About.com Rating

There are certain films I like to renew my acquaintance with every few years, and one of these is "The Philadelphia Story" (1940), which stars Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, and James Stewart. This is a witty, sophisticated movie that, in addition to dazzling star power, features elegant direction by George Cukor and a brilliant, non-formulaic screenplay.

The film won two Academy Awards: James Stewart for Best Actor and Donald Ogden Stewart for Best Screenplay.


The movie was nominated for four other Oscars: Best Picture, Best Director (George Cukor), Best Actress (Katharine Hepburn), and Best Supporting Actress (Ruth Hussey).

"The Philadelphia Story" is 51st on the American Film Institute's list of the 100 greatest movies. Also, it ranks 15th on AFI's list of the 100 funniest movies.

The film is set among the privileged upper class in Philadelphia, and I would characterize it as a comedy of manners. The protagonist is a high-spirited, spoiled, somewhat arrogant socialite named Tracy Lord (Hepburn), and I am hard-pressed to think of a better matchup between an actress's persona and the character she portrays. Tracy is attractive in many ways, but she's too judgmental and intolerant of the weaknesses of others. As one character tells her, "You'll never be a first-class human being or a first-class woman until you've learned to have some regard for human frailty."

The lively, fast-paced plot in "The Philadelphia Story" revolves around love and marriage.

Tracy has three suitors: journalist Mike Connor (James Stewart), ex-husband C. K. Dexter Haven (Cary Grant), and current fiancé George Kittredge (John Howard). Only hours before Tracy and George's wedding, romantic sparks fly between her and Mike. She disappears with the journalist and resurfaces later, clad in a robe and being carried by Mike, who is singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."

The film was adapted from a hit Broadway play by Philip Barry, and I find the dialogue absolutely sparkling. Here are some examples:

When Tracy's mother remarks to her that neither of them has been a great success as a wife, Tracy rejoins, "We just picked the wrong first husbands, that's all."

While waiting in the south parlor of the palatial mansion where Tracy lives, Mike wanders into an adjacent room and quips, "This would be south-southwest parlor by living room."

When Tracy's ex-husband tells her she should have stuck with him longer, she retorts, "I thought it was for life, but the nice judge gave me a full pardon."

While trying to explain to Tracy why men are attracted to a goddess-like woman, her ex-husband says, "We're very vain, you know. This citadel can and shall be taken, and I'm the boy to do it."

In short, the movie is filled with entertaining repartee, and the three big stars are in top form. But for me, it's the character arc of Tracy Lord that makes the story so satisfying. As her father advises her, "You have a good mind, a pretty face, a disciplined body that does what you tell it to. You have everything it takes to make a lovely woman except the one essential?an understanding heart." And as the film winds down, it's clear that Tracy is beginning to work to overcome her shortcoming.

On DVD, there are two versions of "The Philadelphia Story." I am reviewing the single-disc version, which has no extras of any consequence.

The other version is a two-disc special edition DVD containing several bonus materials, including an audio commentary track by film historian Jeannine Basinger, a long documentary on Katharine Hepburn, a documentary on director George Cukor, two vintage short features, and two radio programs.

Below I've listed all the special features of "The Philadelphia Story" single-disc DVD.

DVD Details:

Release Date: June 1, 2004
Feature Run Time: 1 Hour 52 Minutes
MPAA Rating: Not Rated
Full-Screen (1.33:1), Black-and-White
English Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono
English Captions for the Hearing Impaired
English Subtitles
French Subtitles
Spanish Subtitles
Theatrical Trailer