| | |
Features: Special Edition, DVD, English, French, Spanish, Subtitled
Sophisticated romantic comedy achieved its pinnacle in this timeless classic voted one of the Top 100 American Films of all time by the American Film Institute. Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant and Best Actor Academy Award winner James Stewart star in the masterful comedy (directed by George Cukor) about a faultfinding, bride-to-be socialite who gets her come-uppance.
"Hollywood's most wise and sparkling comedy. All the performances are just perfect." Halliwell's Film Guide
"Classic comedy..." VideoHound's Golden Movie Retriever
Editor's Note
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.
Plot Summary
An outstanding and much-loved version of Philip Barry's smart play in which a wealthy society girl is torn between her millionaire husband-to-be, her dashing ex, and a self-conscious reporter. Stars Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, and James Stewart give fabulous performances in this classic film.
| Features | Audio: English Mono | | Interactive Menus | | Scene Selection | | Subtitles: English, French, Spanish |
| Technical Info
|
Release Information
| | Studio: Warner |
| Release Date: 3/1/2005 |
| Running Time: 112 minutes |
| Original Release Date: 1940 | | Catalog ID: 66990 | | UPC: 00012569699021 | | Number of Discs: 2 |
Audio & Video
| | Original Language: English | | Available Audio Tracks: English [CC], English | | Available Subtitles: English, French, Spanish | | Video: B&W |
| Cast & Crew
| Awards |
Oscar (1941) |  | James Stewart, Winner, Best Actor | | Donald Ogden Stewart, Winner, Best Screenplay | | | Katharine Hepburn, Nominee, Best Actress | | | George Cukor, Nominee, Best Director | | | Ruth Hussey, Nominee, Best Supporting Actress |
|
| | Professional Reviews | Total Film
"Stewart won his first Oscar as idealistic hack Macaulay Connor." 03/01/2004 p.5Los Angeles Times
"[A] near-perfect 1940 adaptation of Philip Barry's stage hit, which revved up Hepburn's career." 03/27/2005 p.E13 Uncut
"Stewart won an Oscar, as did the screenplay, which crackles." 07/01/2005 p.140 Uncut
Ranked #12 in Uncut's Best DVDs Of 2005 -- "Katharine Hepburn's baby. The play was written for her, and she picked the director, George Cukor, and her co-star..." 01/01/2006 p.84-85 At-A-Glance Film Reviews 10 of 10
The Philadelphia Story is a great screwball comedy, much more intelligent and insightful than
The Motion Picture Guide 10 of 10
...the performances and Cukor's direction make this film one of the classic comedies of all time. Al
|
| |
|
|
|
