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The Philadelphia Story (1940)

A review by Damian Cannon.
Copyright © Movie Reviews UK 1997
Preparations for the wedding are in full swing. Tracy Lord (Katharine Hepburn) thinks that she's found just the man for her, George Kittredge (John Howard), after her earlier failed union with C.K. Dexter Haven (Cary Grant). The ceremony looks as if it could be a bit empty though since Tracy hasn't invited her father Seth Lord (John Halliday) or C.K. while her little sister still prefers C.K. over George. However, unknown to her, C.K. is planning to attend -- with a little surprise. Knowing just how much Tracy detests publicity he is planning to smuggle two reporters into the wedding, although there's also the small matter of blackmail by the smutty magazine's editor. The so-called friends are Macauley Connor (James Stewart), a writer, and Elizabeth Imbrie (Ruth Hussey), a photographer.

When all three arrive suddenly, the day before the wedding, the Lord' are justifiably suspicious and soon realise the truth. However they must keep up the pretence due to blackmail involving Seth, who also turns up unannounced. The scene is thus set for some memorably amusing scenes, especially when C.K. and Tracy are alone together. Knowing each others weaknesses they continue to verbally spar, throwing insults, witty rejoinders and catty remarks in a hailstorm of words. Underpinning this is the knowledge that they still care for each other whatever their respective flaws. An example is that both C.K. and Seth remark that Tracy is like a goddess; all looks, perfection and invulnerability but with no heart or ability to understand the weaknesses of others. Tracy recognises this and longs to change, to the extent that when she flirts with Macauley we see only human qualities.

Events reach a climax at the pre-wedding party where Tracy gets gloriously drunk (although -of course- she doesn't drink!) and realises that George also visualises her in an ivory tower. Flirting even more with down-to-earth Macauley we see how well they fit together, although Macauley avoids further problems by leaving the party to visit Dexter. Here he provides the ammo to out-blackmail his scheming editor and winds up leaving with Tracy, who arrived with Imbrie after an argument with George (complicated!). Their alcohol-fuelled emotions run away with them somewhat leading to some revealing moments when both C.K. and George arrive. The aftershocks reverberate the next day, at the wedding, with unexpected consequences.

This movie is, simply, one of the great comedies. The dialogue is electric, immensely funny, penetrating and moving -- not a single word is wasted. Coupled with this script are several outstanding pieces of acting by the well chosen cast - so good that it's difficult to choose the best performance - with Stewart especially memorable. Almost every moment works, although scenes involving Seth seem a little out-of-place in todays "enlightened" climate. Still, unless you are easily offended, I would recommend this film to all as a well-paced, verbal comedy lifted by actors in their prime.

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