Spitfire (1934) in Color — Starring Katharine Hepburn & Robert Young

Spitfire (1934) — Buy This Classic in Color

Discover Spitfire, John Cromwell’s 1934 drama starring Katharine Hepburn, Robert Young, and Ralph Bellamy, now available as a professionally colorized version. Own this classic movie in color as a DRM-free MP4 digital download for just €15.00.

Plot Summary

Trigger Hicks is a fierce, uneducated mountain girl living in the remote Ozarks who is feared and shunned by her superstitious neighbors for her wild temperament and her passionate belief that she can heal the sick through faith and prayer. When a dam construction project brings engineers into the isolated community, Trigger falls for the handsome newcomer John Stafford, not knowing he is already married. Her open, guileless pursuit of him shocks the prudish townspeople and makes her an even greater outcast in a community that already views her with suspicion. When Trigger’s faith healing appears to work a miracle on a dying baby, the community is torn between awe and deep suspicion of powers they cannot understand. But when the child later falls ill again, the mob turns violently against her, branding her a witch and driving her from the settlement with torches and fury. Alone in the mountains she loves, surrounded by the natural beauty that has always been her truest companion, Trigger must reconcile her wild spirit with her desperate need for love and belonging in a world that refuses to accept anyone who dares to be different. This classic movie is a raw, unconventional drama about superstition, faith, and the eternal price of being an outsider in a community ruled by fear and conformity.

Cast & Crew

Director: John Cromwell

Stars: Katharine Hepburn, Robert Young, Ralph Bellamy, Martha Sleeper, Sidney Toler, Sara Haden

Katharine Hepburn delivers a fearless, physically demanding performance as Trigger Hicks, completely transforming herself from Hollywood sophisticate into a wild Ozark mountain woman with a thick dialect and raw, elemental energy. It is one of the most daring transformations in early Hollywood, and while the film divided audiences at the time, Hepburn’s commitment to the role is extraordinary. Robert Young is appealing as the civilized engineer whose decency cannot overcome the social barriers between them. Ralph Bellamy provides solid support, and the ensemble of mountain community characters creates an authentic atmosphere of rural isolation and superstition.

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

Spitfire was originally filmed in black and white, its rugged Ozark mountain landscapes and rustic cabin interiors captured in atmospheric RKO photography. This professionally colorized restoration brings frame-by-frame precision to the forested hillsides, the homespun settings, and the fiery intensity of Katharine Hepburn’s performance. The colorized version adds earthy warmth to this restored classic film, revealing the rich greens of the mountain forests, the warm tones of the rustic cabins, and the natural beauty that is central to Trigger’s character and her connection to the land. Now also available in colour.

Buy Spitfire in color today for just €15.00. Your DRM-free MP4 download is available for instant access.

Historical Significance

Spitfire features one of Katharine Hepburn’s most daring early performances, playing completely against type as an uneducated, dialect-speaking mountain girl rooted in folk healing and raw emotion. The film was considered a commercial disappointment at the time and contributed to Hepburn being labeled “box office poison” in the late 1930s, but it has since gained significant appreciation from film scholars who recognize her raw, fearless acting and commitment to an unconventional role. Director John Cromwell, who would later direct Son of Fury, brings a respectful naturalism to the mountain community setting. The film offers a rare early Hollywood portrayal of Appalachian culture and folk religion that remains fascinating as both a social document and a showcase for one of cinema’s greatest actresses. Through colorization, this unconventional early Hepburn film reaches new audiences.

Technical Details

• Format: MP4 digital download
• Resolution: HD restored
• Colorized: Professionally colorized from original black and white
• Audio: Original mono restored
• Runtime: Approximately 87 minutes
• DRM-free: Yes — watch on any device
• Instant download: Available immediately after purchase
• Price: €15.00

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Movie-Specific Questions

Q: Is this a typical Katharine Hepburn film?
A: No, Spitfire is one of Hepburn’s most unusual roles. She plays a wild, uneducated mountain woman with a heavy Ozark accent — far from her typical sophisticated characters, but a testament to her fearless range as an actress.

Q: Is this a drama or a romance?
A: It is primarily a drama about an outcast woman in a superstitious community, with a romantic subplot involving a married engineer. The themes of faith, intolerance, and the price of being different drive the story.

Q: How does colorization affect this mountain drama?
A: Colorization brings stunning natural beauty to the Ozark mountain settings, revealing the lush forest greens and warm earth tones that enhance the contrast between Trigger’s deep connection to nature and the hostile human world that rejects her.

Digital Download Questions

Q: What format is the download?
A: The film is delivered as an MP4 file compatible with virtually any device or media player.

Q: Is there DRM on the file?
A: No. The download is completely DRM-free so you can watch it on any device without restrictions.

Q: How quickly can I watch after purchase?
A: Your download link is available instantly after payment, so you can start watching within minutes.

Related Colorized Classics

• The Champ (1931)
• Out of the Fog (1962)
• Conquest (1937)
• The Valley of Decision (1945)
• The Bride Wore Red (1937)