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!