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Movies / Upcoming / The Philadelphia Story
The Philadelphia Story

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The Philadelphia Story (1940)

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Reviews Counted:45

Fresh:45

Rotten:0

Average Rating:8.5/10

Consensus: Offering a wonderfully witty script, spotless direction from George Cukor, and typically excellent lead performances, The Philadelphia Story is an unqualified classic.

Runtime: 2 hrs 56 mins

Genre: Comedies

US Box Office: $0

Synopsis: THE PHILADELPHIA STORY boasts an incredible cast, but it's Katharine Hepburn's picture in more ways than one. Tracy Lord (Hepburn), a Philadelphia heiress, is about to marry coal-company executive... THE PHILADELPHIA STORY boasts an incredible cast, but it's Katharine Hepburn's picture in more ways than one. Tracy Lord (Hepburn), a Philadelphia heiress, is about to marry coal-company executive George Kittridge (John Howard). The wedding, promising to be the season's premier event, attracts the attention of magazine publisher Sidney Kidd (Henry Daniell), who sees it as an opportunity to break a story. Spy magazine's Dexter Haven (Cary Grant), Lord's ex-husband, is enlisted to "gain access" to the party, along with top scandal writer Macauley Connor (James Stewart, in an Oscar-winning role). However, the reporter is quickly smitten by the bride's charms--and he's not the only one. The film, based on the play by Phillip Barry, was first a Broadway sensation starring Hepburn, who acquired the screen rights, claimed the starring role, and chose the director, screenwriter, and lead cast. In addition to fine work by Grant and Stewart, notable supporting performances are delivered by Ruth Hussey and Virginia Weidler. One of nine films Hepburn made with director George Cukor, it remains one of the classics of their collaboration and of American cinema. [More]

Starring: Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, James Stewart, Ruth Hussey

Starring: Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, James Stewart, Ruth Hussey, John Howard, Roland Young, John Halliday, Virginia Weidler, Henry Daniell, Lionel Pape, Rex Evans

Director: George Cukor

Director: George Cukor
Screenwriter: Donald Ogden Stewart
Composer: Franz Waxman
Producer: Joseph L. Mankiewicz
Story: Philip Barry

[See More Credits]

Reviews for The Philadelphia Story

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41 - 45 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
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More of an oddball comedy than a screwball comedy, The Philadelphia Story's gender politics haven't aged exceptionally well even if its laughs have done okay.

Full Review Source: MovieMartyr.com | comment Comment
03/05/02
Jeremy Heilman
Jeremy Heilman
MovieMartyr.com

A sparkling comedy of manners.

Full Review Source: culturevulture.net | comment Comment
11/19/01
Ben Stephens
Ben Stephens
culturevulture.net

Grant, Stewart, and Hepburn deliver impeccable performances.

Full Review Source: BBC | comment Comment
04/17/01
David Wood
David Wood
BBC

Boasts qualities other movies merely dream of: prestige wit and drop dead glamour.

Full Review Source: Empire Magazine | comment Comment
01/01/00
Jake Hamilton
Jake Hamilton
Empire Magazine
Top Critic Icon Top Critic

The Philadelphia Story (1940) is an intelligent, sophisticated, classic romantic comedy (part screwball) of love and marriage, human growth and class distinctions -

Full Review Source: Tim Dirks' The Greatest Films | comment Comment
01/01/00
Tim Dirks
Tim Dirks
Tim Dirks' The Greatest Films
 
 
41 - 45 (sorted by date; Australian critics are listed first)
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Latest News for The Philadelphia Story

June 22, 2007: AFI Announces Top 100 Movies of All Time ... Again
Ten years ago the AFI gave us a list of the Top 100 American Films Ever Made -- and when that was done they churned out 15 other lists every few years. And then last night they... More...

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