Review of High Society (2014) by Will D — 22 Oct 2010
A 1956 romantic musical romp at the apex of its genre. Bing Crosby and.
Frank Sinatra's on deck a-croonin' away and Grace Kelly's delivering her loveliness and enchantment while she lounges against poolsides, sailboat decks and highbrow cocktail parties - all in Technicolor / VistaVision treatment.
Plus there's dreamy costuming, bookends/cameos delivered up by Louie Armstrong and a Cole Porter score (that debuted "True Love," "Well, Did You Evah" & "Mind if I Make Love to You?").
On the off-chance a viewer would even care about the libretto that frames all this talent, it's a love triangle, where Crosby's the prodigal ex-spouse. Place your bet before the window closes, then enjoy the lyrical trot around the track - which happens to be the mansions and waters of Newport, Rhode Island. Naturally, it's neck-and-neck right down to the photo-finish.
"High Society" is a re-tooling of the 1940 Cary Grant / Katherine Hepburn / Jimmy Stewart Oscar-laden film "The Philadelphia Story," which was, in turn, sourced from the earlier Broadway show. The dialogue's not quite as snappy as within Hepburn's vehicle.
RECOMMENDATION: "High Society" is a superior sojourn through mid-Century nostalgia. Check it out.
This review of High Society (2014) was written by Will D on 22 Oct 2010.
High Society has generally received positive reviews.
Was this review helpful?
