The Philadelphia Story is a romantic comedy film based on a Broadway play of the same name by Philip Barry, the film is about a rich socialite whose wedding plans are complicated by the simultaneous arrival of her ex-husband and a handsome journalist. It is considered one of the best examples of romantic comedy, a genre popular in the 1930s and 1940s. At a time when depicting extramarital affairs was banned in American film a screwball comedy dealing with remarriage in which a couple divorce, flirt with outsiders and then remarry was a useful ploy at a time. The film was a great success.
The Philadelphia heiress Tracy Samantha Lord Haven (Hepburn) throws out her playboy husband C.K. Dexter Haven( Cary Grant) shortly after their marriage. Two years later, Tracy is about to marry respectable nouveau riche George Kittredge(John Howard) whilst Dexter has been working for “Spy” magazine.
Wedding preparations are complicated when she is blackmailed by publisher Sidney Kidd (Henry Daniell) over some incriminating photos exposing the antics of Tracy’s philandering father, Seth (John Halliday). “Spy” must have exclusive rights to the event. Enter the tabloid reporter Macaulay “Mike” Connor (James Stewart) and photographer Elizabeth “Liz” Imbrie (Ruth Hussey) sent by the magazine. Dexter has help in the reporter: Mike Connor frowns on the rich and also drops lines to show his distrust of them.
(” Macaulay Connor: The prettiest sight in this fine pretty world is the privileged class enjoying its privileges”.
) The other one is photographer Liz Imbrie, who has a yen for champagne.
“Elizabeth (Liz) Imbrie: What’s this room? I’ve forgotten my compass.
Macaulay Connor: I’d say, south-by-southwest parlor-by-living-room”.
With such spoilers who are out to peel that rich snooty veneer off her, Tracy is forced to choose among her past love, her present love, and her new love.
The night before the wedding, Tracy gets drunk for only the second time in her life and takes an impromptu, innocent swim with Mike. When George sees Mike carrying an intoxicated Tracy into the house afterwards (both of them wearing only bathrobes), he thinks the worst, that his bride-to-be has disgraced herself. The next day, he tells her that he was shocked and feels entitled to an explanation before going ahead with the wedding. Tracy takes exception to his lack of faith in her and breaks off the engagement. Then she realizes that all the guests have arrived and are waiting for the ceremony to begin. Mike volunteers to marry her (much to Elizabeth’s distress), but Tracy graciously declines. At this point, Dexter makes his successful bid for her hand.
Of course the dialogue is supposedly scintillating, a sample of which is given below.
The play was Hepburn’s first great triumph after several movie flops (including the classic Bringing Up Baby), which had led to her being labeled “box office poison”. Howard Hughes bought the rights to the film as a gift to Hepburn. When Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer decided to make a movie out of it, she stipulated in her contract that the film could not be made unless she was allowed to reprise her stage role. Hepburn initially wanted Clark Gable and Spencer Tracy for the male leads but they were not available. The film earned a Best Actor Academy Award for Stewart in an unusually forceful performance, as the fast-talking reporter smitten with Hepburn.
It was remade in 1956 as a musical titled High Society, starring Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, and Frank Sinatra
Director: George Cukor
Writer: Donald Ogden Stewart
Cast:
Cary Grant as C. K. Dexter Haven
* Katharine Hepburn as Tracy Lord
* James Stewart as Macaulay Connor
* Ruth Hussey as Elizabeth Imbrie
* John Howard as George Kittredge
* Roland Young as Uncle Willie
* John Halliday as Seth Lord
* Mary Nash as Margaret Lord
* Virginia Weidler as Dinah Lord
* Henry Daniell as Sidney Kidd
Producer: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Cinematographer: Joseph Ruttenberg (director of photography)
Composer: Franz Waxman
Distributed by MGM
(Ack: www.imdb.com, wikipedia}
Memorable quotes
Margaret Lord: The course of true love...
Macaulay Connor: …gathers no moss.
2.
George Kittredge: [walks in on Tracy and Dexter together] Well, I suppose I should object to this twosome.
C. K. Dexter Haven: That would be most objectionable.
Tracy Lord: [Tracy and Mike have almost kissed. Both are very drunk] Has your mind taken hold again, dear professor?
Macaulay Connor: Good thing, don’t you agree?
Tracy Lord: No, professor.
Macaulay Connor: [angrily] Alright, lay off that “professor” stuff! Now, do you hear me?
Tracy Lord: Yes, professor…
Macaulay Connor: Doggone it, C.K. Dexter Haven. Either I’m gonna sock you or you’re gonna sock me.
C. K. Dexter Haven: Shall we toss a coin?
3.
[Dexter has just proposed]
Tracy Lord: Oh Dexter you’re not doing it just to soften the blow?
C. K. Dexter Haven: No.
Tracy Lord: Nor to save my face?
C. K. Dexter Haven: Oh, it’s a nice little face.
Trivia:
In the original Broadway play Joseph Cotton played the Cary Grant role while Van Heflin did the James Stewart role.
2.
Stewart had been extremely nervous to do the scene in which Conner recites poetry to Tracy and believed that he would perform badly. Coincidentally, Noel Coward was visiting the set that day and was advised by director George Cukor to say something that would encourage Stewart. Coward said, offhandedly, “Did I mention I think you’re a fantastic actor?” Stewart performed the scene unforgettably well. (Courtesy IMDB)
3.
The film was shot in eight weeks with no requirement for retakes. On one instance, James Stewart slipped in his hiccuping during the drunk scene. Grant turned to him, surprised, and said “Excuse me.” The scene only had to be shot once. (Courtesy TCM).
4.
The character of Tracy Lord was inspired by Helen Hope Montgomery Scott (1904-1995), a Philadelphia socialite, known for her hijinks, who married a friend of playwright Philip Barry
Compiler:benny
