Rating: 
Summary: This is why I watch the classics.
Review: Hollywood has a long history of taking Broadway theatricals and turning them into successful films. In 1940, this process produced "The Philadelphia Story" which had been very popular while on the stage with Katherine Hepburn. As it happened, Katherine was given a lot of control over the film. She chose all the leads and virtually had the film adaptation custom crafted for her. The end result was a fabulous cast, great performances and one of the funniest scripts ever produced. One final bit of trivia, the studio claimed to have shot the entire film without the need for any second takes. For the most part, this is an interesting film because it has interesting characters. And like any good cuisine, the ingredients are added with impeccable timing and in such a way as to produce a very spicy result. Instead of identifying with one central character, we are forced to wear the shoes of at least three. James Stewart plays, Macaulay Connor, a dissatisfied reporter working for a society rag. He represents the white-collar class. Hepburn and Cary Grant each represent the upper class. Hepburn is Tracy Samantha Lord, a wealthy heiress who is planning to wed for the second time, after rejecting her first husband on the grounds of what seems to be alcoholism. Grant plays that ex-husband, C. K. Dexter Haven, a now reformed drinker who is still in love with Tracy but is forced to make her life more difficult on the day before her upcoming nuptials. There is a strong social commentary within the film. Tracy's betrothed, George Kittredge, is a working class lad who has worked his way to success. He is possibly the only unlikable character in the movie; as his ambitions are a little too obvious, his mind a little to shallow and his love a little too conditional. There is some early foreshadowing of doom for their relationship. The most obvious clue comes when George tries to mount his horse, after refusing help, and makes a botch of it. Each little scene is jam packed with meaning. The movie would certainly make an interesting study for film students. All of the main characters, barring George, go through significant changes throughout the movie, even if they only change in our perceptions. Tracy's ice-princess veneer is shattered and she becomes a warm, vulnerable and loving woman. Macaulay drops his prejudices, finds some moral fibre and finally stands up for what he believes in. Dexter forgives himself and in doing so, forgives Tracy. Even Tracy's Father turns out to be a caring and wise figure, instead of the distant, immoral playboy we hear described at the start. Overall the film is too clever for words. They just don't make films like this anymore. It actually relies on the audience to get the joke. The puns, cultural references and interactions are not forced down our throat with a laugh track and a snare-drum. That's not to say you have to work hard to "get" this film; it's more like talking with your friends; you just understand, without further explanation. Everything about this film is perfect, which makes it a delight to watch time and time again. If you don't mind classic black and whites, you'll love Philadelphia Story.
Rating:
Summary: A true classic!
Review: All modern writers of "romantic-comedy" should be required to watch "The Philadelphia Story". Too bad most of them won't - - this is the heart and soul of the romantic-comedy genre! Rich dialogue and engaging characters make this sheer joy.
Rating:
Summary: THE PHILADELPHIA STORY
Review: Black and white was never this colorful. The Philadelphia story may have taken place over fifty years ago, but it still reeks of society, pride, and genuine fun in George Cukor's riotous comedy of Philadelphia's Lord clan and its hilarious mishaps at their daughter's wedding. Dapper C.K. Dexter-Haven (Cary Grant) is divorced from high and mighty Tracy "Red" Lord (Katharine Hepburn at her smirking, flat-out best). Now Tracy's getting married again... and Dexter has ammunition: He hires a reporter and photographer from an unconventional magazine to do a story on Tracy's wedding, or the editor will print an unflattering article about her father. Tracy gamely agrees, throwing the two "spies" for a loop. But when reporter Macaulay Connor (James Stewart's Oscar-winning performance) throws Tracy for a loop, it's anybody's race to the altar. "The Philadelphia Story" has everything: four star star power, snap-tongued dialogue, over-the-top society humor, and... class? "Class my eye." says Grant, but it may even be fair to say that "Story" has that, too.
