Rent The Philadelphia Story (1940)
3.9 of 5 from 220 ratings
1h 48min
- General info
- Available formats
- Synopsis:
- Classic romantic comedy starring Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant and James Stewart. Wealthy Philadelphia socialite Tracy Lord (Hepburn) is set to marry the politician and businessman George Kittredge (John Howard), but her wedding plans are complicated by the arrival of her irresponsible ex-husband C.K. Dexter Haven (Grant), with magazine reporter Macauley Connor (Stewart) and photographer Liz Imbrie (Ruth Hussey) in tow. Tracy resolves to give them a story they will never forget but finds herself re-evaluating her life choices in the process.
- Actors:
- Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, James Stewart, Ruth Hussey, John Howard, Roland Young, John Halliday, Mary Nash, Virginia Weidler, Henry Daniell, Lionel Pape, Rex Evans, King Baggot, Hillary Brooke, Veda Buckland, Lita Chevret, Russ Clark, David Clyde, Robert De Bruce, Dorothy Fay
- Directors:
- George Cukor
- Producers:
- Joseph L. Mankiewicz
- Writers:
- Donald Ogden Stewart, Philip Barry, Waldo Salt
- Studio:
- Warner
- Genres:
- Classics, Comedy, Romance
- Collections:
- 10 Films to Watch if You Like Rebecca, 10 Films to Watch if You Like Sleepless in Seattle, 21 Reasons to Love, 21 Reasons to Love..Modern Westerns, A Brief History of Film Weddings: Part 2, A History of Sports Films (Summer Edition), Award Winners, Cinema Paradiso's 2023 Centenary Club: Part 1, Films to Watch if You Like It's a Wonderful Life, Films to Watch If You Like..., Getting to Know..., Getting to Know: Margot Robbie, Holidays Film Collection, Oscar's Two-Time Club, Romantic Film Pairings for Valentine's Day, The Biggest Oscar Snubs: Part 1, A History of Baseball Films, A Brief History of Film..., The Instant Expert's Guide, The Instant Expert's Guide to Sidney Lumet, Top 10 Screen Kisses (1896-1979), Top 100 AFI Laughs, Top 100 AFI Movies, Top 100 AFI Passions, Top Films
- Awards:
- BBFC:
- Release Date:
- 13/11/2017
- Run Time:
- 112 minutes
- Languages:
- English LPCM Mono
- Subtitles:
- English Hard of Hearing
- Formats:
- Pal
- Aspect Ratio:
- Full Screen 1.37:1
- Colour:
- B & W
- BLU-RAY Regions:
- B
- Bonus:
- Audio commentary from 2005 featuring film scholar Jeanine Basinger
- In Search of Tracy Lord, a new documentary about the origin of the character and her social milieu New piece about actor Katharine Hepburn's role in the development of the film
- Two full episodes of The Dick Cavett Show from 1973, featuring rare interviews with Hepburn, plus an excerpt of a 1978 interview from that show with director George Cukor
- Lux Radio Theatre adaptation of the film from 1943, featuring an introduction by filmmaker Cecil B. DeMille
- Restoration demonstration
- Trailer
- An essay by critic Farran Smith Nehme
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Reviews (2) of The Philadelphia Story
A class act - The Philadelphia Story review by ND
People think that the RomCom started with Four Weddings but back in 1940 they knew a thing or two about how to tell a story well. This film is riveting. The speed of the dialogue is tremendous and when you have a cast like this it’s just magical. The wit is rasping and the comedic acting sublime. Look out for Uncle Willie.
I had never seen this before although I knew it is a famous film, so I went for it. My wife and I sat there riveted and grinning from ear to ear. The Philadelphia Story is famous for a reason, I’ll bet you never even notice it’s in black and white!
3 out of 3 members found this review helpful.
Comedy Romance. - The Philadelphia Story review by Steve
This comedy drama was an adaptation of Philip Barry's Broadway hit which also starred Katherine Hepburn. She plays Tracy Lord, the entitled, shrewish daughter of a wealthy New England family, who has divorced CK Dexter Haven (Cary Grant) so she can marry an entrepreneur. Instead, she learns important life lessons... and re-hitches to CK Dexter Haven.
The film was a star vehicle for Hepburn. The story covers the events of a society wedding, so it's an opportunity for audiences to glimpse the lavish lifestyle of the super-rich. But Barry does effectively examine the condition of inherited wealth, principally through the observations of a pair of sardonic news reporters (James Stewart and Ruth Hussey).
Stewart got the Oscar for Best Actor. And as usual he brings authenticity and heart. He and Hussey are a likeable team. Cary Grant is wasted in a support role. Hepburn is very convincing as the indulged heir to old money but lacks the charisma or sex appeal to suggest why such a cold, moralistic woman is so irresistible. And she is less persuasive as the humbled, more sympathetic Tracy.
It's a conservative social comedy about the class system, which is a home draw for director George Cukor. There are bountiful MGM production values. Some aspects don't play so well today, especially the easy ride given to Tracy's toxic dad. It offers insight into the psychology of privilege, but as a comedy it lacks wit and for a romance it wants for charm.
0 out of 1 members found this review helpful.