The Philadelphia Story (2000, DVD)

Originally intended for the stage, director George Cukor took the Broadway smash and found a few big names to step in and take a part. And what a cast we get in this funny, witty, comedy of love and manners in upper-class Connecticut in the 1940's.

Monied, bored, acid-tongued Tracy Lord (Katherine Hepburn in her pre-Spencer Tracy days) is engaged to be married to the correct, socially acceptable George Kitteridge (John Howard) - who is just the wrong sort of person for her. He's rigid and unyielding in his views, and although Tracy thinks that the marriage will be a success, it's pretty obvious to everyone else around her that she's crashing head-on into another relationship disaster.

Just like the one she had with C. K. Dexter Haven (Cary Grant), her irresponsible, hard-drinking, ne'er-do-well ex. Yes, Tracy's ex-husband, who's shown up at just precisely the wrong time in the proceedings.

To add plenty of tang to the stew is Macauley Connor (Jimmy Stewart) and Liz Imbrie (Ruth Hussey), a pair of reporters who are to dig up plenty of dirt on the couple and serve it up to the hoi-polloi who buy their tabloid. This of course simply won't do for the Lord family, who want everything to go in socially acceptable way. And especially Kitteridge, who's got his own reasons for marrying Tracy.

Which of course it won't...

The secondary characters are just as much fun as the leads, especially Uncle Willie (Roland Young) who's probably the smartest one of the lot. And Dinah (Viriginia Weidler), Tracy's young going-on-forty sister who's entirely too clever for her own good -- the scene towards the end when she's being her catty best is priceless.

Best of all is watching Tracy Lord finally get that head of hers together and discovering that she can't keep the world out forever with her catty, insulting ways.

Black and white, the version I saw was particularly clean and crisp in both image and sound. Not a lot of unacceptable behavior shown, but there's plenty of drinking and smoking going on. Implied sex, but as this was a 40's film, and having to contend with the Hayes Code, all you will see is Katharine Hepburn in a swimming suit. Big hats, bias-cut dresses, smoking, drinking, and a garden wedding setup that would make Martha Stewart drool with envy. Some of the clothing designs of the late 30's made me snicker -- such as the cap that they stuck Hepburn with in one scene -- watch for her trying to hide it with her hands, and ultimately discard it.

It's a gentle, funny comedy, with nothing to upset anyone, some real emotions, and great satire. Perfect for a date night, and guys -- it's perfect if you want to show your girlfriend you do have a bit of class and brains.