Rating:
Summary: a real classic
Review: Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant and James Stewart star in THE PHILADELPHIA STORY, one of the defining motion pictures of the golden era. Tracy Lord (Hepburn) is about to re-marry, but the reappearance of her ex (Grant) and the prowling reporters intent on digging up some juicy gossip (Stewart and Ruth Hussey), all add the turmoil to the proceedings. When a sloshed Tracy takes a swim with the equally-intoxicated reporter, it only serves to shake up the situation, while her ex keeps getting closer. After being labelled "box office poison" after a string of flops which included SYLVIA SCARLETT and CHRISTOPHER STRONG, she made her comeback in this film. After starring in the role on Broadway, she was given the film rights and made sure she was cast in the role when the time came for the movie. She wanted Spencer Tracy but instead was given Cary Grant, but she was delighted all the same. Also included is the original theatrical trailer and the documentary KATHARINE HEPBURN - ALL ABOUT ME, which was made in 1992, where she talks about her movies, Spencer Tracy and her family life. A great buy indeed.
Rating:
Summary: Loving Hepburn, Grant, and Stewart
Review: I love this movie. I saw this and I laughed through it. If you like classics, you have to see this. Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant are great. But for me the person who stole the sceen was Jimmy Stewart. Jimmy Stewart plays a great drunk who keeps you laughing. This movie also makes you think. I highly reccommend this movie.
Rating:
Summary: Smashing!
Review: Anyone who knows the story of Katharine Hepburn knows of her triumph over that period in her life when she was known as "box office poison." This was the film which anchored that triumph. Hepburn did not get top-billing in this fabulous comedic romp, full of pools, champagne and tangled romance, the billing went instead, to Cary Grant, who was brought in by MGM to play the ex-husband. Hepburn had just finished playing Tracy Lord in the Broadway production when she brought the script to MGM - smart move on her part, since her striking and ever-adorable performance brought her back into favor with the public. Cheers!
Rating: 
Summary: K Hepburn
Review: I have met Katherine Hepburn!! I'll admit that I had never even heard of her until a co-worker wispered to me "that's Katherine Hepburn. She comes in her every once in a while." After that I watched her in Little Women. I didn't like it at all, I thought it was the boringest version I've ever seen but I probably don't appreciate it for the classic it is being only 17.
Rating:
Summary: Sparkling comedy with a great cast
Review: After watching Cary Grant in "Charade," I was more than interested in getting a look at this movie. It features a weird little love-pentagon. Fiery but "hard" society bride Tracey Lord is preparing for her second marriage, to pleasant but deadly-dull George. A few years before, she was married to C.K. Dexter Haven, a charming razor-tongued man who now apparently wants to get back at his ex-wife by sneaking a pair of tabloid reporters into Tracey's home--and she really hates any invasion of her privacy. The reporters turn out to be disgruntled writer Mike Connor and his photographer Miss Imbrie. But when Mike starts to fall for Tracey, who is engaged to George, and who is still loved by Dexter. I honestly didn't know who was going to end up with who until the very last scene! This movie is not just a comedy--it's also a love story, and the chronicling of Tracey's rapid evolution. She starts out the movie as a judgemental, rather hard young woman who has a lot of love to give, but is forced to face her own imperfections. Jimmy Stewart is the wonderful reporter Mike Connor, who ends up getting into a complex tangle with Tracey and Dexter. Ever-wonderful Cary Grant plays the charming rich-and-idle guy Dexter, and Virginia Weidler shines as Tracey's odd little sister, Dinah, who is loyal to Dexter and as funny as he is. One enjoyable scene starts with Dinah being dragged out of the room, and saying with a wicked grin, "I can tell something's in the air because I'm being taken away." There's also lovable old lecher Uncle Willie, who is more than a little smitten with Miss Imbrie. Like so many of these old movies, the dialogue is snappy, snippy, and very very funny! Humorous moments include Connor's prank phone call ("This is the voice of doom..."), Dinah's exaggerated performance for Connor and Miss Imbrie, the blackmailing scene, as well as the funniest drunk scene ever put on film. This is far from the "best" romance ever made, but it is a memorable one. Allow your brain to relax and feel the fun. Ah, this film was yar!
