Battle Royale #11: Battle of the Sexes (The Results)

Well that sure was a pretty weak Battle Royale now, wasn't it?  With just 34 votes cast, this latest edition, this Battle of the Sexes, was the second lowest voter turnout we have seen so far.  For those so interested, the battle between sisters Olivia de Havilland and Joan Fontaine, with a mere 28 votes, was the lowest, but we are hear to talk about Spencer Tracy versus long time love, Katharine Hepburn.  In the nine films the duo did together, Tracy received billing above Miss Hepburn, in all nine of them.  When asked why this was, Tracy was known for stating the simplest of reasons - he was the man.  Surprisingly, the quite liberated Hepburn allowed him o get away with this - well, at least in public.  Anyway, even though Tracy got top billing in their films, it is Hepburn who takes away the prize in the eleventh Battle Royale - and boy, does she ever run away with it here.  Out of those aforementioned (meager) 34 votes, the four time Oscar winner (a record ya know), received 25 of them.  Yep, that's right folks, the second-billed Katharine Hepburn won - hands down - by a final tally of 25 votes (or 74% for the more statistically-minded) to Spencer Tracy's rather pathetic nine votes (or just 26%).  Incidentally, this was the second worst drubbing anyone has gotten thus far, falling just short of what the Marx Brothers handed to The Three Stooges.  Well, at least Tracy still has his manly nine top billings over his lover.  That's something, right?

But enough of all that.  What I really want to know is, where the hell were are the voters this time around?  Well, where the hell were you!?  Not talking, huh?  Be that way.  What I would like to see, when we return in a few days with Battle Royale #12, a battle that will take us to the Jazz age and some pretty sexy bob haircuts, is a lot of voting dammit.  A lot of it.  I know I have been saying this all along, so why stop now.  I would love to see the voter turnout get into the triple digits.  I know we can do it - I have faith in my faithful readers.  So when the new Battle Royale pops up on Wednesday or Thursday (surely one of those two days), get your vote on - and tell everyone you know to do the same.  I know there are more than enough classic film lovers out there to make this a reality.  So, here's a-hopin'.

Battle Royale #11: Battle of the Sexes

Hey you guys!!  Look what's back.  That's right, it's the triumphant return of the famed Battle Royale.  What is Battle Royale, you ask?  Well, for the uninitiated, it is an ongoing series that pits two classic cinematic greats against each other - and you can vote for who is the greater by clicking your choice over in the poll at the top of the sidebar.  This particular Battle Royale is the eleventh, and after a month and a half sabbatical (to make time for our Oscar poll), everyone's favourite running feature here at The Most Beautiful Fraud in the World, hath returneth.  Now, on with the show.

For this eleventh installment, we are going to do something just a bit different.  Before we had actor vs. actor, actress vs. actress, director vs. director, and so on.  This time a round we are going to toss an actor and an actress in the ring together, and see who comes out smiling.   So, for this round, this Battle of the Sexes, we are tossing Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn into the ring.  Let's watch the feathers fly.  The official unofficial couple made nine films together over their twenty-six year relationship.  Of course, we all know the story - Tracy was married but had a relationship with Hepburn from 1941 until his death in 1967.  The affair was kept a secret from the public (yeah, that was something that could still be done back in those days) but everyone in Hollywood knew about it, including Tracy's wife, who apparently, was okay with the whole shebang.  

Professionally, Tracy and Hepburn were two of the greats of their craft.  If there were a Hollywood Hall of Fame, they would both be members in great standing.  He was nominated for nine Academy Awards, winning twice (back to back even), and she was a twelve time nominee, winning a still record four times (two of hers were back to back as well).   When they worked together, Tracy was always billed first ("I'm the man" would be his reply when anyone asked why this was) but Hepburn was never one for taking second fiddle to anyone, and her star was just as bright.  Hepburn lovingly said in her autobiography, "I would have done anything for him."  Tracy famously said, in Pat and Mike, the couple's seventh film together, "Not much meat on her, but what's there is cherce."  Now it's time for you to make your "cherce."

All you need do is to go on over to the poll, found conveniently near the top of the sidebar of this very same site, and click on who you think is the greater of these two legends.  And remember, you can comment all you wish (and please do comment - we can never have too many of those) but in order for your vote to be counted, you must vote in the actual poll.  After doing that, then you can come back over here and leave all the comments your heart desires.  Who knows, maybe we will get some sort of lively cinematic discussion going.  And also please remember to tell everyone you know to get out the vote as well.  I would like to see us reach triple digits this time around.  Voting will go until midnight, EST, the night of Friday, March 15th (just over two weeks from the starting gate).  The results will be announced that weekend.  So get out there and vote vote vote.