High Society

This musical remake of the 1940 film The Philadelphia Story was a smash hit, particularly in Britain, making comparisons with its fabulous forerunner unnecessary. It's cleverly under-directed (star Bing Crosby couldn't dance) by the brilliant Charles Walters and offers many joys, notably the teaming of crooners Crosby and Frank Sinatra for the brilliantly witty Cole Porter number Well, Did You Evah?, and the delightful Grace Kelly in a role she plays perfectly, that of a spoiled rich brat. Sinatra and Celeste Holm make a snappy pair of journalists (and bring that snap to another Porter classic, Who Wants to be a Millionaire?), but Crosby seems somewhat ill at ease, and jazz great Louis Armstrong is reduced to the chorus and stooge to Crosby.

Cold, flat, dull musical reworking of The Philadelphia Story (qv), with ill-cast performers and just a few bright moments.