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The Philadelphia Story

Play trailer 0:30 Poster for The Philadelphia Story 1940 1h 52m Romance Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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100% Tomatometer 104 Reviews 92% Popcornmeter 25,000+ Ratings
This classic romantic comedy focuses on Tracy Lord (Katharine Hepburn), a Philadelphia socialite who has split from her husband, C.K. Dexter Haven (Cary Grant), due both to his drinking and to her overly demanding nature. As Tracy prepares to wed the wealthy George Kittredge (John Howard), she crosses paths with both Dexter and prying reporter Macaulay Connor (James Stewart). Unclear about her feelings for all three men, Tracy must decide whom she truly loves.
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The Philadelphia Story

The Philadelphia Story

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Critics Consensus

Offering a wonderfully witty script, spotless direction from George Cukor, and typically excellent lead performances, The Philadelphia Story is an unqualified classic.

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Critics Reviews

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Pauline Kael The New Yorker 07/06/2022
This is a paste diamond with more flash and sparkle than a true one. The director, George Cukor, has never been more heartlessly sure of him- self. Go to Full Review
Katherine Howard Fort Worth Star-Telegram/DFW.com 06/10/2021
Miss Hepburn has accomplished the thing she set out to do with both movie and stage play. She has made the showmen who labeled her boxofrice poison eat their words and rue the day they were ever so uncomplimentary. Go to Full Review
Mildred Martin Philadelphia Inquirer 06/10/2021
Barry's sprightly lines and the almost equally bright additional Stewart dialogue, of course, make the play the thing. But, frankly, it would be hard to imagine The Philadelphia Story without Katharine Hepburn. Go to Full Review
Rachel Wagner Hallmarkies Podcast Apr 7
a dream cast, great movie Go to Full Review
Zita Short InSession Film 02/07/2023
Hepburn is a goddess, Stewart understands Connor’s purpose in the story, and Cukor masterfully pulls everything together. Go to Full Review
Matt Neal ABC Radio (Australia) 10/01/2021
3/5
Without its trio of legends and a few well-placed zingers, it would be long forgotten, lost in a mist of ideas that have aged like a banana in the sun. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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L S @sp1np0rtal1 5d Mike’s return to Liz feels like a "consolation prize." In the reality version: By Mike seeing the "Fake Wedding," he realizes the high-society world is absurd. When he looks at Liz, it’s not because he lost Tracy; it’s because he realizes Liz is the only real person in the room. It gives Mike and Liz their own growth arc without a single line of dialogue—just a look. Since Dexter and Tracy "wed" w/o a license, the optics are moral. The "Dry Pact" is seen as a virtuous reform. It fixes the "Victim Blaming" and gives Tracy agency. It acknowledges the complexity of addiction and recovery. Cary Grant fans are appeased: He still "gets the girl," but he has to earn her, which makes his character more heroic. This preserves the "Sparkling Wit" and the "Champagne" energy of Act 1 but grounds it in Emotional Intelligence. It makes the rapid-fire dialogue feel like a precursor to a high-level business merger rather than just a bunch of people shouting at each other. See more Mitch S @sp1np0rtal 5d Dexter and Tracy Lord's remarriage is a sham and would end in less than 2 years. Here is the "Adult" version of the movie that Hollywood was too afraid to make. It replaces the frantic, childish "I do!" with a sophisticated, high-stakes negotiation. By making the wedding a "Strategic Truce" and using Mike as a "What If," hedge, Tracy is transformed from a woman being bullied into a woman who has successfully stabilized a volatile situation. 1. The "Dry Pact" (The Real Stakes) In the original, the movie ignores Dexter’s alcoholism as soon as he becomes "funny" again. In a reality version, the Dry Pact gives the relationship weight. The Conflict: Dexter has to prove he can stay sober and non-violent without a "Goddess" to blame. The Power Shift: Tracy isn't "taking him back"; she is granting him a one-year conditional lease on her life. 2. Tracy patrons Mike as a Check/Hedge 3. The Mike & Liz "Smoldering Glance" See more Mason M Oct 15 I'll say this film was a bit weird for me, because I don't think it's quite deserving of a rave review from me, but I also don't believe it's worth anything less than this score. The Philadelphia Story was a fun little watch that can be dry at times, but has enough good components to be great. The strongest part of the film was definitely Jimmy Stewart, one of the greatest comedic actors ever in a starring role. He's great and hilarious as always. Though I didn't have much to connect to personally with the plot, I did find it very entertaining. It does a good job managing the complex twist of characters while still making it enjoyable and natural. And though not all parts of the film were dripping with content, the sequence at night and the ending were good enough to keep this film great. See more Polina S Sep 11 Fantastic movie. One of the best comedies ever. Beautiful videography, costumes and setting, fantastic acting, clever characters and great plot. Loved it! See more Curtis H Jul 11 “The Philadelphia Story” features standout performances from its already stellar cast. Katharine Hepburn is pitch-perfect as Tracy—she was born for the role. However, it’s James Stewart’s brilliant turn as Mike that truly steals the show, with his electrifying chemistry with Hepburn. Cary Grant shines as the ever-charming, meddling ex-husband, while Ruth Hussey and Virginia Weidler also leave a lasting impression in their supporting roles. I thoroughly enjoyed many scenes in The Philadelphia Story, and it had me laughing more than a few times. It’s an emotional rollercoaster that I didn’t want to get off. The film does a fantastic job of keeping the audience engaged as it builds toward the main event, making it all the more entertaining to watch everything unravel at once. See more Stephen C @bob25009 Jul 3 Funny in 1 hour and 52 minutes!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! See more Read all reviews
The Philadelphia Story

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Movie Info

Synopsis This classic romantic comedy focuses on Tracy Lord (Katharine Hepburn), a Philadelphia socialite who has split from her husband, C.K. Dexter Haven (Cary Grant), due both to his drinking and to her overly demanding nature. As Tracy prepares to wed the wealthy George Kittredge (John Howard), she crosses paths with both Dexter and prying reporter Macaulay Connor (James Stewart). Unclear about her feelings for all three men, Tracy must decide whom she truly loves.
Director
George Cukor
Producer
Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Screenwriter
Philip Barry, Donald Ogden Stewart, Waldo Salt
Distributor
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co
Metro Goldwyn Mayer
Genre
Romance, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Dec 1, 1940, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 15, 2008
Runtime
1h 52m
Sound Mix
Mono
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