Quartile rating: 8/10 · 1 rating
When a rich woman's ex-husband and a tabloid-type reporter turn up just before her planned remarriage, she begins to learn the truth about herself.
The Philadelphia Story is a pinnacle of the screwball comedy genre. Its plot is a masterclass in comic construction — the overlapping romantic triangles, the probing of class and self-knowledge, all clicking into place with precision. The acting is genuinely exceptional: Hepburn, Grant, and Stewart form one of Hollywood's great ensembles, with Stewart's Oscar-winning turn particularly electric. Cinematography is polished studio craft — competent and elegant but not especially distinctive. Novelty is above average for its era in how it handles the redemption arc of its 'goddess' protagonist, though it works within a well-established screwball framework. The ending is among the most satisfying in classical Hollywood comedy, pulling every thread together with wit and emotional honesty.