The Philadelphia Story

I have put off writing about The Philadelphia Story until now to gain some perspective on writing reviews because this is one of my all-time favorite movies and I don’t know that I can do it justice in reviewing it. So here goes.

The Philadelphia Story was adapted by Donald Ogden Stewart from the original play by Philip Barry. Barry wrote the character of Tracy Samantha Lord specifically for the aristocratic New Englander Hepburn and she had great success with the role on Broadway. The film revolves around the days leading up to the second wedding of the wealthy blueblood Tracy Lord. Amongst her wedding guests are numbered her first husband CK Dexter Haven, played by the ever debonair Cary Grant, and a couple of nosy reporters played by Jimmy Stewart and Ruth Hussey. Jimmy Stewart won the best actor Oscar for his role as Mike Connors the reporter who is out of his element and in way too deep.

Now this movie was made at a time when Katharine Hepburn was considered box office poison for her rather demanding nature and a few critically acclaimed films that flopped at the box office. She was considered too refined and aristocratic and too cold for the audience. Even her turn in Bringing Up Baby, now considered a classic of slapstick comedy could not break through the blacklisting. The only reason Hepburn appears in the movie at all is that she was in the hit on Broadway and had the foresight to have Howard Hughes buy her the movie rights. When Hollywood called they were forced to take Hepburn as the star and allow her veto rights on the director and the rest of the cast. Initially Clark Gable and Spencer Tracy were offered the roles. I could see Spence working as Connor; he has that blue collar reporter look, just look at Woman of the Year. And of course his rapport with Hepburn became legend, though it was not foreseen in 1940. Somehow I think the movie did better with Grant as the first husband instead of Gable. Grant has more of a mischievous streak but remains likeable and light. Gable generally played it a bit harder, though from It Happened One Night it might not be hard to see why he was considered for the role.

This is a true classic from the golden age of Hollywood. There are no CGI dinosaurs or explosions, aside from dancing and swimming there is almost no action. The story happens over a very few days, centers entirely on the upcoming wedding, and is set almost exclusively in and around the Lord estate. This is one of the classic films where the dialogue and the characters propel the story along, and they do it magnificently. Of course the most memorable scene had no dialogue at all. It is the very first scene of the film, one of the most memorable first scenes in all of cinema history. Haven is leaving his bride, putting his things into a taxi. She follows him out, she breaks his golf club in half over her knee, and he proceeds to consider punching her, but instead pushes her down. She looks up from the ground disgruntled and rubs her neck. Not necessarily PC, but the lighthearted music behind it sets the tone for the banter of the conflict in the film. Of course my description does not do it justice, just watch the first scene and you should be hooked on knowing what happens to these two characters.

There is not much more for me to say than this is a truly enjoyable film. It may not be perfect, there is a side story involving the editor that is never fully mentioned and does not really make sense. Also it has the prerequisite cute younger girl as Tracy’s younger sister, she provides so lighthearted comedy but is really unnecessary to the script. Apparently this character was quite common, witness Judy Garland’s cute younger scene stealing sister in Meet Me In St. Louis.

The Philadelphia Story is a beautifully written and well acted gem of a film that truly deserves to be ranked among the finest films ever created. It is light hearted, well crafted, and has a number of memorable characters and sparkling dialogue that leads the viewer through, not a typical movie, but a human farce about love and understanding of both oneself, and others.