The Children's Hour was quite a daring film for its time and is based on Lillian Hellman's play of the same name, the first show on Broadway to deal with the subject of lesbianism when it was a success in the 1930s.

Karen (Audrey Hepburn) and Martha (Shirley MacLaine) are good friends and run a boarding school for girls. Karen is dating Joe (James Garner) and agrees to marry him, upsetting Martha in the process. Martha's aunt tells her that her jealousy is unnatural.

Enter super brat Mary (Karen Balkin), one of the students who has just been disciplined for not telling the truth. She lies and elaborates to her grandmother about the conversation between Martha and her aunt, telling her about late night visits and kisses between the two women and putting into motion accusations that Martha and Karen are lovers having "sinful sexual knowledge of one another."

The ending is predictable for a film about lesbians made in this era. Martha feels sick and dirty by a society that tells her she is so. The last five minutes of the film are tough to watch, since we know what's coming. It's the kind of thing that makes me sick and angry to see, but I recommend watching this film for two reasons: understanding the realities and attitudes of the time and getting a good cry over those who still might have to deal with such feelings; and MacLaine's performance.

*See Shirley MacLaine's 1995 interview in The Celluloid Closet. "We might have been forerunners, but we weren't really because we didn't do the picture right. We were in the mindset of not understanding what we were basically doing. These days there would be a tremendous outcry, as well there should be."

What would you do if a spoiled child made lying assertions that threatened your business, reputation, and marriage engagement? The challenge seems all too easy to overcome -- if a clear statement of fact won't suffice then a swat in the seat of the pants should.

Unfortunately those options are not enough to offset the aim of a conniving little girl. Her fodder fuels others to reexamine their true feelings for one another. Though this seems like a good thing, you will ponder whether the eventual resolution justifies the merit after viewing "The Children's Hour."

I never fully appreciated Shirley Maclaine's talent until I saw this performance. She will blow you away. Audrey Hepburn is a competent actress, but she could only play Audrey Hepburn - you seldom believe that she is anyone else. James Garner was cast for his looks, not his talent. Faye Bainter and Miriam Hopkins provide classic film acting at their finest. They are a treat to watch. The young girl was perfectly cast. You want to throttle her. William Wyler's direction is an art form. Lillian Helman's play is perfectly crafted with tension, suspense and human emotion. You will be moved.

Many films are not worth your time. This is worth every minute. Rent it and you'll eventually own it. Own it and you'll never let it go. Bravo.

I was totally touched to the core by Audrey's as well as Shirley's and James Garner's performances. Some describe the movie as "dark" and "depressing," but I didn't, I found it in every aspect totally courageous. More than any Hepburn film I have seen, I was forced to think. For instance, when Audrey's character Karen finally leaves James Garner's character, I was blown away. I don't think I've ever seen anything like that in film. After I thought about it, I felt it was totally consistent and in character. Through this dramatic conclusion a precisely crafted story achieves a kind of wrenching catharsis, as Karen determines to rise from the devastation and start a new life. For anyone who has experienced intolerance and had to start again, watching Audrey's Karen is a redeeming and uplifting moment.

Good production values but too tame in its treatment. The actors are good but the script is off mark. James Garner's role does not ring true. He should have hung in there no matter what.