Rating summary

Movie		4.5
Video		4.5
Audio		4.5
Extras		5.0
Overall		4.5

The Philadelphia Story Blu-ray Movie Review

Reviewed by Dr. Svet Atanasov November 6, 2017

George Cukor's "The Philadelphia Story" (1940) arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion. The supplemental features on the disc include an original trailer for the film; lengthy archival episodes of The Dick Cavett show with Katharine Hepburn; audio commentary by film historian Jeanine Basinger; newly produced documentaries about the production history of the film; restoration demonstration; and more. The release also arrives with an 18-page illustrated booklet featuring critic Farran Smith Nehme's essay "A Fine, Pretty World" and technical credits. In English, with optional English SDH subtitles for the main feature. Region-A "locked".

George Cukor completed the The Philadelphia Story in 1940, approximately a year after Philip Barry’s famous play had opened on Broadway. Katharine Hepburn, who also starred in the theater production, was reportedly given the rights to the play as a gift by the legendary business magnate Howard Hughes and she agreed to make a film of it after MGM also agreed to let her choose her costars. There are a lot of fascinating stories about what Jimmy Stewart and Cary Grant were initially promised and how they came on board, and while there could be some truth in them, even the most popular ones seem rather suspicious.

The wealthy and very active socialite Tracy Lord (Katharine Hepburn) is getting ready to turn a new page in her life by marrying George Kittredge (John Howard), a hardworking and successful but hardly as energetic bachelor who frequently feels awkward at big social events. This would be Tracy’s second marriage with which she is also aiming to deliver a message -– which is that she is strong and can find happiness on her terms. It is very important to her because in her previous marriage to C. K. Dexter Haven (Cary Grant) she felt that she made too many compromises and ultimately allowed him to dictate what their relationships would look like. Now in her marriage to George the roles would be reversed.

While final preparations for the wedding are being made, however, the publisher of the popular Spy magazine dispatches two seasoned reporters, Mike Connor (James Stewart) and his longtime girlfriend Liz Imbrie (Ruth Hussey), to do an exclusive story with plenty of photos from what everyone expects will turn out to be one of the biggest social events of the year. The reporters are allowed in thanks to Dexter, also a Spy employee, who unexpectedly appears and introduces them as acquaintances of Tracy’s brother. The bride immediately figures out Dexter’s game, but is forced to cooperate when he threatens to publish an entirely different story about her father’s relationship with a much younger exotic dancer. Realizing that she is once again following rather than directing others how to follow her Tracy quickly amends her initial plan, but then gradually begins to realize that perhaps she is heading into yet another disastrous marriage but for different reasons.

The entire film is one big and hugely entertaining display of star power, and the best thing about it is that as it evolves it becomes very clear that the stars are actually getting inspired by each other’s brilliance. So this incredibly positive energy that emerges in front of the camera actually makes the spectacle even more attractive.

There are a few aspects of Tracy’s character development that look somewhat weak -- the entire segment where she has a few extra drinks and lets loose, for instance, seems questionable and actually hurts the film’s credibility -- but it is hard to imagine that without the exaggerated pretentiousness there would have been so many great contrasts. The other thing that should be said is that Hepburn’s performance is such that it basically becomes impossible to remain indifferent to her character, regardless of the reasons, and this is what ultimately makes it so special.

Stewart won an Oscar Award for his performance, but there is probably some truth in the old theory that he might have been compensated for losing a year earlier with Frank Capra’s Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Also, Grant is every bit as good, if not better, as Tracy’s mean ex-husband.

Charles Walters directed a remake of The Philadelphia Story in 1956 titled High Society with Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra, and Bing Crosby. After appearing in this film Kelly retired from acting.

The Philadelphia Story Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Presented in its original aspect ratio of 1.37:1, encoded with MPEG-4 AVC and granted a 1080p transfer, George Cukor's The Philadelphia Story arrives on Blu-ray courtesy of Criterion.

The following text appears inside the booklet provided with this Blu-ray release:

"This new digital transfer was created in a 16-bit 4K resolution on an ARRISCAN film scanner from a 35mm fine-grain positive, which was created from the 35mm nitrate original camera negative. The camera negative negative was lost in a fire in 1978, so this fine-grain is the best surviving element for the film. Warping of the entire element was the biggest challenge of this restoration; that and thousands of instances of dirt, debris, scratches, and splices were manually removed using MTI Film's DRS, while Digital Vision's Phoenix was used for jitter, flicker, small dirt, grain, and noise management. The original monaural soundtrack was remastered from a 35mm variable-density print. Clicks, thumps, hiss, hum, and crackle were manually removed using Pro Tools HD and iZotope RX.

Scanning: Kyle Alvut/George Eastman Museum, Rochester, NY.
Colorist: Lee Kline/Criterion Post, New York."

