Katherine Hepburn's films include: Little Women (1933); The Philadelphia Story (1940); The African Queen (1951); The Madwoman of Chaillot (1969); The Glass Menagerie (1974); and, On Golden Pond (1981). Of all the stars of Hollywood's golden era, Katherine Hepburn had the longest and least conventional career. Conforming to none of the stereotypes of female stardom - such as the exotic outsider like Garbo or Dietrich, a victim of the studios like Judy Garland, or a creature of the system like Joan Crawford or Lana Turner - instead, her screen persona was always intelligent, wilful, and independent. This seminal volume offers a feminist reading of Hepburn's films, and argues that her presence, and sheer force of will, caused many in Hollywood to look more closely at issues such as class, female sexuality, and women's oppression. One of the few worthwhile studies of American cinema to focus on the impact of a star rather than a director of genre, this is an essential volume for all movie lovers.