The Philadelphia Story (1940)

Directed by: George Cukor | 112 minutes | comedy, romance | Actors: Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, James Stewart, Ruth Hussey, John Howard, Roland Young, John Halliday, Mary Nash, Virginia Weidler, Henry Daniell, Lionel Pape, Rex Evans

Sometimes the audience is tired of even the biggest and best actors. Hollywood legend Katherine Hepburn experienced this firsthand. Following her Academy Award for Best Actress for the 1933 film ‘Morning Glory’, her career took off with a string of box office flops, including the now-upgraded classics ‘Bringing Up Baby’ and ‘Holiday’. Angry tongues claim that Hepburn’s departure from RKO Studios and her strong and independent personality were the cause. The adamant Hepburn didn’t show up and successfully rushed onto the scene. Only when ‘The Philadelphia Story’ from 1940, a play written especially for her by Philip Barry with whom she previously stole the show on Broadway, was made into a film by the cinema audience again with open arms.

‘The Philadelphia Story’ opens with a short prelude in which the alcoholic CK Dexter Haven and the wealthy Tracy Lord split up. Then the story jumps a few years further and Tracy finds herself on the eve of her next wedding. The role of groom is reserved for self-made businessman George Kittredge. Haven, secretly still fond of Tracy, tries to discredit the relationship by having two Spy magazine reporters invited to the Lord’s house. These are journalist Macaulay Connor and photographer Liz Imbrie. On the eve of the wedding, Tracy is forced to confront aspects of herself that she has always denied. Moreover, during a lengthy evening party, she feels increasingly attracted to Macaulay, who clearly has more to offer than first suggests. When the day of the wedding arrives, Tracy is faced with the choice of which of the three men she will spend the rest of her life with.

‘The Philadelphia Story’ relies heavily on the great cast with its wafer-thin story. Katharine Hepburn, for example, paints an excellent portrait of the haughty Tracy Lord. Not surprising when you consider that the character is based on Hepburn himself. But Cary Grant and James Stewart also show their best side. Stewart himself received an Oscar for his role as Macauley Connor. Before that he defeated Charlie Chaplin (‘The Great Dictator’) among others. Both Grant and Stewart have shown throughout their careers that they are versatile and excel in light comedies. In particular, the scene in which a drunk Stewart visits Grant stays with the viewer. Stewart improvised a lot during this scene and it shows in Grant’s reaction, who can barely contain his laughter.

The dialogues in ‘The Philadelphia Story’ are also very witty and fast. Good thing too, because it is precisely in the words and rebuttals that are presented with great bravado by the actors that the film’s strength lies. More than anything else, they ensure that the film, which is over sixty years old, still remains so strong today. For those who like movie classics, this is one you should definitely check out.