High Society (1956)

This witty, musical version of The Philadelphia Story stars Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra, and the jazz master himself, Louis Armstrong, playing the hottest trumpet in the land. Year: 1956 Director: Charles Waters Starring: Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Louis Armstrong

NO WHERE AS GOOD AS THE ORIGIONAL

This is a whimsical musical remake of The Philadelphia Story. As I am sure you know, unless you are a complete classic film idiot!! Although, I love all the players in this film, in their proper rolls, this is not the right movie to remake. It is a complete insult to the amazing performances of Carey Grant, Katherine Hepburn, and James Stewart. First of all, Grace Kelly cannot even begin to pull off the tenacity of Hepburn. Her facade is totally forced and Bing seems completely out of place in this premature attempt at glory. I cannot believe that Cole Porter wasted his time and energy on such a unlikely cast. However beautifully Crosby's singing, this film is no where near it's predicesor. Skip this and watch the origional, the way it was intended. July 31, 2008

"The Philedelphia Story" - the musical

On the eve of heiress, Tracy Lord's (Grace Kelly), second wedding, Tracy's neighbour and first husband, C.K. Dexter-Haven (Bing Crosby), as well as two tabloid reporters (Frank Sinatra and Celeste Holm) show up and cause Tracy to "step down from the pedestal" that she has placed herself on.

If you've seen "The Philadelphia Story", then you already know the basic plot of "High Society". "High Society" is just a less-dark version of "The Philadelphia Story" with Cole Porter songs scattered throughout. Most people seem to consider "The Philadelphia Story" to be the better of the two movies. However, for my family and I, "High Society" is the film that we keep finding ourselves going back to. My main problem with "The Philadelphia Story" is that I just didn't feel that Katherine Hepburn or Cary Grant did a very good job. Both of them are excellent actors in other films, but in "The Philadelphia Story", I just felt like they "phoned in" their performances, particularly Grant who seemed unusually wooden. On the other hand, in "High Society", Kelly and Crosby seemed to put a lot more effort into their acting. "High Society" is also the lighter of the two films (one thing that I will say in favour of "The Philadelphia Story" is that James Stewart is wonderfully dark and far surpasses Frank Sinatra in "High Society" in that respect), which makes for a much more fun film, and it has the songs in it. Although this is not my favourite Cole Porter musical (that honour goes to "Kiss Me Kate"), I am a big fan of the songs "Who Wants To Be a Millionaire" and "Well, Did You Evah?" and now know the just about all the lyrics to the latter.

I am sure that my writing this review will result in me gaining a great deal of negative feedback (if anyone actually reads it). Please keep in mind when reading this review that this is just my personal opinion and that many people out there have opinions that are more or less the exact opposite of mine. The bottom line is that both "The Philadelphia Story" and "High Society" are films that are well worth watching at least once so that you can have your own opinion as to which is the better of the two and I highly recommend that anyone who reads this review does just that.
June 17, 2008

High Society

The item was exactly as discribed and arrived in good condition. I would gladly buy from this seller again...anytime! May 31, 2008

Champagne for the Masses

"High Society" (1956), a champagne musical comedy-romance, has all the earmarks of the 1959's Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer musical that it is: saturated color, the best score money could buy -- an original by the immortal American composer Cole Porter; the best cast money could hire -- Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, Grace Kelly, Celeste Holm, Louis Calhern, Sidney Blackmer; and Louis Armstrong and his band handily playing themselves.

"High Society" is, of course, a musical remake of "The Philadelphia Story," first a play by Philip Barry, written expressly for its star, Katherine Hepburn; then, as rewritten for the screen by Donald Ogden Stewart, a movie that famously revitalized Hepburn's Hollywood career. And "Philadelphia Story" is a movie for the ages, directed by the light-fingered George Cukor, co-starring the incomparable Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart, and Ruth Hussey.

As rewritten for the musical version by John Patrick, the story is moved from Philadelphia to Newport, Rhode Island, the better to incorporate the Newport Jazz Festival, Louis Armstrong and Co., and the character played by Bing Crosby, society jazzman C. K. Dexter-Haven. Charles Walters's direction is unfortunately plodding. Some of the dialogue is enjoyably snappy, some of it sounds dated, but who's familiar with current high society speak? Still, it's doubtful that Paris Hilton talks this way. Nevertheless. the film's cast is wonderful for what it is. But it surely isn't Hepburn/Grant/Stewart/Hussey.

Beautiful society girl Tracy Samantha Lords (Kelly) is about to marry irreproachable George Kittredge (John Lund). But her ex-husband, Dexter-Haven, elegantly played by Crosby, is on the scene to try to prevent it -- and incidentally participate in the jazz festival. Louis Calhern plays Tracy's dirty old Uncle Willie; Sidney Blackmer plays her equally philandering father Seth Lord. "Spy" magazine sends two journalists to cover the event: reporter Mike Connor (Sinatra); photographer Liz Imbrie (Holm). Various flirtations ensue before the obligatory happy MGM pairings-off. However, to me at least, the Holm character appears too old and plain to win Sinatra's - but maybe that's just the result of knowing too much about Sinatra in real life.

The score's sparkling, superb, let's face it, swelegant, and was tailored to his stars' abilities by Porter. The platinum-selling "True Love" is carried by Crosby, but Kelly got a couple of notes in her limited range, and thus also a platinum record. Sinatra and Holm romp through "Who Wants To Be a Millionaire?" Crosby and Armstrong have a ball with "You Has Jazz." Sinatra gets a lovely ballad, "You're Sensational," with which to serenade Kelly. And, most famously, Crosby and Sinatra, at the top of their forms, duet on "What a Swell Party This Is." It's champagne for the masses, folks.
January 8, 2008

Bing and Grace

If you liked the movie The Philadelphia Story you'll like this musical version with Bing, Grace Kelly and Louis Armstrong. Bing croones, Grace looks beautiful and Louie sings and of course plays his trumpet along with his band. This was the last movie that Grace Kelly made before she left show business to become princess Grace of Monacco. The music and lyrics are by Cole Porter so you know they will be good. December 28, 2007

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