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Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, James Stewart, Ruth Hussey, John Howard ... see more see more... , Roland Young , John Halliday , Mary Nash , Virginia Weidler , Henry Daniell , Lionel Pape , Rex Evans , Hillary Brooke , Veda Buckland , Lita Chevret , David Clyde , Claude King , Florine McKinney , Lee Phelps , Hilda Plowright , Helene Whitney , Dorothy Fay , Russ Clark

We open on Philadelphia socialite C.K. Dexter Haven (Cary Grant) as he's being tossed out of his palatial home by his wife, Tracy Lord (Katharine Hepburn). Adding insult to injury, Tracy breaks one of... read more read more... C.K.'s precious golf clubs. He gallantly responds by knocking her down on her million-dollar keester. A couple of years after the breakup, Tracy is about to marry George Kittridge (John Howard), a wealthy stuffed shirt whose principal recommendation is that he's not a Philadelphia "mainliner," as C.K. was. Still holding a torch for Tracy, C.K. is galvanized into action when he learns that Sidney Kidd (Henry Daniell), the publisher of Spy Magazine, plans to publish an exposé concerning Tracy's philandering father (John Halliday). To keep Kidd from spilling the beans, C.K. agrees to smuggle Spy reporter Macauley Connor (James Stewart) and photographer Elizabeth Imbrie (Ruth Hussey) into the exclusive Lord-Kittridge wedding ceremony. How could C.K. have foreseen that Connor would fall in love with Tracy, thereby nearly lousing up the nuptials? As it turns out, of course, it is C.K. himself who pulls the "louse-up," reclaiming Tracy as his bride. A consistently bright, bubbly, witty delight, The Philadelphia Story could just as well have been titled "The Revenge of Katharine Hepburn." Having been written off as "box-office poison" in 1938, Hepburn returned to Broadway in a vehicle tailor-made for her talents by playwright Philip Barry. That property, of course, was The Philadelphia Story; and when MGM bought the rights to this sure-fire box-office success, it had to take Hepburn along with the package -- and also her veto as to who her producer, director, and co-stars would be. Her strategy paid off: after the film's release, Hepburn was back on top of the Hollywood heap. While she didn't win the Oscar that many thought she richly deserved, the little gold statuette was bestowed upon her co-star Stewart, perhaps as compensation for his non-win for 1939's Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Donald Ogden Stewart (no relation to Jimmy) also copped an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay. The Philadelphia Story was remade in 1956 with a Cole Porter musical score as High Society. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

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91% liked it

45,108 ratings

Critics

100% liked it

45 critics

Unrated, 1 hr. 52 min.

Directed by: George Cukor

Release Date: December 1, 1940

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DVD Release Date: September 10, 1997

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Stats: 2,881 reviews

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James Stewart & Katharine Hepburn in The Philadelphia Story James Stewart in The Philadelphia Story James Stewart & Katharine Hepburn in The Philadelphia Story Ruth Hussey in The Philadelphia Story Ruth Hussey, James Stewart, Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn James Stewart and Katharine Hepburn Kate and Jimmy James Stewart and Katharine Hepburn John Halliday, James Stewart, Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn James Stewart and Katharine Hepburn James Stewart and Katharine Hepburn Ruth Hussey in The Philadelphia Story Ruth Hussey in The Philadelphia Story The Philadelphia Story Cary Grant, James Stewart, Katharine Hepburn and John Howard The Philadelphia Story
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Flixster Reviews (2,881)

  • deano
    May 22, 2011
    deano
    It's Katharine Hepburn's picture, but with as fetching a lineup of the talent as is to be found, she's got to fight every clever line of dialog all of the way to hold her lead. Pushing hard is little Virginia Weidler, the kid sister, who has as twinkly any eye with a fast quip as... read more a blinker light. Ruth Hassey is another from whom director George Cukor has milked maximum results to get a neat blend of sympathy-winning softness under a python-tongued smartaleckness. As for Cary Grant, James Stewart and Roland Young, there's little to be said that their reputation hasn't established. John Howard, John Halliday and Mary Nash, in lesser roles, more than adequately fill in what Philip Barry must have dreamt of when he wrote the 1939 play.
    The perfect conception of all flighty but characterful Main Line socialite gals rolled into one, Hepburn has just the right amount of beauty, just the right amount of disarray in wearing clothes, just the right amount of culture in her voice - it's no one but Hepburn.
    When the acid tongues are turned on at beginning and end of the film, it's a laugh-provoker from way down. When the discussion gets deep and serious, however, on the extent of Hepburn's stone-like character, the verbiage is necessarily highly abstract and the film slows to a toddle.
  • emilebond007
    November 30, 2010
    emilebond007
    James Stuwart and Katharine Hepburn were magnifient to see on screen, their performance and the great screenplay made the whole movie, while Cary Grant and Ruth Hussey were amazing, too.
  • FrizzDrop
    October 14, 2010
    FrizzDrop
    Generous helpings of drama, witty banter, and that powerful shade of romance that can only be explored in a time when innocence was key, and you had to work with hwat you had.
  • ajv2688
    September 27, 2010
    ajv2688
    This is one of my favourite movies. It has a fantastic cast including Grant, Hepburn, and Stewart. The story is interesting, funny, witty, and dramatic. I highly recommend this movie.
  • MissMorganLeee
    May 1, 2010
    MissMorganLeee
    This was a Great classic movie! Everyone is great in this movie Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, and James Stewart I think he is my favorite in this movie. A perfect romanic Dramadey. See it!
  • ythelastman89
    January 31, 2010
    ythelastman89
    I think this is essentially where the dating game began. Three eligible bachelors, but only one will win the girl. It's got a perfect cast and equally perfect dialogue. I think it's actually one of the few times i've really remember James Stewart as a different character, he was ... read moreactually kind of a scumbag. Katherine Hepburn was also great, but it's Cary Grant who effortlessly steals every scene he's in.
  • FilmFanatik
    December 20, 2009
    FilmFanatik
    Funny and romantic.
  • DrBenway
    June 25, 2009
    DrBenway
    What exactly does it mean when they say "They don't make 'em like that anymore"? Usually it's in reference to movies of the 30s, 40s and 50s, movies like "Casablanca", "The Maltese Falcon" or "The Philadelphia Story". This movie is, simply, one of the great comedies. The dialogu... read moree is electric, immensely funny and moving. I've recently had a chance to revisit this film on the big screen and couldn't have asked for more. It's also an example of perfect casting.

