The Philadelphia Story (1940)

100% of critics liked it
(44 reviews)
92% of users liked it
(44,139 ratings)

We open on Philadelphia socialite C.K. Dexter Haven (Cary Grant) as he's being tossed out of his palatial home by his wife, Tracy Lord (Katharine Hepburn). Adding insult to injury, Tracy breaks one of C.K.'s precious golf clubs. He gallantly responds by knocking her down on her million-dollar… More We open on Philadelphia socialite C.K. Dexter Haven (Cary Grant) as he's being tossed out of his palatial home by his wife, Tracy Lord (Katharine Hepburn). Adding insult to injury, Tracy breaks one of C.K.'s precious golf clubs. He gallantly responds by knocking her down on her million-dollar keester. A couple of years after the breakup, Tracy is about to marry George Kittridge (John Howard), a wealthy stuffed shirt whose principal recommendation is that he's not a Philadelphia "mainliner," as C.K. was. Still holding a torch for Tracy, C.K. is galvanized into action when he learns that Sidney Kidd (Henry Daniell), the publisher of Spy Magazine, plans to publish an exposé concerning Tracy's philandering father (John Halliday). To keep Kidd from spilling the beans, C.K. agrees to smuggle Spy reporter Macauley Connor (James Stewart) and photographer Elizabeth Imbrie (Ruth Hussey) into the exclusive Lord-Kittridge wedding ceremony. How could C.K. have foreseen that Connor would fall in love with Tracy, thereby nearly lousing up the nuptials? As it turns out, of course, it is C.K. himself who pulls the "louse-up," reclaiming Tracy as his bride. A consistently bright, bubbly, witty delight, The Philadelphia Story could just as well have been titled "The Revenge of Katharine Hepburn." Having been written off as "box-office poison" in 1938, Hepburn returned to Broadway in a vehicle tailor-made for her talents by playwright Philip Barry. That property, of course, was The Philadelphia Story; and when MGM bought the rights to this sure-fire box-office success, it had to take Hepburn along with the package -- and also her veto as to who her producer, director, and co-stars would be. Her strategy paid off: after the film's release, Hepburn was back on top of the Hollywood heap. While she didn't win the Oscar that many thought she richly deserved, the little gold statuette was bestowed upon her co-star Stewart, perhaps as compensation for his non-win for 1939's Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Donald Ogden Stewart (no relation to Jimmy) also copped an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay. The Philadelphia Story was remade in 1956 with a Cole Porter musical score as High Society. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Play Trailer

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 52 min.
Directed By: George Cukor
Written By: Donald Ogden Stewart
Genres: Romance, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Dec 1, 1940 Wide
On DVD: Sep 10, 1997
Studio: MGM

Critic Reviews

, TIME Magazine
In short, The Philadelphia Story lifts the daily drudge into a charming never-never land, with complete footnotes excusing its existence. And besides, it's a good, entertaining show.
Mark Bourne, Film.com
Every time Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, and Jimmy Stewart connect in a scene, we hear the happy ding! of quality champagne crystal.
Herb Golden, Variety
The smarties are going to relish Philadelphia Story a lot more than the two-bit trade...
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader
George Cukor gives it the royal treatment with a splendid supporting cast...
Bosley Crowther, New York Times
It has been a long time since Hollywood has spent itself so extravagantly, and to such entertaining effect, upon a straight upper-crust fable, an unblushing apologia for plutocracy.
Ellen MacKay, Common Sense Media
Screwball romance is lots of fun for older kids.
Laura Bushell, Film4
Romantic comedies are rarely this fabulous.
, TV Guide's Movie Guide
With such a stellar cast, a fine director working in the type of picture he did best, and some genuinely witty dialogue, this film has all the ingredients for a great comedy.
Jeremiah Kipp, Slant Magazine
Is The Philadelphia Story about cutting Katharine Hepburn down to size?
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com
Approaching it as a fairytale with a moral--Hepburn meets her prince but gums it up and need to rediscover her own humanity-Cukor directs with stylish elegance that serves the play perfectly-one of his masterpieces and a sampler of Classic Hollywood Cinem
Pablo Villaca, Cinema em Cena
O charme do trio principal e a inteligência dos diálogos permitiram que o filme envelhecesse maravilhosamente bem.
Mark Bourne, DVDJournal.com
True to form, Warner Home Video's two-disc Special Edition lovingly restores The Philadelphia Story with a great print and a newly remastered transfer.
Geoff Andrew, Time Out
Cukor and Donald Ogden Stewart's evergreen version of Philip Barry's romantic farce, centreing on a socialite wedding threatened by scandal, is a delight from start to finish, with everyone involved working on peak form.
Brad Laidman, Film Threat
I don't think anyone really cares about the fact that this was intended to be a cunning class satire with a capital C, but it's got big stars, they say cool things, they look good, it's funny, and the right guy gets the right girl in amusing fashion.
Jake Hamilton, Empire Magazine
Excellent casting, a great storyline and a shrp script mean that this remains a classic of the genre and one of Katherine Hepburn's best roles.
Matt Brunson, Creative Loafing
[Relies] less on physical comedy and more on immaculately delivered zingers.
Christopher Null, Filmcritic.com
Everyone and everything about the film is mostly perfect, and what the movie ultimately says about the nature of love is still prescient.
Sarah Chauncey, Reel.com
The rare movie that we never tire of watching. This Special Edition DVD deserves a place on your shelf.
Brent Simon, Now Playing Magazine
The potential outlandishness of the scenario is tempered by topnotch wordplay and, most of all, recognizably human characters and reactions.

