Dazzling the Screen Spencer Tracy

American actor Spencer Tracy was best known for his natural performing style and versatility. He was among the major stars of the Golden Age of Hollywood. Tracy was the first actor to win two consecutive Academy Awards for Best Actor. During his career he appeared in 75 films, and in 1999 the American Film Institute ranked him the ninth greatest male star of Classic Hollywood Cinema. He passed away on June 10, 1967, at the age of 67.

Director John Sturges directed the 1955 American neo-Western “Bad Day at Black Rock." The film was based on a short story, “Bad Time at Honda," by Howard Breslin, published by The American Magazine in January 1947. The film starred Spencer Tracy and Robert Ryan with a supporting cast.

The storyline revolves around John J. Macreedy (Spencer Tracy), a one-armed man who discovers a dangerous secret within a small community in a secluded desert town.

Director Victor Fleming directed the 1937 American adventure drama “Captain Courageous." The film was based on the 1897 novel of the same name by Rudyard Kipling. It was filmed in black and white with location shots in Port aux Basques, Newfoundland; Shelburne, Nova Scotia, in Canada; and Gloucester, MA, in the US. The film starred Freddie Bartholomew, Spencer Tracy, Lionel Barrymore, and Melvyn Douglas. Tracy won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Manuel Fidello.

This is the story of a spoiled boy Harvey Cheyne (Freddie Bartholomew), who, after falling overboard, is rescued by a fisherman, Manuel Fidello (Spencer Tracy), and forced to work alongside his crew.

Director Walter Lang directed the 1957 American romantic comedy film “Desk Set." It was based on the play of the same name by William Marchant. The film starred Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn.

The storyline revolves around Bunny Watson (Katharine Hepburn) as a documentalist in charge of the reference library at the Federal Broadcasting Network in midtown Manhattan. She is romantically involved with network executive Mike Cutler (Gig Young). Then meets Richard Sumner (Spencer Tracy) a methods engineer and efficiency expert.

Director Vincente Minnelli directed the 1950 American romantic comedy “Father of the Bride." It was based on the 1949 eponymous novel by Edward Streeter. The film starred Spencer Tracy, Joan Bennett, and Elizabeth Taylor.

The storyline revolves around Stanley T. Banks (Spencer Tracy), a man trying to come to terms with the wedding of his daughter Kay (Elizabeth Taylor) and all the complications it includes.

Director Fritz Lang directed the 1936 American crime film "Fury." The film was loosely based on the events surrounding the Brooke Hart murder in San Jose, California; the film was adapted from the story “Mob Rule” by Norman Krasna. The film starred Spence Tracy and Sylvia Sidney with a supporting cast.

The storyline revolves around Joe Wilson (Spencer Tracy), an innocent man wrongfully accursed of a crime and left for dead by an angry mob. Having survived and full of rage, Joe embarks on a path of revenge, to the chagrin of his fiancee Katherine Grant (Sylvia Sidney).

Director Stanley Kramer directed the 1967 American romantic comedy drama “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner." (pictured above) The film starred Spencer Tracy (in his final role), Sidney Poitier, Katharine Hepburn, and Hepburn’s niece, Katharine Houghton (in her debut film role). The film was one of the first of the time to depict an interracial marriage in a positive light. Six months before the film was released, interracial marriage was still illegal in 17 states. Tracy was very ill during filming and completed his role just 17 days before he died. The film was released six months later, and Katharine Hepburn, Tracy’s longtime partner, never saw the completed film, saying it would be too painful for her.

The story tells of the interracial romance between Joanna "Joey" Drayton (Katharine Houghton) and a Black doctor, Dr. John Wade Prentice (Sydney Poitier), and her liberal parents Matt Drayton (Spencer Tracy) and Christina Drayton (Katharine Hepburn) and their reaction to the relationship.