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The Philadelphia Story


Date: 1940
Type: Comedy / Drama / Romance
Rating: 4 Stars 4/5
Colour: Black and White
Director: George Cukor
Producer: Joseph L Mankiewicz

Comment/Synopsis

Katherine Hepburn is a wealthy woman who is about to get married for the second time when her ex-husband (Cary Grant) arrives with a tabloid reporter (James Stewart) and a photographer (Ruth Hussey). There then follows some wonderful comedy as the characters play out their roles. This is a great film from three good actors at the top of their skills. Katherine Hepburn had played the role on stage and then aquired the film rights and gave another good performance on screen. She also picked the director and her co-stars, although this was the last time she stared with Cary Grant. This is a good examples of the screwball comedy sub-genre of films.

Actors


Katherine HepburnKatherine Hepburn
Cary GrantCary Grant
James StewartJames Stewart
Ruth HusseyRuth Hussey
John Howard
Roland Young
John Halliday
Mary NashMary Nash
Virginia Weidler
Henry Daniell

Oscars

Won - Best Actor - James Stewart
Nomination - Best Actress - Katharine Hepburn
Nomination - Best Supporting Actress - Ruth Hussey
Won - Screenplay
Nomination - Best Picture
Nomination - Best Director - George Cukor

Production
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)
Philadelphia Story