THE PHILADELPHIA STORY
US, 1940, 112 minutes, Black and White.
Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, James Stewart, Ruth Hussey, Louis Calhern.
Directed by George Cukor.
The Philadelphia Story was a celebrated comedy of 1940. A successful play with Katharine Hepburn on stage, she bought the rights and starred in the film version. The play was written by Philip Barrie, the author of a number of films and plays of the time, especially of sophisticated American comedy. Donald Ogden Stuart wrote the screenplay and won an Oscar for it. (He was to write such films as Keeper of the Flame 1943). Katharine Hepburn is excellent with this kind of domestic comedy, Cary Grant is certainly at his best. However, James Stewart was to win the Oscar in 1940 for his snoopy newspaper role. Dialogue is crisp, well paced under the direction of George Cukor who directed Katharine Hepburn in many films from Sylvia Scarlett to Holiday to Keeper of the Flame to Adam's Rib. There is also a good supporting cast and the treatment shows the M.G.M. style of the 40s.
A musical remake in the mid 50's was High Society, Grace Kelly's last film (in the Hepburn role, Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra took the places of Cary Grant and James Stewart. Col Porter's music was added and there are some excellent versions of his songs. The Philadelphia Story remains a classic of its kind.
1. How enjoyable a film? Its reputation as an American domestic comedy classic? The stars at their peak? The awards that it won? Its status in the tradition of American comedy? Its being remade as a musical comedy?
2. Was it evident the film was based on a play, the strength of the dialogue, the sharpness and witticism, the stylish nature of the interplay on dialogue? The staging of various scenes? A staginess in confining the action to rooms?
3. The tradition of American drawing room comedy? The overtones of the screwball and drawing room comedy of the 30s? How good an example? A civilized face to the screwball comedy? A nice blending of civilized comedy and farce?
4. What were the major strengths of the film: the characterizations, the presentation of American types, the humour of interrelationships, the moralizing?
5. The importance of the atmosphere of the Philadelphia world, the world of high society, the Lord Family (the significance of this name). C. Dexter Haven as fitting into this world? Reputation, wealth, brains,(and the tilts at the intelligence of high society?), selfishness, emotional crises? Particular accent, tone and language?
6. The contrast with the vulgarity of 'Spy' magazine, baiting the upper classes? Blackmail, Mr. Lord and his being open to blackmail, Tracy Lord and her antagonistic attitudes, C. Dexter Haven and his past experience with 'Spy' reporters? The personalities of reporters, the editor, photographers? The humour of the opening with C. Dexter Haven being kicked out? The quick transition to two years later? Audience expectation as regards what would happen? Katharine Hepburn's performance as Tracy Lord? How attractive and sympathetic a heroine, how antipathetic at the beginning? Her ease of relationship with her mother, her attitudes towards her sister, her resentment towards her father? George as a possible husband and the reason for her choice? Her antagonism towards Dexter and yet the love for him underneath? Her ideals and expectations of herself in this kind of society and world: that she had to be so good, perfect? And yet her arrogance? Being attacked as a parasite on society? Was she? Her insecurity and feeling a need to change? The words goddess and prig used about her? how appropriate? How was the film the humanizing of Tracy Lord?
7. The style of Cary Grant's performance as C. Dexter Haven? His being kicked out, his belonging to this world and yet not belonging to it? A fallible man, the background of his drink and drinking problem? His love for Tracy but not measuring up to her? Audience sympathy for his devious plot to be present at the wedding? The humour of his wisecracks and yet their wise irony? The fact that he was helping in the humanizing of Tracy Lord?
8. The portrayal of the fairly in themselves, the humour of Tracy and her mother and her sister putting on a mad flighty performance for the 'Spy' magazine people?
9. The Uncle and the various mix-ups of identity for the benefit of the 'Spy' people? How much comedy, irony?
10. The importance of Mr. Lord, his background, separation from his wife, attitude towards his daughter, her trying to measure up to him? The significance of his making speeches telling the truth about them all?
11. The contrast of the world of mike and Liz, the reason for their assignment, their hopes of better work? The personality of the editor and his sharpness? His hold over them? The cynical attitudes of 'Spy' magazine, their invading the privacy of the family? The ambiguity of their attitude towards their job? The change that occurred in both? Liz and watching what was going on? Mike and his dislike, admiration, listening to Tracy, infatuation? How well delineated was the character of Mike as a foil fox Dexter and Tracy? His contribution to the humanizing of Tracy?
12. The presentation of George, his character, a prig? The inevitability of his not wanting to marry Tracy?
13. How much of Tracy's humanizing was presented in the talks with the various characters? What did she learn? From her father, from Mike? The irony of the drinking as Dexter's problem and the way in which Tracy loosened up? The importance of the overtones of French farce with mike and the ambiguities of the bedroom scene?
14. The build up to the wedding? Tracy's helplessness in trying to find out what to do, taking Dexter's advice, the happy ending?
15. The light, frothy tone and enjoyment value? Yet the sharp observation of relationships, human nature? As a piece of Americana?