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  • fernandorafael
    April 10, 2009
    fernandorafael
    Watching three legends (Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart) "battle" onscreen is pure cinematic glory.

    The fact that this "Philadelphia Story" is pretty funny is due, in large part, to the amazing trifecta of Grant-Hepburn-Stewart, each giving an impeccable perfo... read morermance, but also to the script by Donald Ogden Stewart.
  • mwilliams078
    September 16, 2008
    mwilliams078
    The Philadelphia Story, is one of my favorite MGM comedies of the 40's. A dream cast consisting of Katherine Hepburn, Cary Grant, James Stewart, Ruth Hussey and more. Have to love the studio system back in the day where they could get the best of the best in every role be a star ... read morestudded film.....gotta love a very smart, well acted, funny, and great actors to watch in there prime....comedy at it's finest!!!

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Critic Reviews

April 23, 2009
TIME Magazine

In short, The Philadelphia Story lifts the daily drudge into a charming never-never land, with complete footnotes excusing its existence. And besides, it's a good, entertaining show. Full Review

Mark Bourne
March 4, 2008
Mark Bourne, Film.com

Every time Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, and Jimmy Stewart connect in a scene, we hear the happy ding! of quality champagne crystal. Full Review

Herb Golden
July 2, 2007
Herb Golden, Variety

The smarties are going to relish Philadelphia Story a lot more than the two-bit trade... Full Review

Dave Kehr
July 2, 2007
Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

George Cukor gives it the royal treatment with a splendid supporting cast... Full Review

Geoff Andrew
February 9, 2006
Geoff Andrew, Time Out

Cukor and Donald Ogden Stewart's evergreen version of Philip Barry's romantic farce, centreing on a socialite wedding threatened by scandal, is a delight from start to finish, with everyone involved w... Full Review

Bosley Crowther
May 20, 2003
Bosley Crowther, New York Times

It has been a long time since Hollywood has spent itself so extravagantly, and to such entertaining effect, upon a straight upper-crust fable, an unblushing apologia for plutocracy. Full Review

Donald J. Levit
August 9, 2012
Donald J. Levit, ReelTalk Movie Reviews

How well all is pulled together and comes off, is more glaring when 'The Philadelphia Story' is compared to its fluffy but fangless 1956 musical adaptation, 'High Society.' Full Review

Ellen MacKay
January 1, 2011
Ellen MacKay, Common Sense Media

Screwball romance is lots of fun for older kids. Full Review

Laura Bushell
April 23, 2009
Laura Bushell, Film4

Romantic comedies are rarely this fabulous. Full Review

July 2, 2007
TV Guide's Movie Guide

With such a stellar cast, a fine director working in the type of picture he did best, and some genuinely witty dialogue, this film has all the ingredients for a great comedy. Full Review

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Facts

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    • Dinah Lord: I did. I did it all!
    • Macauley Connor: Doggone it, C.K. Dexter Haven! Either I'm gonna sock you or you're gonna sock me.
    • C.K. Dexter Haven: Shall we toss a coin?
    • Macauley Connor: Boy, champagne. Just the bottle, I'm going on a picnic.
    • Dinah Lord: I can tell there's something in the air because I'm being taken away.
    • Seth Lord: What most wives fail to realize is that their husbands philandering has nothing whatever to do with them.
    • Tracy Lord: Then what has it to do with?
    • Seth Lord: A reluctance to grow old, I think. I suppose the best mainstay a man can have as he gets along in years is a daughter. The right kind of daughter.
    • C.K. Dexter Haven: To hardly know him is to know him well.
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The Philadelphia Story Trivia

  • Name the only movie that Jimmy Stewart ever won a Best Actor Oscar for.  Answer »
  • What is the only movie that James Stewart ever won a best actor Oscar for?  Answer »
  • What movie title is this a synonym for? The city of brotherly love, tale.   Answer »
  • What film was James Stewart awarded the Best Actor oscar for?  Answer »
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