The Philadelphia Story (1940)

Director:

George Cukor

Writers:

Donald Ogden Stewart (screen play)
Philip Barry (based on the play by)
(more)

Release Date:

26 December 1940 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

Uncle Leo's bedtime story for you older tots! The things they do among the playful rich - Oh, boy!

Plot:

When a rich woman's ex-husband and a tabloid-type reporter turn up just before her planned remarriage, she begins to learn the truth about herself.

Plot Keywords:

Wedding | Reporter | Socialite | Love | Marriage

Awards:

Won 2 Oscars. Another 3 wins & 4 nominations

Cast

Cary Grant	...	C.K. Dexter Haven
Katharine Hepburn	...	Tracy Lord
James Stewart	...	Macaulay Connor
Ruth Hussey	...	Elizabeth Imbrie
John Howard	...	George Kittredge
Roland Young	...	Uncle Willie
John Halliday	...	Seth Lord
Mary Nash	...	Margaret Lord
Virginia Weidler	...	Dinah Lord
Henry Daniell	...	Sidney Kidd
Lionel Pape	...	Edward
Rex Evans	...	Thomas
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
King Baggot	...	Extra as Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Hillary Brooke	...	Main Line Society Woman (uncredited)
Veda Buckland	...	Elsie (uncredited)
Lita Chevret	...	Manicurist (uncredited)
Russ Clark	...	John - Chauffeur (uncredited)
David Clyde	...	Mac (uncredited)
Robert De Bruce	...	Dr. Parsons (uncredited)
Dorothy Fay	...	Main Line Society Woman (uncredited)
Claude King	...	Uncle Willie's Butler (uncredited)
Eric Mayne	...	Extra as Wedding Guest (uncredited)
Florine McKinney	...	Main Line Society Woman (uncredited)
Lee Phelps	...	Bartender (uncredited)
Hilda Plowright	...	Librarian (uncredited)
Mildred Shay	...	Main Line Society Woman (uncredited)
Joseph Sweeney	...	Butler (uncredited)
Helene Whitney	...	Main Line Society Woman (uncredited)

Directed by
George Cukor

Writing credits
Donald Ogden Stewart		(screen play)
Philip Barry		(based on the play by)
Waldo Salt		contributing writer (uncredited)

Produced by
Joseph L. Mankiewicz	....	producer

Original Music by
Franz Waxman

Cinematography by
Joseph Ruttenberg		(director of photography)

Film Editing by
Frank Sullivan		(film editor)

Art Direction by
Cedric Gibbons

Set Decoration by
Edwin B. Willis

Costume Design by
Adrian		(gowns)

Makeup Department
Sydney Guilaroff	....	hair stylist
Jack Dawn	....	makeup artist (uncredited)

Production Management
Keith Weeks	....	production manager (uncredited)

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Edward Woehler	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Wade B. Rubottom	....	associate art director

Sound Department
Douglas Shearer	....	recording director
Tom Gunn	....	re-recording mixer (uncredited)

Costume and Wardrobe Department
Eugene Joseff	....	costume jeweller (uncredited)

Music Department
Leo Arnaud	....	orchestrator (uncredited)
Leonid Raab	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (presents)
• Loew's (produced by) (as Loew's Incorporated)

Distributors

• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1940) (USA) (theatrical)
• Loew's (1940) (USA) (theatrical) (uncredited)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1941) (Argentina) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1942) (Finland) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1947) (Belgium) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1947) (Netherlands) (theatrical)
• Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) (1955) (USA) (theatrical) (re-release)
• United International Pictures (UIP) (1986) (Finland) (theatrical)
• MGM/UA Home Entertainment (1992) (USA) (VHS)
• Chapel Distribution (1997) (Australia) (theatrical)
• Atalanta Filmes (2000) (Portugal) (theatrical) (re-release)
• Warner Home Video (2000) (USA) (DVD)
• DVD Magic (2005) (Russia) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (Canada) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (Finland) (DVD)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (USA) (DVD)
• Epoca (????) (Argentina) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (1994) (Germany) (VHS)
• Warner Home Video (2005) (Germany) (DVD)

Other Companies

• Theatre Guild  play produced by (as Theatre Guild, Inc.)
• Turner Entertainment  package design

Also Known As:

Runtime:

112 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English | French

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Argentina:Atp | Australia:PG | Portugal:M/12 | Sweden:15 | UK:A (original rating) | UK:U (re-rating) (1998) | Finland:K-16 (1942) | Finland:S (1986) | USA:Approved (certificate #6594) | Canada:PG (video rating) | USA:Passed (National Board of Review) | South Korea:12 (DVD rating) (2005) | USA:TV-G (TV rating) | Sweden:Btl (re-rating) (1966) | West Germany:12 | Australia:G (TV rating) | Netherlands:18 (original rating) (1947) | USA:Not Rated

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

The film was shot in eight weeks, and required no retakes. During the scene where James Stewart hiccups when drunk, you can see Cary Grant looking down and grinning. Since the hiccup wasn't scripted, Grant was on the verge of breaking out laughing and had to compose himself quickly. James Stewart thought of hiccuping in the drunk scene himself, without telling Cary Grant. When he began hiccuping, Grant turned to Stewart saying, "Excuse me." The scene required only one take.

Goofs:

Boom mic visible: As Connor and Tracy exit the library, the boom mic is reflected on the windshield of Tracy's car.

Quotes:

Elizabeth (Liz) Imbrie:What's this room? I've forgotten my compass.
Macaulay Connor:I'd say, south-by-southwest parlor-by-living-room.

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "One Day at a Time: Indianapolis Story (#6.21)" (1981)

Soundtrack:

I've Got My Eyes on You

One of the best Romantic Comedies

My Rating: ***1/2 out of ****.

The Philadelphia Story is one of the earlier Romantic Comedies. It is also one of the best. This film basically has what most romantic comedies today dont have. That would be a well-written script, Great Acting, and actually funny.

The acting is a huge strength in the film. This is called Katharine Hepburn's best role by many, while I admit she is excellent in a number of scenes, I think she tends to overact at times. Cary Grant is great here. Everyone else is Great but I believe James Stewart to be the standout. He is perfect for this role, its a flawless performance, that he deservedly won the Best Actor Oscar for.

The Script has wonderful dialogue thats delivered flawlessly by the actors. Even simple dialogue like "Isn't that awful" was delivered superbly by Katharine Hepburn. George Cukor made this project look like nothing, he made many films which were "womens films" but he does a damn good job here.

If you think Romantic Comedies of today are good, look at The Philadelphia Story and they will pale in comparison. The Philadelphia Story is a very good film and worth remembering, unlike the mediocre to crappy romantic comedies of today. The Philadelphia Story is highly recommended.