While there may have been many different serious challenges during the restoration process the entire film now looks vibrant and very healthy, the best that I have ever seen it look. There are a few segments where I felt that ideally depth and density should be even better -- these were mostly panoramic shots such as the one that I have captured in screencapture #15 -- but the entire film still has a very consistent overall appearance. The darker footage also conveys a wide range or proper and nicely balanced nuances (see screencaptures #19 and 20). Grain is properly exposed, and though ideally it should have a slightly better definition, there are no anomalies to report. Large debris, scratches, cuts, stains, warps, and other standard age-related imperfections have been carefully removed. Wonderful restoration. My score is 4.75/5.00. (Note: This is a Region-A "locked" Blu-ray release. Therefore, you must have a native Region-A or Region-Free player in order to access its content).

The Philadelphia Story Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

There is only one standard audio track on this Blu-ray release: English LCPM 1.0. Optional English SDH subtitles are provided for the main feature.

The audio is stable and clear. While viewing the film I noticed that in the upper register there could some slight thinness, occasionally evolving into extremely light background hiss, but there is nothing that will affect negatively your viewing experience. There is good depth. For a period film of the era, dynamic balance is also proper.

The Philadelphia Story Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

• Trailer - original trailer for The Philadelphia Story. In English, not subtitled. (4 min, 1080p).

• Restoration Demonstration - in this featurette, Lee Kline, technical director at Criterion, addresses some of the complex challenges that his team faced while restoring The Philadelphia Story. Also included are comments from Alyson D'Lando, restoration artist at the label, as visual examples and comparisons. In English, not subtitled. (7 min, 1080p).

• In Search of Tracy Lord - this brand new documentary examines the genesis of Katharine Hepburn's famous character, Tracy Lord, and some of the main qualities that define her. Included in it are new interviews with Miranda Barry, playwright Philip Barry's granddaughter, writer Donald Anderson (Shadowed Cocktails: The Plays of Philip Barry From Paris Bound to The Philadelphia Story), and Janny Scott, Edgar and Hope Scott's granddaughter, The documentary was produced exclusively for Criterion in 2017. In English, not subtitled. (23 min, 1080p).

• A Katharine Hepburn Production - in this brand new documentary, filmmakers David Heeley and Joan Kramer discuss the life and career of Katharine Hepburn and explain how The Philadelphia Story, the play and the film, essentially saved the latter after a series of serious disappointments at the box office. The documentary was produced exclusively for Criterion in 2017. In English, not subtitled. (19 min, 1080p).

• Katharine Hepburn on The Dick Cavett Show - presented here are two archival episodes of The Dick Cavett's talk show in which Katharine Hepburn discusses various phases of her career and how she was hired and fired by different people in the business, some of her greatest fears while performing, her appearance and style those she was expected to have on the stage and in front of the camera, her professional relationship with Spencer Tracy, some of the differences between English and American actors, etc. All of the material was recorded in October, 1973. In English, not subtitled.
  
  1. Episode One. (69 min, 1080i).
  2. Episode Two. (69 min, 1080i).

• George Cukor on The Dick Cavett - presented here is an excerpt from an archival episode of The Dick Cavett show in which director George Cukor discusses the disappearance of the 'Old Hollywood', his work with Catharine Hepburn, The Philadelphia Story and its lasting appeal, some of his failures, etc. The episode was filmed on May 18, 1978. In English, not subtitled. (15 min, 1080i).

• Lux Radio Theatre - presented here is a Lux Radio Theatre adaptation of The Philadelphia Story from 1943, featuring featuring an introduction by Cecil B. DeMille. Starring Loretta Young (Tracy Lord), Robert Taylor (C.K. Dexter Haven), Robert Young (Mike Connor), Roland Drew (George), Mary Lou Harrington (Dinah), Regina Wallace (Margaret), and Vicki Lang (Elizabeth). In English, not subtitled. (60 min, 1080p).

• Audio Commentary - in this audio commentary, film historian Jeanine Basinger discusses the origin and history of The Philadelphia Story, its brilliant narrative construction, the outstanding performances of the stars, etc. The commentary was recorded in 2004 and also appeared on the two-disc Special Edition DVD release that Warner Bros. produced.
  
  1. MGM's golden era
  2. Silent slapstick
  3. Katharine Hepburn and the play
  4. The Wrong Man
  5. Cary Grant in the middle
  6. James Stewart's performance
  7. A tailor-made role
  8. Art direction
  9. Ensemble comedy playing
  10. Opening up the play
  11. Reaction shots
  12. Hepburn and Grant
  13. Hepburn's Oscars
  14. Adrian
  15. "Slightly Drunk"
  16. Joseph Ruttenberg
  17. Joseph Mankiewicz
  18. Visual comedy
  19. A well-written scene
  20. Douglas Shearer's sound recording
  21. The curtain stays up
  22. George Cukor's style and pacing
  23. "A human goddess"

• Booklet - 18-page illustrated booklet featuring critic Farran Smith Nehme's essay "A Fine, Pretty World" and technical credits.

The Philadelphia Story Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

The Philadelphia Story is one big and hugely entertaining display of star power that has not lost any of its brilliance. The folks at Criterion recently restored the film in 4K, and I am glad that they also produced a special restoration program for this Blu-ray release that highlights the many complex challenges that they were presented with so that people can gain a better understanding and appreciation of the quality of their work. The new release also comes with an excellent selection of new and archival supplemental features, including two very illuminating episodes from The Dick Cavett show with Katharine Hepburn. VERY HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.