The Philadelphia Story
George Cukor
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Plot Summary
Katharine Hepburn is the snooty daughter of a wealthy Philadelphia family and about to marry for the second time. Things get hilariously complicated when her cunning ex-husband Cary Grant enters the scene with tabloid reporter James Stewart in tow. While Stewart falls helplessly in love with Hepburn, she rejects her stuffed-shirt fiance and realizes she's still in love with Grant. One of the greatest romantic comedies ever produced, it was recently selected as one of the top 100 American films of all time by the prestigious American Film Institute. Nominated for six Academy Awards, including Best Picture, and winner for Best Screenplay. Stewart ("It's A Wonderful Life," "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington") took home an Oscar for his earnest portrayal of the smitten reporter, and Oscar-winner Hepburn ("The African Queen," "On Golden Pond") received her third nomination. Ruth Hussey ("Northwest Passage") earned an Oscar-nomination as a cynical tabloid photographer.
Credits
Director
Screenwriters
Producer
- Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Movie Reviews from Rotten Tomatoes
TOMATOMETER
100%- Reviews Counted: 44
- Fresh: 44
- Rotten: 0
- Average Rating: 8.6/10
Top Critics' Reviews
Fresh: 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.
Fresh: 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.
Fresh: The smarties are going to relish Philadelphia Story a lot more than the two-bit trade...
Fresh: George Cukor gives it the royal treatment with a splendid supporting cast...
Customer Reviews
iTunes is definitely getting better.
Despite some reservations, we should give iTunes a round of applause. This movie is absolutely WONDERFUL!!! Hepburn, Stewart and Grant all give Oscar-worthy performances. But to everyone who sees this movie, promise me this: do not, I repeat, DO NOT give away the big twist in the end. I'll be very grateful.
this is the best movie of all time!!!!!
This is a timeless classic for everyone! I know the word classic can scare a few people, but this is truly the best romantic comedy of all time. Katharine Hepburn is witty as always; Cary Grant offers his usual swuave stubborness and heart warming banter; and Jimmy Stewart just goes along for the ride, bringing his own innocence to the scene. This is a wonderful story with lots of witty banter and wonderful onscreen chemistry between all the actors. One of the best relationships is that of Katharine Hepburn and the young actress who plays her tomboy sister. You will get lost in the film as it is so believable!
Absolutely Brilliant!
A movie doesn't get much better than this classic. Three of the all-time greatest film stars- Hepburn, Grant, and Stewart, along with Ruth Hussey and Virginia Weidler, deliver some of the wittiest and brilliant one-liners in a film that is arguably the greatest of the sophisticated classic romantic comedies. Hepburn clearly controls the screen as Tracy Lord, the "rich, rapacious female" who finds herself caught up in a crazy love mix-up with a reporter (played brilliantly by Stewart), her ex-husband (the wonderful Cary Grant), and George Kittredge- the fake “man of the people” that she is engaged to, even though he is clearly the wrong man for her. Surely the audience knows who Tracy will end up with, but it’s watching Tracy discover this for herself that provides the enjoyment. It is important to note that playwright Philip Barry wrote the original stage play role of Tracy Lord for Hepburn based on her persona at the time. She mastered the role on Broadway, and recovered her failing film career where she had been labeled “box office poison.” This film is considered a ‘sophisticated’ comedy, so don’t expect to be entertained if you prefer violence or horror or any of that other stuff they call film these days. It is a very dialogue-based film that demands your full attention, but is completely deserving of it.
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- $9.99
- Genre: Comedy
- Released: 1940
- © 1940 A Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. All Rights Reserved
