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The Children's Hour

  • 1961
  • Approved
  • 1h 48m
IMDb RATING
7.8/10
21K
YOUR RATING
Audrey Hepburn, Shirley MacLaine, and James Garner in The Children's Hour (1961)
Watch Trailer
Play trailer1:49
1 Video
78 Photos
Psychological DramaTragedyDramaRomance

A schoolgirl ruins her two headmistresses with a scandalous lie.A schoolgirl ruins her two headmistresses with a scandalous lie.A schoolgirl ruins her two headmistresses with a scandalous lie.

  • Director
    • William Wyler
  • Writers
    • Lillian Hellman
    • John Michael Hayes
  • Stars
    • Audrey Hepburn
    • Shirley MacLaine
    • James Garner
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • IMDb RATING
    7.8/10
    21K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • William Wyler
    • Writers
      • Lillian Hellman
      • John Michael Hayes
    • Stars
      • Audrey Hepburn
      • Shirley MacLaine
      • James Garner
    • 180User reviews
    • 53Critic reviews
    • 49Metascore
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Nominated for 5 Oscars
      • 1 win & 12 nominations total

    Videos1

    Trailer
    Trailer 1:49
    Trailer

    Photos78

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    + 71
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    Top Cast25

    Audrey Hepburn
    Audrey Hepburn
    • Karen Wright
    Shirley MacLaine
    Shirley MacLaine
    • Martha Dobie
    James Garner
    James Garner
    • Dr. Joe Cardin
    Miriam Hopkins
    Miriam Hopkins
    • Mrs. Lily Mortar
    Fay Bainter
    Fay Bainter
    • Mrs. Amelia Tilford
    Karen Balkin
    • Mary Tilford
    Veronica Cartwright
    Veronica Cartwright
    • Rosalie Wells
    Mimi Gibson
    Mimi Gibson
    • Evelyn
    Debbie Moldow
    • Student
    Diane Mountford
    • Student
    William Mims
    William Mims
    • Mr. Burton
    Sallie Brophy
    Sallie Brophy
    • Rosalie's Mother
    Hope Summers
    Hope Summers
    • Agatha - the Tilford Maid
    Jered Barclay
    • Grocery Boy
    • (uncredited)
    Paul Bradley
    Paul Bradley
    • Parent at Piano Recital
    • (uncredited)
    Stuart Hall
    Stuart Hall
    • Mourner
    • (uncredited)
    George Holmes
    George Holmes
    • Mourner
    • (uncredited)
    Pete Kellett
    Pete Kellett
    • Taxi Driver
    • (uncredited)
    • Director
      • William Wyler
    • Writers
      • Lillian Hellman
      • John Michael Hayes
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews180

    7.821.3K
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    Summary

    Reviewers say 'The Children's Hour' Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris nisi ut aliquip ex ea commodo consequat. Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum dolore eu fugiat nulla pariatur. Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident, sunt in culpa qui officia deserunt mollit anim id est laborum. Curabitur pretium tincidunt lacus.

    Nulla facilisi etiam dignissim diam quis enim lobortis scelerisque
    Lorem ipsum dolorSit amet consecteturAdipiscing elitSed do eiusmodTempor incididuntUt labore et doloreMagna aliquaUt enim ad minimVeniam quisNostrud exercitation
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    Related interests

    Jim Carrey and Kate Winslet in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)
    Psychological Drama
    Casey Affleck and Michelle Williams in Manchester by the Sea (2016)
    Tragedy
    Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)
    Drama
    Ingrid Bergman and Humphrey Bogart in Casablanca (1942)
    Romance

    Storyline

    Did you know

    • Trivia
      Veronica Cartwright (Rosalie) said in an interview that she and the other children were told not to hang around with Shirley MacLaine on set because she "cursed a lot". They all did, however, because they thought she was "cool" and "very generous". She also became Cartwright's mentor throughout the making of the film.
    • Goofs
      Upon learning that Mrs. Tilford is telling everyone in town she's a lesbian, Martha Dobie (a schoolteacher who should know the difference) threatens to sue her for libel (which pertains to printed defamation of character), rather than slander (oral defamation). However, later in the film, "slander" is used correctly.
    • Quotes
      • Martha: There's always been something wrong. Always, just as long as I can remember. But I never knew what it was until all this happened.
      • Karen: Stop it Martha! Stop this crazy talk!
      • Martha: You're afraid of hearing it, but I'm more afraid than you.
      • Karen: I won't listen to you!
      • Martha: No! You've got to know. I've got to tell you. I can't keep it to myself any longer. I'm guilty!
      • Karen: You're guilty of nothing!
      • Martha: I've been telling myself that since the night I heard the child say it. I lie in bed night after night praying that it isn't true. But I know about it now. It's there. I don't know how, I don't know why. But I did love you! I do love you! I resented your plans to marry. Maybe because I wanted you. Maybe I've wanted you all these years. I couldn't call it by name before, but maybe it's been there since I first knew you.
      • Karen: But it's not the truth, not a word of it is true! We've never thought of each other that way.
      • Martha: No, of course you didn't. But who's to say I didn't. I'd never felt that way about anybody before you. I've never loved a man. I never knew why before, maybe it's that.
      • Karen: You're tired and worn out.
      • Martha: It's funny. It's all mixed up. There's something in you, and you don't know anything about it because you don't know it's there. And then suddenly, one night a little girl gets bored and tells a lie, and there, for the first time, you see it. Then you say to yourself, did she see it? Did she sense it?
      • Karen: But you know it could have been any lie. She was looking for anything to...
      • Martha: But why this lie? She found the lie with the ounce of truth. Don't you see? I can't stand to have you touch me! I can't stand to have you look at me! Oh, it's all my fault. I have ruined your life and I have ruined my own. I swear I didn't know it! I didn't mean it! Oh, I feel so damn sick and dirty I can't stand it anymore!
    • Connections
      Featured in Homo Promo (1991)
    • Soundtracks
      Loch Lomond
      (uncredited)
      Traditional Scots-Gaelic song first published in 1841
      Included in piano medley

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    FAQ8

    • What is "The Children's Hour" about?
    • Is "The Children's Hour" based on a book?
    • Is it true that "The Children's Hour" was inspired by a true story?

    Details

    • Release date
      • December 19, 1961 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • French
    • Also known as
      • La mentira infame
    • Filming locations
      • Shadow Ranch, Sylmar, California, USA(Shadow Ranch Park, West Hills, CA)
    • Production company
      • The Mirisch Corporation
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    • Budget
      • $3,600,000 (estimated)
    • Gross worldwide
      • $250
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    • Runtime
      • 1h 48m(108 min)
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.85 : 1

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