Review of The Philadelphia Story (1940) by Anis T — 14 Jan 2009

Yes, i've finally seen philadelphia story, and it's every bit as good as it's hyped to be, here's why: all three of its stars are radiant in the archetypes with which we associate their best work, and the script utilizes them brilliantly.

I mentioned in my review in 'the shop around the corner' that jimmy stewart's brand of romantic comedy is completely different from the hepburn/grant dynamic - it's much more rooted in emotional earnestness.

well, this film takes a classic hepburn/grant plot setup and then injects jimmy stewart into the mix. the result is astonishing because it shakes loose the classic screwball comedy mold and sees these characters as real people for a moment.

amidst all the star power, it's easy to overlook the flawless production. every setup is a masterpiece of lighting. I can't believe I hadn't seen jimmy stewart's drunk scene until now.

looking forward to seeing this again. it's interesting that hitchcock later picked these two men to star in his best films. both represent a kind of universal, accessible masculinity that he must have felt would be ideal conduits for an audience to experience not only love, but also fear.