The Philadelphia Story

My Rating: ***1/2 out of ****. The Philadelphia Story is one of the earlier Romantic Comedies. It is also one of the best. This film basically has what most romantic comedies today dont have. That would be a well-written script, Great Acting, and actually funny. The acting is a huge strength in the film. This is called Katharine Hepburn's best role by many, while I admit she is excellent in a number of scenes, I think she tends to overact at times. Cary Grant is great here. Everyone else is Great but I believe James Stewart to be the standout. He is perfect for this role, its a flawless performance, that he deservedly won the Best Actor Oscar for. The Script has wonderful dialogue thats delivered flawlessly by the actors. Even simple dialogue like "Isn't that awful" was delivered superbly by Katharine Hepburn. George Cukor made this project look like nothing, he made many films which were "womens films" but he does a damn good job here. If you think Romantic Comedies of today are good, look at The Philadelphia Story and they will pale in comparison. The Philadelphia Story is a very good film and worth remembering, unlike the mediocre to crappy romantic comedies of today. The Philadelphia Story is highly recommended.

What a major disappointment! When I began to collect movies in earnest, and read everything I could about films, this one always got ultra-rave reviews....by everyone. It also had three huge stars: Cary Grant, James Stewart and Katharine Hepburn. Man, I was anxious to see this. Well, this movie was terrible. I hated it. The only redeeming quality - and that was worth only two "stars" out of 10, was seeing a young and pretty Hepburn. Otherwise, the dialog was just plain stupid and the main characters - played by those three above - were all irritating to watch. This was the first movie I had seen in which I didn't like Stewart's role. He had always been likable. Maybe it's just me, but I don't find obnoxious drunks humorous nor do I find stuck-up high-society "dames" a turn-on, either. That's what you have in this vastly overrated movie. It was so bad, I shut it off with 30 minutes to go and got rid of the tape.

When a rich woman's ex-husband and a tabloid-type reporter turn up just before her planned remarriage, she begins to learn the truth about herself. Or, at least, that's the way the plot is often summarized. Of all the romantic comedies I've seen lately, particularly of the first half of the 20th century, "The Philadelphia Story" was my least favorite. Maybe I was in the wrong frame of mind and need to see it again, but I just didn't find it very funny and more often than not just thought it boring and dragging on too long. Cary Grant is alright, but this is not his best role. Katherine Hepburn is a hideously ugly beast, an annoying leading woman and her mouth belches out lines with a voice that would kill anything within earshot. How she is considered one of Hollywood's biggest star in this or any era is beyond me. Jimmy Stewart plays the redeeming character in this one, and it helps that at times he comes across as a rambling drunk. His drunkness is not as great as Doc Boone's from "Stagecoach", but still notable. The actress who plays Dinah Lord, Virginia Weidler, is the hidden gem here. She appeared in 44 films over the course of her lifetime, but probably none you've ever seen (besides this one). I'm not sure how she managed to be in so many films, but almost never in any successful ones. Whether that's her fault or that the casting director never picked her for the right roles, I don't know. Until I see this one again, which i don't plan on being soon, I'll have to say it didn't thrill me and the only really lasting legacy of this movie is that Tracy Lord became the namesake of one of the world's most notorious * stars. For whatever that's worth.

source: The Philadelphia Story

Trailer—The Philadelphia Story

The Philadelphia Story

What a treat! There are inevitable comparisons to the all-dancing, all-singing musical remake High Society. I enjoyed both, but I think this classic is the superior of the two. The only problem I have with The Philadelphia Story was the rather phony ending. However, with the high quality of everything else, I almost find it easy to ignore that. The production values are top-class, and Franz Waxman's score is wonderfully complimentary. The writing is deliciously witty and acerbic, and George Cukor's direction is nigh-on perfect. The film bounces along at a cracking pace, and the more romantic parts are enough to warm the heart. The acting is superb too, Katherine Hepburn is deliciously shrewd, Cary Grant is charming and urbane and James Stewart while cynical is the epitome of the Mr Nice Guy persona we have come to know and love him by. Overall, a real treat, if the ending wasn't as tacky we would have had perfection of a romantic comedy. 9/10 Bethany Cox

Obviously, the three lead actors are all just as great as we remember them, especially Jimmy Stewart in his Oscar-winning role. But don't miss the turns by Ruth Hussey, as the long-suffering but still devoted assistant to Stewart's journalist character, and Roland Young (who'd already starred with Cary Grant in the rightfully popular first and best "Topper" movie) here as Uncle Willie. So who ultimately winds up with Katherine Hepburn's character? Her ex, played by the suave Cary Grant, who may be a cad, or the earnest and down-to-earth young writer played by the honest Stewart, or the safe but utterly uninteresting fiancé played by John Howard. (Who? Exactly!) You'll have to watch all the way to the end to find out. Heck, just try not to! 😁

I really wasn't so much wowed by The Philadelphia Story's "story",as it were,as I was mesmerized by three of the big screen's strongest ever screen presences' interaction with one another.Katherine Hepburn,Cary Grant,and James Stewart were great (if that is even a strong enough word) individually,but together here in this film,they were absolutely out of this world.The story,quite frankly,gave me a headache overall,but I did find the ever famous "hiccup" improvisation between Stewart and Grant hysterical as it was obvious both men could barely compose themselves,but being the professionals that they were,they got it together and moved on,and that's what made the scene so entertaining.I had a great time watching.

What a major disappointment! When I began to collect movies in earnest, and read everything I could about films, this one always got ultra-rave reviews....by everyone. It also had three huge stars: Cary Grant, James Stewart and Katharine Hepburn. Man, I was anxious to see this. Well, this movie was terrible. I hated it. The only redeeming quality - and that was worth only two "stars" out of 10, was seeing a young and pretty Hepburn. Otherwise, the dialog was just plain stupid and the main characters - played by those three above - were all irritating to watch. This was the first movie I had seen in which I didn't like Stewart's role. He had always been likable. Maybe it's just me, but I don't find obnoxious drunks humorous nor do I find stuck-up high-society "dames" a turn-on, either. That's what you have in this vastly overrated movie. It was so bad, I shut it off with 30 minutes to go and got rid of the tape.