The Philadelphia Story (film)
"The Philadelphia Story" is a classic black-and-white romantic screwball comedy that premiered in late December 1940. The film centers on Tracy Lord, a socialite portrayed by Katharine Hepburn, who is navigating the complexities of her relationships as she prepares to remarry. Her ex-husband, C. K. Dexter Haven, played by Cary Grant, attempts to win her back, while Tracy's current fiancé, George Kittredge, represents a more conventional, middle-class option. The plot unfolds with themes of class distinction and personal growth, as characters grapple with their identities and desires.
The film is notable for its sharp writing and stellar cast, featuring performances that helped revitalize Hepburn's career after a period of decline. With a screenplay by Donald Ogden Stewart, "The Philadelphia Story" received critical acclaim, winning an Academy Award for Best Actor (James Stewart) and Best Adapted Screenplay, while also earning multiple nominations including Best Picture. The film's success at the box office, particularly at Radio City Music Hall, and its clever exploration of social class dynamics continue to resonate with audiences today, making it a significant piece in the history of American cinema.
The Philadelphia Story (film)
- Release Date: 1940
- Director(s): George Cukor
- Writer(s): Donald Ogden Stewart
- Principal Actors and Roles: Cary Grant (C. K. Dexter Haven); Katharine Hepburn (Tracy Lord); Ruth Hussey (Elizabeth Imbrie); James Stewart (Macaulay Connor); John Howard (George Kittredge); Roland Young (Uncle Willie)
- Book / Story Film Based On: The Philadelphia Story by Philip Barry
The Philadelphia Story is a black-and-white romantic screwball comedy about a socialite named Tracy Lord whose ex-husband tries to get her back before she remarries. Cary Grant plays Katharine Hepburn’s ex-husband and won an Academy Award for best actor in this role. The movie was viewed by many as Hepburn’s comeback film after a slump in her career.
The film was a blockbuster hit and broke box office and attendance records at Radio City Music Hall in New York. It premiered in New York in late December of 1940.
Plot
The Philadelphia Story begins with the break up of the marriage of two socialites in upper class Philadelphia society. Tracy Lord is an heiress to a family fortune; she is done with her marriage to C. K. Dexter Haven. Haven is also from a prominent family, but according to Tracy has too many flaws (while she believes that she is flawless). Haven is a smooth talker and very charming but drinks too much. The two divorce and then two years later, Tracy is ready to marry again. This time she is engaged to George, a stuffy middle-class man who works for her father, Seth Lord. Despite the fact that his ex-wife is about to remarry someone else, Haven still has hope that he can win back Tracy.
In the meantime, another part of the plot brews around Tracy’s father, who is also a divorcee. He is about to be exposed in a tabloid by magazine reporter Mike Connor. The magazine’s editor, Sidney Kidd, blackmails Haven into getting Connor and the magazine’s photographer, Liz Imbrie, into Tracy’s wedding in exchange for not exposing Seth Lord’s affair with a young showgirl. At first, Haven is delighted to be part of a plan that could anger his ex-wife. He knows that she does not want her wedding photographed and in the tabloids. He also thinks that if he helps to prevent the expose from happening, then he might win back Tracy. As for Connor, he is far from thrilled to cover a socialite’s second wedding because he considers himself to be a fine writer of prominent works and would rather cover something more serious and important. He also does not care for the upper class and makes it well known. Yet, his mood and opinions change rather drastically once he meets and gets to know Tracy.
Just before the wedding takes place, Connor interviews Tracy. Both of them drink too much at a party her father throws the night before the wedding. The two instantly fall for each other. When Tracy’s fiancée learns of their lightning romance and inappropriate behavior at the party, he calls off the wedding. Even still, Tracy reevaluates herself and realizes that, in the end, Haven is really the man for her because he helped her to see herself for who she really is.
Significance
When The Philadelphia Story was released, World War II had already begun in Europe but the United States had not yet been pulled into the war. Hollywood screwball comedies had become popular among audiences by the late 1930s. This is one reason that The Philadelphia Story was so popular when it was released. Also, many believed that it was expertly cast and written. Katharine Hepburn bought the rights to The Philadelphia Story and hand-selected the director, actors, and screenwriter, with whom she worked on four other films. The film’s screenplay was written by Donald Ogden Stewart, who received the Academy Award for his work. The 112-minute film helped Hepburn rekindle her career and popularity, which had waned after a series of lackluster films such as Bringing Up Baby and Holiday.
Through the characters’ interactions, the film comments on the relations between different social classes and their views of one another and themselves. Tracy is viewed by other characters in the film as arrogant, cold, and self-righteous—she acts like a goddess and wants to be treated like one, but she also makes it known that she wants to be loved and adored, as anyone would, regardless of social class. Before her second marriage takes place, Tracy is faced with choosing among three men who are all interested in her for different reasons. Haven is from the same social class and also from old family money; Connor is from the working class; and George Kittredge is from the middle class with hopes of marrying Tracy to move up the social ladder to the upper class. He also wants his upcoming wedding to Tracy, which is considered the wedding of the year, all over the news.
Even though Tracy and Haven argue constantly throughout the film, they are inseparable because he is the only man who really understands her. When Haven gives Lord a model boat of the boat they sailed on during their honeymoon, she realizes that he is her "True Love." She realizes at this juncture that she is equally at fault in their failed marriage. The two remarry bringing the film full-circle, from a screwball comedy to a love story.
Awards and nominations
Won
- Academy Award (1940) Best Actor: James Stewart
- Academy Award (1940) Best Screenplay (Adapted): Donald Ogden Stewart
Nominated
- Academy Award (1940) Best Picture
- Academy Award (1940) Best Director: George Cukor
- Academy Award (1940) Best Actress: Katharine Hepburn
- Academy Award (1940) Best Supporting Actress: Ruth Hussey
Bibliography
Austerlitz, Saul. Another Fine Mess: A History of American Film Comedy. Chicago: Chicago Review, 2010. Print.
Benshoff, Harry M. and Sean Griffin. America on Film: Representing Race, Class, Gender, and Sexuality at the Movies. West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell, 2009. Print.
Byrge, Duane and Robert Milton Miller. The Screwball Comedy Films: A History and Filmography 1934–1942. Jefferson: McFarland, 2004. Print.
DiMare, Philip C., ed. Movies in American History: An Encyclopedia. Santa Barbara: ABC-CLIO, 2011. Print.
Griffin, Sean, ed. What Dreams Were Made Of. Piscataway: Rutgers UP, 2011. Print.
Rausch, Andrew. The Hundred Greatest American Films: A Quiz Book. New York: Kensington, 2011. Print.
Ryan, Michael. An Introduction to Criticism: Literature, Film, Culture. West Sussex: Wiley-Blackwell, 2007. Print.