High Society (1956)
After a divorce with her childhood friend, arrogant socialite Tracy Lord is remarrying but her ex-husband in still in love with her. Meanwhile, a gossip magazine blackmails Tracy's family into covering her new wedding. A musical remake of the 1940 romcom The Philadelphia Story.
Watch Trailer
Cast
Similar titles
Reviews
The movie turns out to be a little better than the average. Starting from a romantic formula often seen in the cinema, it ends in the most predictable (and somewhat bland) way.
The tone of this movie is interesting -- the stakes are both dramatic and high, but it's balanced with a lot of fun, tongue and cheek dialogue.
Story: It's very simple but honestly that is fine.
Exactly the movie you think it is, but not the movie you want it to be.
High Society is the musical version of 1940's The Philadelphia Story, originally starring Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, and James Stewart. The problem? The original story isn't any good to begin with! Unfortunately, keeping the plot and adding songs doesn't help it turn into a good movie.In this version, Grace Kelly plays the woman every man falls in love with. She's engaged to John Lund, but her ex-husband Bing Crosby tries to win her back—and to top it all off, reporter Frank Sinatra falls in love with her while writing about her upcoming wedding! The only reason to watch this movie—unless you actually liked the original—is to watch Bing and Frankie sing and act together. In their famous number "Well Did You Evah?", they playfully make fun of each other's singing styles.If you absolutely love Cole Porter, or Grace Kelly or Frankie, I guess you can watch this one. I didn't like it. I didn't like the original. I won't spoil anything, but in both versions, I was rooting for someone who didn't end up with the girl. And when you hate an ending that much—even as famous an ending as this story's—it's hard to like the rest of the movie.
In some ways, this remake of "The Philadelphia Story" is an improvement. In the original version, Dexter pushed Tracy in the face so hard it knocked her to the ground, which does not seem as funny to us today as it apparently did then. In this remake, that scene is eliminated. Perhaps the difference in actors is also a factor. To have Bing Crosby push Grace Kelly in the face would have had different connotations than it did for Cary Grant to do that to Katherine Hepburn.Another improvement is the elimination of Dexter's alcoholism. In the original version, he was an alcoholic and it was Tracy's fault. Furthermore, the implication was that she was wrong to divorce him for it. Because this remake is a musical, the new reason Tracy divorces Dexter is that he composes popular jazz numbers, which are too lowbrow for her taste. She wanted him to be a diplomat or at least a composer of highbrow music. This is an improvement over the original because it is outrageous to blame a wife for her husband's alcoholism, and because it brings out the idea that she is a bit of a snob. On the other hand, objecting to the musical compositions of one's husband has to be the most frivolous reason for a divorce ever given, on or off the screen.Another improvement is that the musical numbers in this remake take the place of a lot of the excessive drunk-humor that went on in the original. There is still a lot of drinking, but the less of that sort of thing the better. The musical numbers also call for the elimination of a couple of plot points. In the original, Mike had written a book, which Tracy marveled over for its sensitive understanding of human nature, but that is eliminated in the remake. It is just as well. We might believe that Jimmy Stewart could write such a book, but not Frank Sinatra. Also, there was a counter-blackmail conspiracy between Dexter and Mike that is eliminated. It did not lead to anything much in the original, so it is no great loss.Dexter still does not want Tracy to marry George, but his attempt to prevent their wedding is not as aggressive as it was in the original. That too is an improvement, because interfering in an ex-wife's wedding plans is offensive. What unfortunately remains in all its disgusting glory is the scene where her father announces that if a husband cheats on his wife, it is none of his wife's business, followed by his putting all the blame on Tracy: if a man does not have a devoted, loving daughter, he cannot be blamed if he has sex with a devoted, loving woman as a substitute.George is still depicted as being a prig for objecting to the way Tracy carries on the night before their wedding. First he catches her and Dexter smooching, and then she goes on to do some lovey-dovey necking with Mike. If this is the way she behaves the night before her wedding, what would George be in for as the years rolled by? I have known men with wives like that, and I always feel sorry for them (even if I am the one she is fooling around with). Maybe Tracy is just following her father's logic: her philandering is none of her fiancé's concern. Besides, she has the excuse that she does not have a devoted, loving son to keep her from wandering.In the original, after George refused to go through with the wedding, Mike asked Tracy to marry her. When she declined, Elizabeth immediately took him back, as if he was just a little boy who still had some growing up to do. We are fortunately spared this scene. Instead, Mike asks Elizabeth to marry him, which is much better. Then Dexter and Tracy decide to retie the knot, and since she seems to have matured enough to accept his jazz compositions, we assume all will be well.
