HIGH SOCIETY

US, 1956, 107 minutes, Colour.
Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Celeste Holm, John Lund, Louis Armstrong, Louis Calhern.
Directed by Charles Walters.

High Society is a popular remake in musical comedy form of the 1940 Philip Barry success, The Philadelphia Story which was directed by George Cukor. The original featured Katherine Hepburn with Cary Grant and James Stewart as the leading men. (James Stewart winning an Oscar for his role.) Grace Kelly in her last film takes the Hepburn role - and as a society heroine it is exactly suited to Grace Kelly's style. Bing Crosby takes the Cary Grant role with Frank Sinatra taking the James Stewart role. The stars blend together very well.

There are some Cole Porter songs added to the film and these are well done, especially "What a Swell Party This Is" with Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra working well together. The song "True Love", sung by Grace Kelly and Bing Crosby, was specially written for this film. Louis Armstrong makes an appearance with a song on the history of jazz sung very effectively with Bing Crosby. Celeste Holm brings her brittle style of comedy to the role of the assistant newspaper reporter. Direction is by Charles Waters, a choreographer who had directed such films as Lili, Easter Parade, The Tender Trap. The film is very entertaining and glossy.

1. The popularity of this film as a musical and comedy? Audience response to the stars, the music, the frothy plot?

2. The film as an example of a musical of the 50s? The colour and gloss, the impact of Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra at the time, Louis Armstrong, the impact of Grace Kelly in her last film? Cole Porter's music and frothy songs and dialogue? why do audiences find this enjoyable?

3. The film was based on a sophisticated play and film: The Philadelphia Story. Did the film use the original well? Transferring it into the SOS?

4. The Louis Armstrong framework for the film: his initial comments and introduction, his arrival in the film and the jazz interlude, his final comments in the film and its plot and resolution?

5. The atmosphere of Newport, high society styles, houses and parties, manners and morals, and values? The pros and cons of this way of life? The effect of high society on people and their behaviour?

6. The contrast with "Spy" magazine, uncle Willy, the blackmail about the reporters covering the wedding, the two reporters and their way of life and style compared with that of high society?

7. The background for this kind of frothy comedy of the themes of marriage, divorce, dominance, man-woman relationships, love? How wittily and enjoyably were these themes examined during the film?

8. Did audiences like Tracy? Grace Kelly's personality and style? So much fitted to this role? The spoilt kind of heiress, the icy woman, so demanding on her husbands? Her attitudes towards her father and judging him? Making such demands for 100 per cent success on husbands? The reason for her changing of her attitude? Mellowing? Did she become more real? Was her dependence on Dexter more convincing at the end? How much light insight into this kind of character?

9. The contrast with Dexter: an ordinary type, the reasons for his loving Tracy, the divorce? Her attitudes towards his music and crooning? His success with music, failure with his marriage? His determination to spoil the plans, his success, his support of Tracy? How pleasant a character, how credible?

10. Micky and Frank Sinatra's style? As a reporter for "Spy" magazine? His infatuation with Tracy, his songs for her, his helping her, the compromising situations and the happy resolutions?

11. The contrast with George and his stuffiness? Would he have dominated Tracy or would Tracy have dominated him? His swift judgment on the compromising behaviour? The inevitability of Tracy's not marrying him?

12. Mickey’s associate reporter, the witticisms of a lady reporter? Her being pursued by Uncle Willy? Being charmed by Dexter?

13. The contribution of Tracy's mother and her observation of situations? Her love for Tracy's father? Tracy's father and his bad reputation? His return? Uncle Willy as the womanizer? Tracy's sister?

14. The contribution of the songs and their popularity? For example: "You're Sensational", 'What a Swell Party This Is”, “True Love", The History of Jazz?

15. The comedy in this film, the contrived farcical situations, bedroom farce? The quality of this kind of froth and audience response to it?