Broadway's howling year-run comedy hit of the snooty society beauty who slipped and fell - IN LOVE!
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.
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Character
Classical in form, comic, warm and intimate.
- classical in formformally daring
- gravecomic
- warmbleak
- intimateepic
- cooloverwhelming
Who loves it, who doesn't
29 profiled raters. Loved most by The Comfort Seekers; disliked most by The Thrill Chasers.
Where do you stand?
Answer first; then see how everyone, and your circle, split.
“Is Cary Grant the best thing in The Philadelphia Story?”
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“Is this George Cukor's best work?”
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“Is it too cool to love?”
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A yes-or-no question, answered from what people wrote here, on TMDB and on Wikipedia. Never made up.
Reviews
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Reviews on TMDB
Written by TMDB members; each links to the original. Not part of Curator Co.'s numbers.
- barrymoston TMDB · Mar 20209/10
My, it's yar. The high-society goings-on of socialite Tracy Lord, who's about to remarry, and her ex-husband, C.K. Dexter Haven. All this could make a good news story, if the paper sends in the right man. Enter Macaulay Connor, an unassuming reporter who deals with more than his share of the crazy antics, and nearly gets married, before the film's end. This is an excellent, funny, and wholly diverting romantic comedy from that grand old director, George Cukor (one of my favorites). With three very talented, knockout stars, the film sure couldn't go wrong, and of course James Stewart snagged his Best Actor Oscar for it. And there's Cary Grant, spouting delightful nonsense all over the place, such is this memorable little one-liner: "No mean Machiavelli is smiling, cynical Sidney Kidd!" Oh, and let's not forget Virginia Weidler, as uppity little Dinah Lord. Now she's just a total hoot! Be sure and catch this hilarious classic, _darling_. A movie as classy as its high-society characters, and worthy of its reputation.
Read the whole review on TMDB - Filipe Manuel Netoon TMDB · Apr 20245/10
**A film that has qualities, but that has also been overvalued over the decades.** This was certainly one of the most interesting films of 1940, a time when the world was more attentive to the development of the war in Europe than to what was done by the actors. Based on a play that had great success on Broadway, George Cukor offers us an elegant and practical film, with material that allows the actors to show some talent, but which is still too theatrical at several moments, like a recorded play. Despite being considered a classic at times, I think it is a minor work for everyone: Cukor will always be best remembered for “My Fair Lady”; Cary Grant shined much brighter in “North By Northwest” and “Charade”; Hepburn will always be remembered for “Lion in Winter” and Stewart, one of Hitchcock’s favorites, ensured eternity in “Vertigo” and “Rear Window”. However, it is undeniable that they are great actors and Cukor was one of the great directors of the time, which allows us to guess the importance the studio gave to this production then. The director's work is elegant, clear and well executed; Grant is good at playing the funny cynic and Hepburn follows him without a problem. It's wo
Read the whole review on TMDB - CinemaSerfon TMDB · Jun 20248/10
Katharine Hepburn is on splendid form in this story of a wealthy spoilt brat, who is about to embark on her nuptials - second time around. This time, it's the rather fastidious "Kittredge" (John Howard) she has selected. This man is a far cry from her previous husband "Dexter-Haven" (Cary Grant), but he's what her family think is a safe pair of hands after her last knee-jerk marriage ended in failure. As the big day approaches, a glossy magazine sends reporter "Lis" (Ruth Hussey) and photographer "Mike" (James Stewart) to cover the happy event. It all might have gone to plan but for the arrival at his home next door of the aforementioned ex, who whilst going through the congratulatory motions with "Tracy", is clearly up for some mischief. What chance she will walk up the aisle now? The four at the top of the bill gel perfectly here as the ghastly "Tracy" has to face a few home truths and perhaps the most potent example of "in vino vertitas" ever to hit the silver screen. The whole thing comes across as natural and at times our (safe) vantage point offers us a cutting reflection on people for whom money has no meaning, true, but for whom the feelings of other people has even less. T
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Cast
- Cary GrantC.K. Dexter Haven
- Katharine HepburnTracy Lord
- James StewartMacaulay 'Mike' Connor
- Ruth HusseyElizabeth 'Liz' Imbrie
- John HowardGeorge Kittredge
- Roland YoungUncle Willie
- John HallidaySeth Lord
- Mary NashMargaret Lord
- Virginia WeidlerDinah Lord
- Henry DaniellSidney Kidd
Crew
- George CukorDirector
- Donald Ogden StewartScreenplay
- Waldo SaltScreenplay
- Joseph RuttenbergDirector of Photography
- Franz WaxmanOriginal Music Composer
- Frank SullivanEditor
- Joseph L. MankiewiczProducer
Where to watch
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Pairings
Companions we picked from the closest works, and how to take them.
Similar in taste
Closest on the same fourteen dimensions, from everything scored on Curator Co. Other media included when they land close.
Adam's Rib 194985% alikeBoth classical in form, comic, intimate.
Born Yesterday 195082% alikeBoth classical in form, comic.
Trouble in Paradise 193282% alikeBoth classical in form, comic, intimate.
Clueless 199581% alikeBoth classical in form, comic, warm.
The Awful Truth 193780% alikeBoth comic, classical in form, warm.
Mr. & Mrs. Smith 194179% alikeBoth classical in form, comic, warm.
Ninotchka 193977% alikeBoth classical in form, comic, warm.
The Odd Couple 196876% alikeBoth comic, classical in form, intimate.
Derry Girls 201880% alikeSeries · Both comic, classical in form.
Barney Miller 197579% alikeSeries · Both comic, classical in form, intimate.
Often watched with
Recommendations from TMDB. Opening one adds it to Curator Co.
