Cary Grant, James Stewart, John Howard, Katharine Hepburn, Roland Young ...( see more  see more... ) , Ruth Hussey

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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92% liked it

40,257 ratings

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100% liked it

45 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 53 min.

Directed by: George Cukor

Release Date: December 1, 1940

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DVD Release Date: September 10, 1997

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Stats: 2,539 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (2,539)


  • June 25, 2009
    What exactly does it mean when they say "They don't make 'em like that anymore"? Usually it's in reference to movies of the 30s, 40s and 50s, movies like "Casablanca", "The Maltese Falcon" or "The Philadelphia Story". This movie is, simply, one of the great comedies. The dialogu...( read more)e is electric, immensely funny and moving. I've recently had a chance to revisit this film on the big screen and couldn't have asked for more. It's also an example of perfect casting.

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  • September 16, 2008
    The Philadelphia Story, is one of my favorite MGM comedies of the 40's. A dream cast consisting of Katherine Hepburn, Cary Grant, James Stewart, Ruth Hussey and more. Have to love the studio system back in the day where they could get the best of the best in every role be a star ...( read more)studded film.....gotta love a very smart, well acted, funny, and great actors to watch in there prime....comedy at it's finest!!!
  • August 25, 2008
    ''The time to make up your mind about people is never.''

    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.

    Cary Grant: C.K. Dexter Haven

    Katharine Hepburn: ...( read more)Tracy Lord

    James Stewart: Macaulay Connor

    Philadelphia Story is a hilarious comedy, starring Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, and James Stewart. With that cast, along with a great script and inspired direction, make this movie a treat to watch.
    The three stars are obviously the Story at work here, but minor characters also play an influential part. To the extent in which the older adult members of Hepburn's family have no clue as to what is transpiring, while the child clearly does, is most amusing. It ought to be said that Philadelphia Story is far from all that humourous. The sense of humour is more of the clever and fleeting kind of variation. Most of it arises either from Grant's splendid persona, with his wry, charismatic tones, or Hepburn's flighty, beguiling, enchanting mannerisms. I would say that Grant is to a degree under used in his role, as there are very large stretches of the picture where he is not on screen. Stewart is however excellent, playing a sensitive, artistic type who understandably is somewhat taken by Hepburn's Tracy Lord. All three stars are much in their element and they bask in it's glory, with accents as remembered by all, and a fitting social setting.

    As has been said by some other film scribe, "a strong case is being made as to the sheer irresistibility of the film's female star". Katharine Hepburn is shown at her most statuesque and in a beautiful disposition. Her character has an impressive array of fine lines to deliver also, and is treated with dignity and understanding by the effective script. It is in some ways a voyage of self discovery for Hepburn's Miss Lord. Ranging from a rejection of her anointed goddess status, a rejection of marriage for mere hierarchical gain and a deeper understanding of the meaning of love.

    The film's about-face ending is quite charming really, mixing the conservative with the progressive. Conservative in that marriage is seen to have to take place, and in the characters returning to earlier relationships. It could indeed be argued that not enough had been made of Stewart's relations with Ruth Hussey's character. Progressive it could be said, in that events have been very quickly turned upside down, and love over society is championed. Also, perhaps most tellingly, the drunken indiscretion of Hepburn is not just forgiven, but seen as part of her self-discovery. This film in its treatment of a liberated woman such as Hepburn, must be praised for its sensitivity and liberal understanding. All too often, Hollywood allowed the reactionary and the puritanically conservative to lazily dominate its films.

    We are presented with an upper-middle class milieu, with contrasts provided by Grant's hard-bitten aristocratic dandy and John Howard's dullard "man of the people" politician. There is nothing staggering about the film's assertion that the upper classes can be perfectly charming and noble, whilst those of the lower classes, like Howard, can be lacking charm and appear materialistic. It seems merely to be making a point of its very balance, and is almost a fig leaf to those who would have expected a simplistic socialist line.

    Need it be mentioned that Cukor's direction is excellent? Making an art form of the unobtrusive, he lets the camera just take in the performances and the script, without distraction. He captures Hepburn in a radiant and sensitive light that I suppose slightly overshadows the male leads. There are artistic shots at times, that evoke occasional counterpoint to the usual images of the starts. One lingering shot of the precocious child watching from out of her window the night's events, is a good example of this working to great effect. An effect of establishing a wider, but still near-motionless canvass to the story.

    Philadelphia Story is cleverly and entertainingly written, and delightfully well acted by all involved. It's hard to imagine anyone finding it dull or beneath them, but apparently some people can find anything beneath them. Indeed their defeat. If you haven't seen this, please do. If you haven't seen it in a while, give it another viewing. You won't be disappointed. It's standards and assumptions are a bit dated, but the humour, wit, and heart are certainly not.
  • July 20, 2008
    this was a very good film. the writing was stellar, especially the very clever diologue, and the performances were charismatic and well done. the story reminded me somewhat of 'guess whos coming to dinner?', although i liked that film better, this one had a charm to it that few...( read more) films achieve. i do feel that this film had two glaring mistakes, and i got a little bored by the story in the middle, but the end could not have been more perfect. great movie.
  • June 30, 2008
    A ton of fun, and one of the better screwball comedies ever made (the best being It Happened One Night).

    The chemistry and acting in this film is some of the best ever committed to celluloid. The dialog is quick witted and expertly delivered.
  • January 31, 2010
    Great story and actors in this one, Stewart is the star in this!
  • January 31, 2010
    I think this is essentially where the dating game began. Three eligible bachelors, but only one will win the girl. It's got a perfect cast and equally perfect dialogue. I think it's actually one of the few times i've really remember James Stewart as a different character, he was ...( read more)actually kind of a scumbag. Katherine Hepburn was also great, but it's Cary Grant who effortlessly steals every scene he's in.
  • January 29, 2010
    This is a great comedy movie from the 40's. The movie has a all star cast with Carey Grant, Katherine Hepburn and James Stewart. The story is about a rich woman played by Hepburn who is about to marry for the third time. But her first ex husband played by Cary Grant hires tabloi...( read more)d reporter James Stewart in hopes he will help stop the marriage. This is a very funny movie. Grant, Hepburn and Stewart are all excellent in this. The dialogue is so funny and witty. So many great lines in the film. This movie was originally a broadway play that starred Hepburn. She helped bring it to the big screen. The story works as a movie. With the help of a great cast in all the roles it was a fun watch. In the beginning I did not like Cary Grant character. But by the end he was very likeable. Plus the ending was not what I expected. Hepburn's character is so confused about love and relationships you didn't know which man she would have married. Overall this was a great watch. A must watch for any fan of classic pictures.
  • January 21, 2010
    Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn y James Stewart en una sola pelicula! fantastico, todos dan grandes interpretaciones comicas, pero en especial la quimica entre Grant y Hepburn es de lo que mas se disfruta, magnetismo puro. El guion quiere abordar muchos sentimientos de los personaj...( read more)es, pero hay muy poco desarrollo de los eventos y de sus partes, asi que hay partes que se sienten forzadas por momentos, aun asi las actuaciones sacan a flote la pelicula.-
  • January 17, 2010
    Really good 1940's comedy.

Comments


  • espionage64
    November 11, 2006
    An amaZing film...i loved Dinah ~~~ she's so annoyingly sweet! (The welcoming scene to 'Juniors' friends)

    However i've gota say i love the scenes between Katherine Hepburn and James Stewart the most! ~~~ they're so so so very funi! Especially the 'Drunk' scenes...

    'When she hit the water, the drink hit her...'

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