The relaxation of censorship codes meant that Hollywood could finally do justice to Lillian Hellman's famous play about the effects that a child's malicious whispers about two teachers' alleged lesbian relationship have on the lives of the people concerned. This superb film earned five Oscar nominations but they resulted in nothing from an industry still sensitive about giving awards to films with gay themes (Brokeback Mountain crashed at the 2006 Oscars). Audrey Hepburn is excellent and Shirley MacLaine unbearably touching, though Katharine Hepburn and Doris Day were originally offered their roles.

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