The Philadelphia Story (film)

Katharine Hepburn: Tracy Lord
Cary Grant: C.K. Dexter Haven
James Stewart Macaulay "Mike" Connor
Ruth Hussey: Liz Imbrie
John Howard: George Kittredge
Roland Young: Uncle Willie
John Halliday: Seth Lord
Mary Nash: Margaret Lord
Virginia Weidler: Dinah Lord
Henry Daniell: Sidney Kidd
Lionel Pape: Edward Butler
David Clyde: Mac the night watchman

The night before the wedding ( Original title: The Philadelphia Story) is an American screwball comedy from 1940 The film is based on the Broadway comedy of the same name by Philip Barry, who also played in the Katharine Hepburn starred. . He is considered a classic of the screwball comedies and as a climax in the work of Katharine Hepburn. The night before the wedding is also the only film in which the two Hollywood legends Cary Grant and James Stewart appear together.

Action

The upper crust of Philadelphia: The rich, unapproachable Tracy Lord is preparing for the wedding with the climber George Kittredge. Her ex- husband Dexter removed the two scandal reporter Mike Connor and Liz Imbrie as a supposed friend of her absent brother into her house to secretly report of the celebration. Dexter was to blackmailed by Kidd, the unscrupulous editor of the tabloid Spy magazine - it should not cooperate, this threatens a dirty story about Tracy's father and his relationship to publish a showgirl. Dexter sees this as the opportunity to take revenge on Tracy, who had him at the time shown the door.

When Mike and Liz appear with Dexter on the day before the wedding in Tracy's house, they thought instinctively that Dexter's "friends" in reality, reporter, and confronts Dexter with it, the out puts a short war of words with the truth and told her about the blackmail. Reluctantly, Tracy gives in and lets the two grant.

The evening before the wedding, a large ball is celebrated Tracy drinking contrary to their habits of alcohol and suddenly discovered sympathy for the young reporter Mike Connor, who - just drunk - Dexter reveals that he is in love with Tracy. Together they concoct the plan to oust newspaper publisher Kidd with an article about his machinations, so he drops the story about Tracy's father and waives an article about the wedding.

The swimming pool of the Lords then Mike Tracy confesses his love, but waived it as a gentleman to seduce the hopelessly drunken Tracy. When the two are found the next morning by George and Dexter, it comes to a hair to a brawl among the three rivals, and George throws his fiance of having betrayed him.

Immediately prior to the wedding ceremony itself Tracy therefore decides against the marriage with George. When Mike offered as a substitute, Tracy rejects it as well, because they know that Liz is in love with him. So it ultimately comes to (re ) marriage of Tracy and Dexter, with Mike and Liz as witnesses.

Background

After the movie Bringing Up does not kiss, although it is today considered a classic, but then flopte at the box office, was Hepburn's career in great danger. Since it was considered box-office poison in Hollywood, she retreated to Broadway and played among other things, in the same piece. With the idea of a film based on the play, she returned to Hollywood. We asked her known performer to the side, including Cary Grant, with whom she kisses already in leopard had not played. Many predicted a failure and the end of Hepburn's career, but the film was a great success and Hepburn for decades one of the leading actresses in Hollywood.

Synchronization

The German synchronous processing originated in 1949 at the MGM synchronization studio Berlin.

In this translation, there is a remarkable translation errors. Accepting the marriage proposal Tracy says: " ... I will be something of tacky ...", in allusion to the built by Dexter Haven boat. " Tacky " also means shabby, cheap or tasteless. In the film, but it is like a term with positive such as easy to steer, fast etc.. In the American version of the scene, the term " tacky " before does not come, there it is, instead, " yare ".

Reviews

" Brilliant example of the American, screwball comedy ' of the 30s, with hidden wit, social criticism, quick-witted dialogue and a glamorous occupation. " - Encyclopedia of the International film

" Even though the story now little more than delivering a hearty dialogue Abtausch, it is in this lineup and Cukor directing style simply wonderfully amusing. " - Frankfurter Rundschau, Frankfurt am Main

. " Funny comedy, staged beautifully by Cukor " ( Score: 4 stars = excellent) - Movies on TV

" Casual stage play with prominent guests. " - 6000 Movies 1963

Awards

The film won two Oscars: James Stewart was awarded best male lead, Don Stewart also adapted for Best Screenplay. Also nominated were Katharine Hepburn ( Best Actress ), Ruth Hussey (Best Supporting Actress ), George Cukor for best director and producer Joseph Mankiewicz for the best film.

Others

1956 template with Grace Kelly, Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra High Society (Original Title: High Society ) in the lead roles under the title of a new film as a musical. The plot essentially follows the original and varied, as in the figures, only in details.

DVD Release

The night before the wedding. Special Edition. (2 DVD set. ) Warner Home Video 2005

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