Review of The Philadelphia Story (1940) by Masorad ( — 17 Aug 2009

Gets away with Hays Code murder thanx to the nuptials involved, the suggestive set-ups and knowing dialogue would never have been permitted otherwise. At this remove, savvy film-goers see the screwball coming from the wind-up and the execution of the plot is more or less comfort food (to mix metaphors, badly).

Archie Leach is hamstrung here, the supporting players shine, the Broadway origins hamper, Hepburn limns her best character, the studio system wins.