The Philadelphia Story (1940) Directed by George Cukor
Comedy / Romance
Film Review
The Philadelphia Story marked
Katherine Hepburn's triumphant return to Hollywood, only two years
after she had been branded box office poison by the Independent Theater
Owners of America as a result of the failure of the films she appeared
in during the 1930s. Hepburn had spent the interim starring on
Broadway in the film's original stage version, which had been written
for her by Philip Barry. The play's phenomenal success prompted
the canny actress to purchase the rights to a film adaptation, which
she sold to MGM for a quarter of a million dollars, on condition that
she star in the film and could choose her co-stars and director.
The enormous box office success of this film completely changed
Hepburn's fortunes and she became overnight one of the most popular and
sought after actresses in Hollywood.
The Philadelphia Story is a
classic screwball comedy - perhaps not the funniest or liveliest, but
certainly one of the most memorable, on account of its stellar
cast. James Stewart won an Oscar for his portrayal of a man with
obvious Bolshevik tendencies who succeeds in revealing a gentler side
in Hepburn, not an easy task when you are sharing the limelight with
another actor as charismatic as Cary Grant. All three actors give
sublime performances, making this a career highpoint for each of
them. George Cukor's slick direction and Donald Ogden Stewart's
Oscar winning screenplay make this one of Hollywood's most enjoyable
romantic comedies, and a telling satire on how America regards its
well-heeled elite. The film was remade in 1956 as High Society, starring Grace Kelly,
Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra.
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Next George Cukor film: Keeper of the Flame (1942)
Film Synopsis
Philadelphia socialite Tracy Lord is about to marry humdrum businessman
George Kittredge. Publisher Sidney Kidd sees this as the ideal
opportunity to run an exposé that will boost his
magazine sales. To that end, he sends reporter Macaulay Connor and photographer
Liz Imbrie to inveigle their way into the Lord household, with the help
of Tracy's first husband, C.K. Dexter Haven. Connor's antipathy
for the idle rich soon fades when he gets to know Tracy and realises
that she has a vulnerable side. He cannot imagine why she should
choose to marry a man as dull as Kittredge and wonders whether he
wouldn't make a better husband for her...
Script: Waldo Salt, Donald Ogden Stewart (play),
Philip Barry (play)
Cinematographer: Joseph Ruttenberg
Music: Franz Waxman
Cast: Cary Grant (C.K. Dexter Haven),
Katharine Hepburn (Tracy Lord),
James Stewart (Macaulay Connor),
Ruth Hussey (Elizabeth Imbrie),
John Howard (George Kittredge),
Roland Young (Uncle Willie),
John Halliday (Seth Lord),
Mary Nash (Margaret Lord),
Virginia Weidler (Dinah Lord),
Henry Daniell (Sidney Kidd),
Lionel Pape (Edward),
Rex Evans (Thomas),
King Baggot (Extra as Wedding Guest),
Hillary Brooke (Main Line Society Woman),
Veda Buckland (Elsie),
Lita Chevret (Manicurist),
Russ Clark (John - Chauffeur),
David Clyde (Mac),
Robert De Bruce (Dr. Parsons),
Dorothy Fay (Main Line Society Woman)
Country: USA
Language: English / French
Support: Black and White
Runtime: 112 min
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