Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1530 in DVD
• Released on: 2003-05-26
• Rating: Universal, suitable for all
• Number of discs: 1
• Format: PAL
• Original language: English
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 103 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
MGM's bold idea to remake George Cukor's Oscar-winning upper-class romantic farce, The Philadelphia Story, into a star-studded technicolor musical with Cole Porter tunes somehow works splendidly and remains an underrated gem. Even the plot and character names--and some bits of dialogue--all remain the same as the original. Crooning Bing Crosby replaces Cary Grant as the wealthy ex-husband trying to win back his soon-to-be-remarried ex-wife, spoiled ice queen Tracy Lord (Grace Kelly, stunning and aloof in her last film role, originated in the earlier comedy by Katherine Hepburn). Unlike Grant, however, Crosby has jazz great Louis Armstrong, playing himself, in his corner for quixotic persuasion. Frank Sinatra (cocky in James Stewart's former role) and Celeste Holm add support as the nosy reporters covering, and subsequently complicating, the upcoming wedding. Sure, High Society lacks the original's witty satire, sarcasm and character complexity; but it's assuredly paced and wonderfully acted, and contains enough romantic chemistry to keep the plot engaging. And then there's the music. Unlike the grandiose production numbers of many 40s and 50s musicals, High Society's musical sequences are considerably low-key and intimate, focusing on Porter's lyrical content and the style in which it's delivered by the charismatic performers. Armstrong kicks the film off in telling style: he sings the title track, a calypso tune outlining the plot like a Greek chorus--not as an elaborately choreographed song-and-dance number, but instead stuffed claustrophobically in the back of a limousine with his jazz band. Other musical standouts include Sinatra and Crosby playfully tossing barbs during "Well, Did You Evah?"; Crosby and Armstrong teaming up for an energetic clash of styles in "Now You Has Jazz"; the two soaring, archetypal ballads by the leads--Crosby's "I Love You, Samantha" and Sinatra's superior "You're Sensational"; and, finally, the satirical Sinatra/Holm duet, "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?", the closest High Society ever comes to social or class-commentary. --Dave McCoy, Amazon.com

Special Features
* Cole Porter In Hollywood: True Love
* Millionaire Droopy (1956 MGM short)
* Gala Premiere for High Society
* Radio Ads
* Theatrical Trailer
Aspect Ratio
Anamorphic Widescreen 1.85:1
Audio Mono (1.0)
Languages: English, French, Italian
Subtitles: English, French, Italian, Arabic, Dutch, Danish
Hearing Impaired: English, Italian

Synopsis
Porter adds the tunes and Sinatra adds the ring-a-ding to this swinging musical remake of The Philadelphia Story. A prim socialite (Kelly in her last role before becoming Her Serene Highness) finds herself in a the middle of a comic mess when her ex-husband (Crosby) and an amorous reporter (Sinatra) come to cover the preparations for her upcoming wedding. Adding to the tension is her skirt-chasing father, who's also returned home for the ceremony. The resulting confusion--and several potent drinks--melt the ice princess's frosty exterior. It isn't long before she sees through her society-climbing fiancee, and warms up again to her crooning jazz musician ex-husband. Rare chance to see rivals Crosby and Sinatra together. Includes such hit numbers as 'True Love', 'You're Sensational', and 'Did You Evah'. The film garnered three Academy Award Nominations including Best Motion Picture Story.

Customer Reviews

Pure escapist elegance
Next time you have a rainy afternoon to spend with a box of chocs and a video, you can't do better than this. If you hanker for a time when everyone was elegant, witty and blessed with a honeyed voice, this is for you. The music is, of course, the main focus; but there's some brilliant acting going on here as well.

Smashing.

"Sensational"
Even if you were to hate the plot (improbable), the actors (imposible) and the set (implausable) you'd LOVE the music. Songs like the Armstrong-Crosby "Now we has jazz" and even the Crosby "I love you, Samantha" warm you right to the soul.
Not many films can boast such an amazing cast with Crosby as the love-struck ex-husband, Sinatra as the distraction and Kelly as the focus of all their attention as well as Armstrong (playing himself) providing excellent music, as only he could. The characters work extremely well together as the witty dialoge flits effortlessly from one to the other allowing the audience to easily keep up with the quick-moving plot.
They certainly don't make films like this anymore,nor should they try as, in the words of Bing in the movie, they'd "never be able to follow it".

Simply Swell!
Just released on DVD format, this fabulous musical remake of George Cukor's The Philadelphia Story (1940) sees Grace Kelly in her last ever film role before crossing the pond to marry into the Monaco monarchy (she even wore her actual engagement ring in the movie).

Kelly plays the spoilt heiress Tracy Samantha Lord, a rather icy perfectionist (this generation would say 'control freak'), who is due to marry the stuffy George Kitteridge (John Lund) when her ex-husband C K Dexter-Haven (Bing Crosby), unexpectedly turns up... Still in love with her, he puts in place a subtle plan to win back her heart. Throw in an incorrigible little sister, a playboy dad, a couple of snoops from Spy magazine, Louis Armstrong (as himself) and buckets of champagne... and now you has jazz!

With a witty script and quite the line-up (it was the first time Crosby and Frank Sinatra, playing Spy magazine reporter, appeared on screen together), the romantic comedy is carried by one of Cole Porter's best - and one of his last - musical scores which includes Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?, Well, Did You Evah?, Now You Has Jazz, and Kelly and Crosby's moving duet True Love.

Rarely are remakes a patch on the original but in this case High Society is an exception. That said, however, The Philadelphia Story - with an equally strong cast that includes Katherine Hepburn, Cary Grant and James Stewart - is as swell a party...

Like most rereleases of older movies onto DVD, what actually makes you update your video copy are the bonus features. This version includes a short documentary on 'the making of...', narrated by Celeste Holm (born 1919, who played Spy magazine photographer). Although it makes for entertaining viewing (throwing up little snippets such as how Kelly's father warned Prince Rainier of Monaco before they got married she was a crap driver), one can't help thinking that someone cruelly substituted Holm's oxygen tank with helium. Which is slightly distracting. Other special features are a nostalgic newsreel of the film's 1956 première, the original theater trailer and, rather bizarrely, 'Millionaire Droopy', a five-minute cartoon about two dogs (Spike and Droopy) battling over an inheritance, which uh... has absolutely no relevance to High Society at all.

Overall verdict? Thoroughly entertaining and an absolute must for fans of classic musicals and all that jazz...