Review of The Philadelphia Story (1940) by Nick R — 14 Mar 2008

I find it wonderful when I thoroughly enjoy something that bears the weight of being considered "great".

I was originally thrown for a loop when I realized that we were supposed to be rooting for Katherine Hepburn to get back together with her ex-husband who she leaves in the first scene because he is being abusive.

Ha ha. domestic abuse - you old scoundrel.

Also, going into the movie (which I saw at the beginning of Cary Grant month) I was still more of Jimmy Stewart fan and hadn't quite understood Grant's appeal. I say this because the movie had to work to get me onto its side and it had to work to get me to suspend my disbelief - but it did.

Well, this movie is great - it is so perfect in succeeding on its own terms and within its own universe and genre, that it reaches a stage of greatness where even if you don't normally like this kind of thing you will be won over - if you give it a chance.

You may not fall head-over-heels in love with this movie, but I found it impossible to resist.