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The Philadelphia Story Details

1940 Certificate U
  • Rated:
  • 80
  • from 4600 members

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. Read more

Starring Cary Grant, James Stewart, Katharine Hepburn, Ruth Hussey
Director George Cukor
Genres Comedy, Romance

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The Philadelphia Story

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.

Starring Cary Grant, James Stewart, Katharine Hepburn, Ruth Hussey, John Howard
Director George Cukor
Studio WARNER HOME VIDEO
Run time DVD: 1 hr 47 mins
Certificate Certificate U
Genres Comedy, Romance
Language DVD: English
Released DVD: 20 Jun 2005
Production year: 1940
Format DVD

The Philadelphia Story (1940)

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  • Critics' reviews (3) of The Philadelphia Story

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  • 5 stars out of 5

    With her unerring instinct for quality, Katharine Hepburn purchased the rights to the Philip Barry play as a vehicle for herself, and effectively controlled this wonderful MGM movie version, memorably directed by her old friend George Cukor. Cary Grant and James Stewart simply couldn't be bettered — and weren't in the popular musical remake High Society — as the men who both love Hepburn, and Stewart rightly won an Oscar for his magical portrayal of a frustrated reporter. The opening is hilarious and the wit never stops. If you've yet to see this, lucky you. If you know it and love it, you'll be viewing again.

    • Radio Times
    • Posted 29 Jan 2006
  • 4 stars out of 4

    Hollywood's most wise and sparkling comedy, with a script which is even an improvement on the original play. Cukor's direction is so discreet you can hardly sense it, and all the performances are just perfect.

    • Halliwell's Film Guide
    • Posted 02 Mar 2006

  • Most helpful member's review of The Philadelphia Story

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  • 16 out of 18 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Classic and charming

    It's rare for me to find one of the 'old classics' all that enthralling. Yet some manage to pull me in and keep me intrigued, or even get me to laugh, which is somewhat surprising given the change in what constitutes funny from 1940 to now. The story here is predictable, but amusing, and actually, I found it easy to WANT what I thought would happen to happen. It didn't matter that there seemed to be fewer than a dozen sets, if that many - a hallmark of cinema from the days when theatre was still king, and nearly completely unknown to today's globetrotting moviemakers. The actors talk, I listen, and wonder what they'll say next, who's going to walk in, see what, do what. It's simply adorable. Jimmy Stewart is always watchable, but rarely moreso than here. Cary Grant pulls off comedy, if you can believe it. And Kathrine Hepburn, who usually makes me switch the station, well, doesn't make me switch the station, and maybe, just for a moment, charms me. A helpful tip: watch this with someone you're wooing. Should have the same effect as Breakfast At Tiffanys.

      • Joshua from Oxford, England
      • Posted 12 May 2005 01:56

  • Most recent members' review of The Philadelphia Story

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  • 16 out of 18 people found this review helpful

    Rated - 4 stars

    Classic and charming

    It's rare for me to find one of the 'old classics' all that enthralling. Yet some manage to pull me in and keep me intrigued, or even get me to laugh, which is somewhat surprising given the change in what constitutes funny from 1940 to now. The story here is predictable, but amusing, and actually, I found it easy to WANT what I thought would happen to happen. It didn't matter that there seemed to be fewer than a dozen sets, if that many - a hallmark of cinema from the days when theatre was still king, and nearly completely unknown to today's globetrotting moviemakers. The actors talk, I listen, and wonder what they'll say next, who's going to walk in, see what, do what. It's simply adorable. Jimmy Stewart is always watchable, but rarely moreso than here. Cary Grant pulls off comedy, if you can believe it. And Kathrine Hepburn, who usually makes me switch the station, well, doesn't make me switch the station, and maybe, just for a moment, charms me. A helpful tip: watch this with someone you're wooing. Should have the same effect as Breakfast At Tiffanys.

      • Joshua from Oxford, England
      • Posted 12 May 2005 01:56

  • News and features

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    Venom

    Spacey to turn his hand to reality TV

    • 03 Jun 2005

    Actor Kevin Spacey is due to take part in a new reality TV show in the US, in an eight-show series designed to follow interns working behind the scenes in showbiz Hollywood. The programme will be called Going Hollywood, and will appear on The Learning Channel, with Spacey acting as a mentor to showbiz wannabes. The star of Seven, The Usual Suspects, American Beauty and The Life Of David Gale is currently appearing in The Philadelphia Story, in London's West End. Spacey will be joined as a... Read more

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Rating breakdown

4,600 Member ratings
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622
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1,024
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710
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515
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287
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137
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88
  • 20
91
  • 10
57

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