The Philadelphia Story (1940)

Producer: Joseph L. Mankiewicz. Copyright 28 November 1940 by Loew's Inc. Presented by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. New York opening at Radio City Music Hall: 26 December 1940. U.S. release: 17 January 1941. U.K. release: March 1941. Australian release: 17 April 1941. 12 reels. 10,087 feet. 112 minutes.SYNOPSIS: Society girl's ex-husband plans to wreck her upcoming marriage because he still loves the girl himself.NOTES: Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Awards: Best Actor, James Stewart (defeating Charles Chaplin as The Great Dictator; Henry Fonda in The Grapes of Wrath; Raymond Massey as Abe Lincoln in Illinois and Laurence Olivier in Rebecca). Donald Ogden Stewart, Best (Adapted) Screenplay (defeating The Grapes of Wrath, Kitty Foyle, The Long Voyage Home, and Rebecca). Other Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Award nominations: Best Picture (won by Rebecca); Best Actress, Katharine Hepburn (won by Ginger Rogers for Kitty Foyle); Supporting Actress, Ruth Hussey (won by Jane Darwell for The Grapes of Wrath); Directing (won by John Ford for The Grapes of Wrath). New York Film Critics Award, Best Femi¬nine Performance: Katharine Hepburn. Film Daily Poll of U.S. film critics: 3rd best picture of 1941 (after Gone With The Wind and Sergeant York).Philip Barry's play opened on Broadway, 28 March 1939. It starred Katharine Hepburn, Joseph Cotten and Van Heflin and ran for 415 performances and then took to the road. Miss Hepburn took time off to make the movie, returning to the road company well before it finally closed on 15 February 1941. Shooting from 5 July 1940 to 14 August 1940. Remade in 1956 as "High Society", a musical version with Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Grace Kelly.COMMENT: So much praise has been heaped on this delightfully witty comedy of manners, it seems superfluous to add more. Let me just say that the dialogue sparks, the characters fascinate, the plot entertains and the players excel. "The Philadelphia Story" is one of the most successful transitions of Broadway to Hollywood ever made, a perfectly flawless gem of wit and sophistication that is, if anything, even funnier, more acidic, more biting, yes, even more clever on the screen. We have Katharine Hepburn to thank for this. She owned the screen rights and made sure MGM did the play proud. She hired the director, the screenwriter, the other players and all the technicians. A great pity she missed out on the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Award she so richly deserved. (Who remembers Kitty Foyle today?) James Stewart gives an equally scintillating performance, while Cary Grant (a master of cut-and thrust dialogue) is brilliantly cast as the sly C.K. The supporting players are so perfect, it seems less than just to single out one or two, but I must draw attention to John Howard's magnificently dull fiancé (Walter Pidgeon himself could not have done the role more proud), and John Halliday's vibrantly quirky roué father-of-the-bride. And how we vigorously applaud Roland Young!Thanks to the director and his behind-the-camera team, the movie is always as attractive to look at as to listen to. A double pleasure indeed! "The Philadelphia Story" is indeed one of the sharpest, most amusing comedies MGM ever made.

The Philadelphia Story is a good movie with a well developed plot and a charming cast. The performances are, without any doubt, what holds the whole film together, Katherine Hepburn shines as the leading lady and her on screen chemistry with Hollywood legends Cary Grant and James Stewart is outstanding. The individual relationships between each character is what made the whole film intriguing to view. I do think it is a bit of an overstatement to label this as a comedy. It is a feel good drama that has humorous elements to it, but it is not necessarily funny, especially when you compare it to the proper comedies made by the likes of Charlie Chaplin and the Marx Brothers during this era of film. The plot is also very straight forward, it flows by so easily that you forget there is even an objective that the protagonist is trying to overcome. There is never a moment where Tracy or any other character seems to be struggling. I do not blame the actors, but the writers for not making their issues seem vital, something that we would want them, as viewers, to defeat.The film is very sweet, the immense charm of the story itself and the lead make it a pleasant viewing. Well acted and somewhat enchanting, The Philadelphia Story may be flawed, but it is still worth the watch if you are looking for a good romance, just do not go out of your way to see it. A woman begins to learn to truth about herself when two past lovers make her conflicted about her arranged marriage. Best Performance: James Stewart

The Philadelphia Story (1940): Dir: George Cukor / Cast: Katherine Hepburn, Cary Grant, James Stewart, Ruth Hussey, John Howard: Hilarious romantic comedy about modern romance within the high class. Katherine Hepburn plays a high society woman who is engaged but her ex-husband appears thus making everyone uneasy. James Stewart plays a reporter whom Hepburn becomes smitten with. While very funny with a variety of personalities director George Cukor expertly presents elements of class and lifestyles. Cukor previously made a version of Romeo and Juliet as well as Camille and The Adventures of Tom Sawyer. This is one of his best films. Hepburn is wonderful as a woman seeking real romance and perhaps feels that her engagement to the strict and traditional John Howard isn't what she was seeking after all. She indulges in her free spirit guilt of romance thus placing her in the glaring eyes of sophistication. Cary Grant is hilarious as meddling ex-husband. James Stewart steals scenes as the reporter who spends a drunken evening with Hepburn. Ruth Hussey is superb as his photographer. John Howard plays the potential groom whose love life is about to unravel with two other suitors. It regards marriage and romance but also positioning one's economic status. One could easily observe that in the end, that is what makes news, isn't it? Score: 10 / 10

The Philadelphia Story is perhaps the greatest Romantic Comedy of all time. Katherine Hepburn is wonderful I might even go as far as to say its one of Katherine's greatest ever roles. She plays a very very funny Tracy Lord, she previously played this role on stage just about 1 year previously and in the film she was just as amazing. She spends the whole movie taking the mickey out of Carry Grant and Jimmy Stewart. Carry Grant plays a reporter who is in love with Tracy, and Jimmy plays Tracy's ex husband. Excellent support from Virgina Weidler and Ruth Hussey.A Hilarious film with some wonderful scenes. I can't recommend it enough. 10 out of 10.