"This is one of those days that the pages of history teach us are best spent lying in bed."

Two years after divorcing C. K. Dexter Haven, society girl Tracy Lord is about to marry again, this time to successful businessman George Kittredge. However, just days before her wedding newspaper reporter Macaulay Connor and photographer Liz Imrie arrive looking for a good story. At the expense of Tracy's philandering father's exploits, she is blackmailed into letting them report on the wedding. Helping them ensure Tracy makes the right decision is C. K. Dexter Haven, back again to liven up proceedings.

"I'm going crazy. I'm standing here solidly on my own two hands and going crazy."


skyjude review
"They don't make them like this anymore.". Well, that's probably because they don't have stars like this anymore. The dream combination of Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn and James Stewart make this movie a classic before it's even started. The fact that we have the marvellous George Cukor directing the film version of Philip Barry's Broadway smash is just the icing on the cake. But to ignore the impeccable contributions of the supporting cast would be doing them an injustice. Everyone seems to be enjoying themselves in this feel-good movie and Ruth Hussey is just brilliant in an Oscar nominated turn as photographer Liz Imrie. Treat yourself tonight and make time for The Philadelphia Story.

Top 5 Reasons for Watching The Philadelphia Story

[5] Virginia Weidler
Playing Tracy's teenage sister Dinah, Virginia doesn't waste a single one of her few wonderful lines. Normally at the expense of Tracy's would be new husband and in favour of Tracy's ex, Dinah is given some of the sharpest quips in the movie. As Dinah mentions at the end of the film - "I did that".

[4] George Cukor
Rarely mentioned as one of the legendary directors but a resume to rival anybody. From Holiday and Gaslight through to My Fair Lady (not to mention an initial input into the little known classics The Wizard Of Oz and Gone With The Wind), Cukor directed over 20 different actors to Oscar nominations. For many though, The Philadelphia Story remains his best loved film and is expertly directed throughout.

[3] Cary Grant punches James Stewart!
Following a drunken night where Jimmy Stewart stumbles back carrying Hepburn, it takes the quick thinking of Cary Grant to save the day in front of Hepburn's husband to be - "I'm sorry, but I thought I better hit you before he did. He's in better shape than I am". A great moment in a great scene.

[2] The opening scene
Filmed without dialogue, the opening shot of Hepburn kicking Grant out of their house and snapping his golf club is immaculate. Grant's retaliation where he considers throwing a punch but ultimately pushes Hepburn to the floor is priceless. Not a word spoken and you know this film is going to be a heck of a lot of fun.

[1] Grant, Hepburn and Stewart
I was considering putting this dream cast into perspective with modern day actors but there really is no comparison. This really is the utopian cast list of three indisputable legends each of whom could have carried any film to box office glory. Stewart in superb form got the showy role and the Oscar, Hepburn in a role she plays better than anybody also got an Oscar nomination and Grant, as ever, simply steals the show as the interfering ex-husband.


The Philadelphia Story quotes

Dinah Lord: I like Dexter.
Tracy Lord: Really. Why don't you postpone the wedding?
Dinah Lord: How?
Tracy Lord: Get smallpox.
Margaret Lord: Now don't put the idea in her head.

Dinah Lord: Nothing ever possibly in the least ever happens here. Mother, how do you get smallpox?

Macaulay Connor: This is the Bridal Suite. Would you send up a couple of caviar sandwiches and a bottle of beer?
Margaret Lord: What? Who is this?
Macaulay Connor: This is the Voice of Doom calling. Your days are numbered, to the seventh son of the seventh son.
Margaret Lord: Hello? Hello?
Tracy Lord: What's the matter?
Margaret Lord: One of the servants has been at the sherry again.

Tracy Lord: Oh, we're going to talk about me again, are we? Goody.

C. K. Dexter Haven: Sometimes, for your own sake, Red, I think you should've stuck to me longer.
Tracy Lord: I thought it was for life, but the nice judge gave me a full pardon.
C. K. Dexter Haven: Ah, that's the old redhead. No bitterness, no recrimination, just a good swift left to the jaw.

C. K. Dexter Haven: Orange juice, certainly.
Tracy Lord: Don't tell me you've forsaken your beloved whisky and whiskies.
C. K. Dexter Haven: No, no, no, no. I've just changed their colour, that's all. I'm going for the pale pastel shades now. They're more becoming of me.

Macaulay Connor: The prettiest sight in this fine pretty world is the privileged class enjoying its privileges.

Elizabeth Imrie: I was the only photographer whose camera you didn't smash. You were terribly nice about it. You threw it in the ocean.

Dinah Lord: Oh, it won't rain. Tracy won't have it.

Tracy Lord: The time to make up your mind about people is never.

Margaret Lord: The course of true love.
Macaulay Connor: Gathers no moss.

Tracy Lord: I never knew such a man.
Macaulay Connor: You're not likely to dear. Not from where you sit.

Macaulay Connor: I would sell my grandmother for a drink - and you know how I love my grandmother.

C. K. Dexter Haven: I'm so glad you came. Can you use a typewriter?
Elizabeth Imrie: No, thanks, I've got one at home.

Macaulay Connor: I'm testing the air. I like it but it doesn't like me.

Elizabeth Imrie: Oh it's alright Tracy. We all go haywire at times and if we don't, maybe we ought to.

Tracy Lord: Oh Dexter you're not doing it just to soften the blow?
C. K. Dexter Haven: No.
Tracy Lord: Nor to save my face?
C. K. Dexter Haven: Oh, it's a nice little face.
Tracy Lord: Oh Dexter, I'll be yare now, I promise to be yare.
C. K. Dexter Haven: Be whatever you like, you're my redhead.



Production company: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer