The Philadelphia Story

Rating: Not Rated

Movie Release Date: December 26, 1940

DVD Release Date: May 2, 2000

Plot 411: The original movie upon which High Society is based.

Review: In this cheeky rom com starring Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant and James Stewart, a privileged divorcee named Tracy (Hepburn) finds herself in an awkward position just days before her marriage to a blue-collar fiance George (John Howard). Known for being harsh and unforgiving of others' flaws, she is confronted with her own failings for the first time. While trying to fend off a society pages article written by a newspaper reporter (Grant) and photographer (Ruth Hussey), Tracy learns that life without flaws is no life at all. High Society used many of the lines from this film word-for-word. It was truly amazing how similar they were. I'd think they'd be embarrassed by the plagiarism, but I suppose they just call it a remake and be done with it. Despite my bias toward musicals, I have to say that The Philadelphia Story was tremendously better than High Society. At first I wasn't sure whether or not I liked Hepburn as Tracy, however, she began to grow on me because of her outstanding acting. Somehow she made the character more believable (and sympathetic) than Grace Kelly did. Even though much of the dialogue was the same, this movie was definitely more humorous. I think it had a lot to do with the quick deliveries from Stewart, the asides made by Grant and the sarcasm of Hussey. I really liked Hussey's character and have to say that she was quite beautiful. Despite not having a huge part her expressions, no matter how minute, conveyed so many feelings and emotions that she didn't really need to speak. I would definitely recommend this film over High Society.

Watch It: For the verbal swordplay between the main characters.

Skip It: If you'd rather have the singing of High Society because otherwise the plots are pretty much the same.

An Affair To Remember

Rating: Not Rated

Movie Release Date: July 11, 1957

DVD Release Date: February 4, 2003

Plot 411: After meeting on a ship, two lovers vow to meet in six months at the top of the Empire State Building.

Review: Cary Grant and Deborah Kerr are Nickie and Terry, two passengers on a large ship. They become friends and soon fall in love. However, they are both involved with other people so they promise to meet atop the Empire State Building in six months after wrapping up their affairs. On the fateful day of their meeting, Terry is hit by a car and taken to the hospital. Nickie is unaware and thinks she has just decided not to meet him. Is love strong enough to overcome pride? This is probably one of my favorite movies of all time. Grant and Kerr are so wonderful in this film. The film takes your heart and soul on an excruciating journey that twists you up and turns you upside down. The movie is powerful and heartbreaking. It really has you cheering for the pair to reconcile, especially after such a terrible ordeal.

Watch It: Snuggled up close to the one you love.

Skip It: If you'd like a modern take on it in Sleepless In Seattle.

His Girl Friday

Rating: Not Rated

Movie Release Date: January 18, 1940

DVD Release Date: November 21, 2000

Plot 411: When his ex-wife and best reporter informs him that she's engaged to be married, newspaper editor Walter Burns stops at nothing to keep her in the city.

Review: When Hildy Johnson (Rosalind Russell) informs her ex-husband and former boss Walter Burns (Cary Grant) that she's to be married the following day, the rapid-fire newspaper editor creates all kinds of diversions to keep her from leaving. He entices her to stay by dangling the opportunity to write one last breaking story in front of her. Walter generates all kinds of obstacles for Hildy and her fiance Bruce Baldwin (Ralph Bellamy) in an effort to prevent her from leaving him and the newspaper business. He knows that the quiet life she claims to desire isn't really what will make her happy. Hijinks abound as Hildy tries to get the story on an accused murder who is scheduled to be hanged in the morning. This is one of the best movies I've seen in a long time. The dialogue is simply marvelous as all the characters have a wicked tongue and spit fire back and forth. Russell and Grant are an invincible tag team that just rolls from one line to the next. They talk over each other and yet you're still able to understand what they're saying. The verbal tennis match is engaging and the lines are witty. While I'm sure the dialogue is the highlight of this film, the plot is actually pretty entertaining as well. It keeps you on the edge of your seat wanting to know what will happen next. The unbelievable headlines and stories that the other reporters relay to their respective papers over the phone are hilarious and comment on the state of ethics and journalism during this time period. I also loved how the character of Hildy is of a strong woman. She's seen as one of the guys, which is uplifting especially during a time when women were relegated to gossip columnists.

Watch It: For the verbal gymnastics routine and the poetry of Grant and Russell.

Skip It: If you're looking for any kind of real action. The movie's about an accused murderer but he's merely a plot device for the surrounding action.

Bringing Up Baby

Rating: Not Rated

Movie Release Date: February 18, 1938

DVD Release Date: March 1, 2005

Plot 411: A paleontologist chasing a million dollar endowment gets sidetracked when he meets a true free spirit and his world is turned upside down.

Review: Holy cow, this was the funniest movie I've seen in forever! It was totally unexpected. You really gotta pay attention to the lines because they're so clever and witty. They're also spoken really quickly by Katharine Hepburn, who plays Susan Vance, a free-spirited woman who meets a bumbling scientist named David Huxley (Cary Grant). Better than the plot itself is the banter between Hepburn and Grant. Awesome! Grant's many exasperated expressions are simply priceless. During one of his many moments of frustration I thought perhaps he might be overdoing it, but I think I've got to reconsider. To me, Grant is almost unrecognizable as Huxley because I'm used to seeing him as the suave male lead. This time he really took the backseat to Hepburn's antics. She is hysterical and at some points completely absurd. She's annoyingly good at portraying this character who lives in the moment and just follows her gut regardless of anything or anyone else. Huxley first encounters Vance while on the golf course trying to woo a donation out of the representative of a rich woman. Vance then tries to drive away in this Huxley's car and does so with him hanging onto the running boards. The hijinks just proceed from there - slipping on an escaped olive, tearing of tux tails, shielding the backside of a torn dress and a special gift of a live leopard. Huxley's day goes from bad to worse and I loved every minute of it.

Watch It: For the best verbal sparring in decades. I almost feel like I need to watch this film again to make sure I got all the jokes.

Skip It: If after about 15 minutes of Vance you become completely unhinged. Yes, she is pretty maddening and will only get worse as the movie progresses.