Rating:
Summary: Two Classic Kate Films and a rather odd third choice
Review: An interesting trio of films to reperesent Katharine Hepburn. Two of them are absolute classics: The 1933 version of "Little Women," still considered by many to be the best film adaptation of Alcott's classic story, and the 1940 film version of "The Philadelphia Story," the play written by Philip Barry for Hepburn. The third film included in this set is 1944's "Dragon Seed" where Hepburn plays a Chinese peasant girl. Five stars for the first two, a 4 for the odd ball, round up for the above rating. Hepburn was always willing to stretch herself as an actress, whether it was a screwball comedy like "Bringing Up Baby" or performing Shakespeare on stage in the 1950s, or, as in this case, trying to hide those famous cheekbones under makeup and turn that celebrated Bryn Mawr accent into a Chinese one. It is not a great film to be sure, but it is not bad once you get by the fact that Hollywood was always casting caucasian actors as orientals. In this adaptation of Pearl Buck's novel you will also find Walter Huston, Aline MacMahon, Agnes Moorhead and J. Carrol Naish trying to look and sound Chinese. Trying to duplicate its success with "The Good Earth," MGM was also helping the war effort, since Hepburn's character of Jade disposes of a large number of Japanese invaders by poisioning them at a banquet. "Dragon Seed" is an intersting film with an effective performance by Hepburn, but it is not a logical choice for inclusion in this set (I would have gone with a Tracy-Hepburn pairing for the third, either "Woman of the Year" or "Adam's Rib"). In "Little Women" Hepburn's performance as Jo March won the Cannes Film Festival award for best actress and was probably a strong additional consideration for her winning her first Oscar that same year for "Morning Glory." "Little Women" is the much better film and performance (compare it Wynona Ryder in the most recent version, where Claire Dane's deathbed scene as Beth steals the film). Also enjoyable is Edna May Oliver as the imperious aunt. Joan Bennett (pregnant during filming), Jean Parker and Frances Dee round out the sisters with Spring Byington on target as Marmee. "The Philadelphia Story" was written for Hepburn and based in large part on her family. Playwright Philip Barry spent time at Fenwick, the Hepburn family retreat on the Connecticutt Shore. Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart play the other parts of the love triange. Stewart won as Oscar for Best Actor, probably due in part to a residue of respect for his "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" the year before. When I first saw this film (in a theater, in the old days when movie revival houses existed out in the real world) I was surprised that Hepburn ended up with Grant instead of Stewart. Of course now I am older and it all makes sense to me. This is the film that restored Hepburn's career and established the long accepted premise that when she plays herself very few people can touch her. All in all not a bad introduction to Hepburn. Two out of three ain't bad and there are plenty more where these came from.
Rating:
Summary: See it............ NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Review: This is all I need to say: Cary Grant Katharine Hepburn Jimmy Stewart GREAT PERFORMANCES ALL AROUND, ESPECIALLY FROM THE THREE AMAZING STARS AND RUTH HUSSET! But I'll say more anyway. Upper class lady Tracy Lord is about to be married to George Kittridge, general manager of Quaker State something or other (I haven't watched it for a month or so) after two years before divorcing CK Dexter Haven. Spy Magazine big cheese Sindney Kidd sends Macauly Conner and Elizabeth Imbry to get an inside story on the wedding of Tracy Lord, and George Kittridge. They are to get inside via Tracy's ex husband Dexter, who decides to help for revenge against his ex-bride. Hilarity ensues via needle sharp dialogue, carefully hidden gags, and terrific performances. I haven't seen one movie by Cary Grant that I haven't liked; I have seen thrity-two. I Have only seen two Jimmy Stewart and Kate Hepburn that I didn't really enjoy a-piece, and I've seen about twenty or more of theirs. And Cuckor's direction inspired many directors to choose alternative direction styles.
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