The Classic Hollywood era produced a plethora of great films, partly because of the constraints of the strict Hays Code censorship, which forced creators to apply a greater amount of creativity to work around such limitations. One such example can be found in the 1940 romantic comedy, The Philadelphia Story, directed by George Cukor. This film is based on the immensely popular 1939 Broadway play by Philip Barry, who had written it specifically for his friend, the famous actress Katharine Hepburn.
In the film, Hepburn reprises her role as the beautiful Philadelphia socialite, Tracy Lord, who, two years earlier, ended her marriage to fellow socialite, C.K. Dexter Haven (played by Cary Grant), through an acrimonious divorce. Now, she is ready to marry George Kittredge (played by John Howard), a wealthy man from a humble background. As their wedding approaches, the entire town is abuzz, and Sidney Kidd (played by Henry Daniell), a New York tabloid magazine publisher, sends Macaulay "Mike" Connor (played by James Stewart), a cynical reporter and unaccomplished writer, to cover the event along with photographer Elizabeth "Liz" Imbrie (played by Ruth Hussey).
The Lords, being the gracious hosts they are, allow the two reporters to be guests at their estate under the guise of being distant relatives, all in exchange for Kidd's promise to withhold a compromising story about Tracy's father, Seth (played by John Halliday), and his scandalous affair with a dancer. As Mike and Liz settle into their new surroundings, Mike, with his disdain for the upper classes, can't help but rub shoulders with the Lords. However, as time passes, he finds himself inexplicably drawn to Tracy, who, in turn, begins to question her impending marriage to George. The presence of Tracy's ex-husband, C.K. Dexter Haven, only complicates matters further, creating a tangled web of love, deceit, and self-discovery.
The success of the Broadway play allowed Hepburn to convince Louis B. Mayer, the head of MGM studio, to greenlight the film adaptation. This was a significant achievement for Hepburn, who, after a string of box office flops, had been labelled "box office poison". She was joined by two other great male stars, Cary Grant (with whom she had worked on the screwball comedy classic Bringing up Baby) and the up-and-coming James Stewart. Cukor, a highly respected filmmaker known for his work with women, took the helm, guiding the cast through a skilful adaptation of Barry's play.
Like many Hollywood comedies of the time, The Philadelphia Story features very clever and witty dialogue, which is delivered by a formidable cast. Hepburn plays one of the more complex and iconic roles of her career, a woman who is charming, witty, and vulnerable. She has excellent chemistry with her co-stars, including Stewart, who won an Oscar for Best Actor for his efforts. The main cast is supported by a small army of great character actors, including 13-year-old Virginia Weidler as Tracy's perceptive younger sister.
While the film was well-directed, it might appear a little slow for modern audiences, especially at the beginning, due to the emphasis on dialogue and exposition. Some, especially nowadays, may find the motif of physical violence between former spouses quite problematic. However, the greatest weakness of the film lies in its adherence to the "comedy of remarriage" subgenre, which developed under the specific circumstances of Classic Hollywood. The MPAA Production Code, enforced by Catholic activist Joseph Breen, banned the depiction of adultery and was hostile towards the concept of divorce. Films could use the motif of divorce only if the spouses were about to come back together, which made the plot resolution of The Philadelphia Story quite predictable and a little too convenient.
Despite this, the film became a major success and earned a reputation as a classic. In 1956, a musical version starring Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, and Frank Sinatra, titled High Society, was made. The Philadelphia Story, with its witty dialogue, memorable performances, and enduring themes of love, identity, and social class, remains a testament to the creative genius of Classic Hollywood, proving that even under the constraints of censorship, filmmakers could produce works of art that are just as relevant and captivating today as they were decades ago.
RATING: 7/10 (+++)
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