Following a wonderful adaptation of the play in The Philadelphia Story 1940 here comes a potentially great musical. I was very excited to see it and very disappointed afterwards. How do I loathe this musical - every scene feels like it will never end and the songs seem out of place. Gone is the vivacity, wittiness, poignancy and the romance of a wonderful story. Am I supposed to believe that a beautiful young woman of 27 is happily marrying a not very attractive 45 year old? That she finds nothing surprising at being surrounded by short unattractive men who are each older than the other and the main love interest is 53 years old! Watching her surrounded by these old guys I felt the same disgust and distaste I felt when watching The Seven Year Itch - beautiful Ms Monroe being ogled by a a pervy old man. And everyone acts as if this is normal! It is beyond comprehension and utterly unconvincing. Sure the guys can sing - well then find them a love interest of their own age! I do wonder if this film could have been saved by an appropriate casting. Maybe it could have helped avoid implausible scenes, unconvincing dialogue and wooden acting...
In 1940, a film called "The Philadelphia Story", starring Cary Grant, James Stewart, and Katherine Hepburn, was released to critical and financial success. It also received six Academy Award nominations, and won two for its screenplay and James Stewart's performance. Sixteen years later, a musical remake to this film titled "High Society" was made, this time starring Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and Grace Kelly. Before I delve into my thoughts on "High Society", I'd like to briefly share my opinion on remakes in general. Unless they are based on a film that was bad and/or improve upon the flaws of their predecessor, I find remakes completely unnecessary and lazy especially when it's a good film that's being remade. So although it is a remake of a well-made comedy, "High Society" works reasonably well for what it is which is light, amusing musical entertainment. A jazz musician by the name of C.K. Dexter-Haven (Bing Crosby) has recently been divorced from wealthy socialite Tracy Samantha Lord (Grace Kelly, in her final film role before officially becoming Princess Grace of Monaco). Despite this circumstance along with her recent engagement to snooty gentleman George Kittredge (John Lund), Dexter is still in love with her and determined to win her back. Things become further complicated when a magazine sends reporter Mike Connor (Frank Sinatra) and photographer Liz Imbrie (Celeste Holm) to cover the wedding in exchange of disregarding humiliating information about the family. Though Mike is very reluctant to be there, he does become attracted to Tracy as well. Now, Tracy must choose between Dexter, Mike, and George before the big day arrives. If I could come up with only one reason why you should see this film regardless if you possibly don't care for either musicals or remakes, it would be for the cast. I don't recall another film in history that has brought together Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Grace Kelly all in one film. Kelly ends her impressive acting career here with arguably the only comedic role she's played. One could say she's mostly imitating Katherine Hepburn here and that some of her previous roles (notably Frances Stevens in "To Catch a Thief") technically had even more underlying humor present. She still has fun with this role and has not lost any of the charm or beauty that made people like me love her in the first place. Crosby and Sinatra also bring their usual charm and star power to their roles, most notably in the film's best musical number "Well, Did You Evah". I liked the chemistry between Kelly and Sinatra, and how he has to take time to warm up to her ways. Even though Crosby and Sinatra are both competing for Kelly's affection, I didn't mind that they were still friendly towards one another. If it wasn't for the star power of Kelly, Sinatra or Crosby, I would have forgotten that there were even actors in this film since the characters themselves are pretty underdeveloped, especially George. George is the type of character that was only created for the convenience of the plot and nothing more. He is an exceptionally poor antagonist to the story because he has no personality to him and he doesn't seem to enjoy being there. I've already implied that "Well, Did You Evah" was the musical highlight of the film, but how do the other songs written by Cole Porter hold up in my mind? I'd say that with the exception of one or two forgettable tunes, the others range from solid to catchy. "High Society" (the opening tune sung by Louis Armstrong and his band), "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire", and "You're Sensational" come to mind when naming other well written songs. If you're a hardcore fan of Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra, and the musical film genre in general, I think you'll find "High Society" to be fine, fluffy evening entertainment.