Read all 19 critic reviews

Critic ratings and reviews powered by RottenTomatoes.com

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

Dean M

It's Katharine Hepburn's picture, but with as fetching a lineup of the talent as is to be found, she's got to fight every clever line of dialog all of the way to hold her lead. Pushing hard is little Virginia Weidler, the kid sister, who has as twinkly any eye with a… More
It's Katharine Hepburn's picture, but with as fetching a lineup of the talent as is to be found, she's got to fight every clever line of dialog all of the way to hold her lead. Pushing hard is little Virginia Weidler, the kid sister, who has as twinkly any eye with a fast quip as a blinker light. Ruth Hassey is another from whom director George Cukor has milked maximum results to get a neat blend of sympathy-winning softness under a python-tongued smartaleckness. As for Cary Grant, James Stewart and Roland Young, there's little to be said that their reputation hasn't established. John Howard, John Halliday and Mary Nash, in lesser roles, more than adequately fill in what Philip Barry must have dreamt of when he wrote the 1939 play. The perfect conception of all flighty but characterful Main Line socialite gals rolled into one, Hepburn has just the right amount of beauty, just the right amount of disarray in wearing clothes, just the right amount of culture in her voice - it's no one but Hepburn. When the acid tongues are turned on at beginning and end of the film, it's a laugh-provoker from way down. When the discussion gets deep and serious, however, on the extent of Hepburn's stone-like character, the verbiage is necessarily highly abstract and the film slows to a toddle.
Emile T

James Stuwart and Katharine Hepburn were magnifient to see on screen, their performance and the great screenplay made the whole movie, while Cary Grant and Ruth Hussey were amazing, too.
Spencer S

Generous helpings of drama, witty banter, and that powerful shade of romance that can only be explored in a time when innocence was key, and you had to work with hwat you had.
AJ V

This is one of my favourite movies. It has a fantastic cast including Grant, Hepburn, and Stewart. The story is interesting, funny, witty, and dramatic. I highly recommend this movie.
Morgan S

This was a Great classic movie! Everyone is great in this movie Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, and James Stewart I think he is my favorite in this movie. A perfect romanic Dramadey. See it!
Conner R

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… More
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 actually kind of a scumbag. Katherine Hepburn was also great, but it's Cary Grant who effortlessly steals every scene he's in.
Tim S

Funny and romantic.
El Hombre I

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… More
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 dialogue 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. <a href="http://s273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/goji9000/?action=view&current=philadelphia.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i273.photobucket.com/albums/jj203/goji9000/philadelphia.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>
Fernando Rafael Q

Watching three legends (Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart) "battle" onscreen is pure cinematic glory. The fact that this "Philadelphia Story" is pretty funny is due, in large part, to the amazing trifecta of Grant-Hepburn-Stewart, each giving an… More
Watching three legends (Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart) "battle" onscreen is pure cinematic glory. The fact that this "Philadelphia Story" is pretty funny is due, in large part, to the amazing trifecta of Grant-Hepburn-Stewart, each giving an impeccable performance, but also to the script by Donald Ogden Stewart.
Mason W

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… More
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 studded film.....gotta love a very smart, well acted, funny, and great actors to watch in there prime....comedy at it's finest!!!
danny d

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… More
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 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.
Ken S

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.
Stella D

...<3
Jennifer X

This is the most perfectly cast movie I've seen in my life. The word that comes to mind is "scintillating". Scintillating script, scintillating actors, scintillating Cukor, scintillating humor. I read that Hepburn wanted to have Spencer Tracy as Dexter and Clark Gable… More
This is the most perfectly cast movie I've seen in my life. The word that comes to mind is "scintillating". Scintillating script, scintillating actors, scintillating Cukor, scintillating humor. I read that Hepburn wanted to have Spencer Tracy as Dexter and Clark Gable as Mike, but I gotta say I think I prefer this version. Cary Grant adds a bit of adorable roguishness that Spencer Tracy could not have mirrored. If only I hadn't seen High Society first! Hepburn trumps Kelly anyday. And James Stewart, can you say H-O-T?
Wildaly M

Ahh... I remember this one. A really good one with some amazing actors. They don't make romantic comedies like this anymore.
xGary X

Sparkling, witty comedy of manners featuring a cast studded with Hollywood legends, later remade as the musical High Society
Michael G

Sharp-witted and a lot of fun even if you don't like "old" movies.
Jeremy S

Sophistication takes a film form in this devine marriage drama/comedy features three of the screen's biggest stars at their wittiest and most beautiful Grant, Hepburn and Stewart. The most memorable 'drunk' scenes between Stewart and Hepburn, and Stewart and Grant. The… More
Sophistication takes a film form in this devine marriage drama/comedy features three of the screen's biggest stars at their wittiest and most beautiful Grant, Hepburn and Stewart. The most memorable 'drunk' scenes between Stewart and Hepburn, and Stewart and Grant. The dialogue, costumes and acting are absolutely perfect. "What a fine day, is everybody fine, that's fine".
Dillon L

Decent performances, but pretty dry storytelling and a terrible ending. Still, several great comedic moments. I think the scene with Jimmy Stewart drunk was particularly humorous.
Andy S

40's-era comic mainstay Cary Grant again fulfills his laugh quota for this fantastic film. The great acting and writing ensure that nothing ever gets boring, and the all-star cast would make it notable even if it were a bad film. The Valentine's Day of the forties (except… More
40's-era comic mainstay Cary Grant again fulfills his laugh quota for this fantastic film. The great acting and writing ensure that nothing ever gets boring, and the all-star cast would make it notable even if it were a bad film. The Valentine's Day of the forties (except good).