THE PHILADELPHIA STORY boasts an incredible cast, but it's Katharine Hepburn's picture in more ways than one. Tracy Lord (Hepburn), a Philadelphia heiress, is about to marry coal-company executive George Kittridge (John Howard). The wedding, promising to be the season's premier event, attracts the attention of magazine publisher Sidney Kidd (Henry Daniell), who sees it as an opportunity to break a story. Spy magazine's Dexter Haven (Cary Grant), Lord's ex-husband, is enlisted to "gain access" to the party, along with top scandal writer Macauley Connor (James Stewart, in an Oscar-winning role). However, the reporter is quickly smitten by the bride's charms--and he's not the only one. The film, based on the play by Phillip Barry, was first a Broadway sensation starring Hepburn, who acquired the screen rights, claimed the starring role, and chose the director, screenwriter, and lead cast. In addition to fine work by Grant and Stewart, notable supporting performances are delivered by Ruth Hussey and Virginia Weidler. One of nine films Hepburn made with director George Cukor, it remains one of the classics of their collaboration and of American cinema.
Rating: Not Rated Rating Reason: n/a Runtime: 112 minutes DVD Code: Region 1 US, CA Genre: Comedies Color: B&W 2 - Disc Special Edition Rating: DVD Features:
Region 1
2 - Disc Keep Case
Disc 1: THE PHILADELPHIA STORY
Full Frame - 1.33
Audio:
Dolby Digital Mono 1.0 - English
Subtitles - English, French, Spanish - Optional
Additional Releaes Material:
Audio Commentary - Jeanine Basinger - Film Historian
Trailer - Movie Trailer Gallery
Disc 2: Special Features:
Audio-Only Bonus: 2 Radio Adaptions Featuring The Movie's 3 Stars
Bonus Short - 1. Robert Benchley Short: THAT INFERIOR FEELING
2. Cartoon: THE HOMELESS FLEA
Documentary - 1. KATHARINE HEPBURN: ALL ABOUT ME - A SELF PORTRAIT
2. THE MAN WHO MADE THE MOVIES: GEORGE CUKOR
John Halliday, Katharine Hepburn, Katharine Houghton Hepburn, John Howard, Roland Young, Virginia Weidler, Margaret Theresa Louise, James Stewart, Jimmy Stewart, Rex Evans, Henry Daniell, Henry Daniel, Lionel Pape, Edward Lionel Pape, Ruth Hussey, Cary Grant, Archibald Alexander Leach
George Cukor
An outstanding and much-loved version of Philip Barry's smart play in which a wealthy society girl is torn between her millionaire husband-to-be, her dashing ex, and a self-conscious reporter. Stars Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, and James Stewart give fabulous performances in this classic film. () THE PHILADELPHIA STORY boasts an incredible cast, but it's Katharine Hepburn's picture in more ways than one. Tracy Lord (Hepburn), a Philadelphia heiress, is about to marry coal-company executive George Kittridge (John Howard). The wedding, promising to be the season's premier event, attracts the attention of magazine publisher Sidney Kidd (Henry Daniell), who sees it as an opportunity to break a story. Spy magazine's Dexter Haven (Cary Grant), Lord's ex-husband, is enlisted to "gain access" to the party, along with top scandal writer Macauley Connor (James Stewart, in an Oscar-winning role). However, the reporter is quickly smitten by the bride's charms--and he's not the only one. The film, based on the play by Phillip Barry, was first a Broadway sensation starring Hepburn, who acquired the screen rights, claimed the starring role, and chose the director, screenwriter, and lead cast. In addition to fine work by Grant and Stewart, notable supporting performances are delivered by Ruth Hussey and Virginia Weidler. One of nine films Hepburn made with director George Cukor, it remains one of the classics of their collaboration and of American cinema.
() Theatrical release: December 1, 1940.
THE PHILADELPHIA STORY is number 51 on the American Film Institute's list of America's 100 Greatest Movies.
THE PHILADELPHIA STORY was added to the Library of Congress National Film Registry in 1995.
Academy Award-winner (Best Actor) Stewart said he voted for Henry Fonda's performance in OF MICE AND MEN that year.
The film was nominated for six Oscars; besides Stewart's award, it won for Best Screenplay. Hepburn was nominated for Best Actress.
Katharine Hepburn put up 25% of the original play's production budget and took no salary, but reaped a hefty 45% of profits on the Broadway hit.
The film was remade in 1956 as the musical HIGH SOCIETY.
() "Stewart won his first Oscar as idealistic hack Macaulay Connor."
Total Film (03/01/2004) "[A] near-perfect 1940 adaptation of Philip Barry's stage hit, which revved up Hepburn's career."
Los Angeles Times (03/27/2005) "Stewart won an Oscar, as did the screenplay, which crackles."
Uncut (07/01/2005) Ranked #12 in Uncut's Best DVDs Of 2005 -- "Katharine Hepburn's baby. The play was written for her, and she picked the director, George Cukor, and her co-star..."
Uncut (01/01/2006) |
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