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Philadelphiastory

The Philadelphia Story.

The Philadelphia Story is a 1940 film.

Cast[]

Singing roles[]

  • James Stewart - Macaulay "Mike" Connor
  • Virginia Weidler - Dinah Lord

Non-singing roles[]

  • Cary Grant - C.K. Dexter Haven
  • Katharine Hepburn - Tracy Samantha Lord
  • Ruth Hussey - Elizabeth Imbrie
  • Roland Young - Uncle Willie
  • Mary Nash - Margaret Lord

Plot[]

Tracy Lord is the elder daughter of a wealthy Philadelphia Main Line socialite family. She was married to C.K. Dexter Haven, a yacht designer and member of her social set, but divorced him two years prior, because, according to her father, he does not measure up to the standards she sets for all her friends and family: He drank too much for her taste, and, according to him, as she became critical of him, he drank more. Now, she is about to marry nouveau riche "man of the people" George Kittredge. Their only interaction while married, the film's opening scene, is her breaking his golf clubs and pushing her to the ground.

Cut to New York -Spy magazine publisher Sidney Kidd is eager to cover the wedding, and assigns reporter Macaulay "Mike" Connor and photographer Liz Imbrie. He can get them into the affair with the assistance of Dexter Haven, who has been working for Spy in South America. Dexter tells Kidd that he will introduce them as friends of Tracy's brother Junius (a U.S. diplomat in Argentina). But, Tracy is not fooled, but Dexter tells her that Kidd has threatened the reputation of her family with an innuendo-laden article about her father's affair with a dancer. Tracy deeply resents her father's infidelity, which has caused her parents to live separately. But, to protect her family's reputation, she agrees to let Mike and Liz stay and cover her wedding.

Dexter is welcomed back with open arms by Tracy's mother Margaret and teenage sister Dinah, much to Tracy's frustration. She soon discovers that Mike has admirable qualities, and even seeks out his book of short stories in the public library. As the wedding nears, she finds herself torn between her fiancé George, Dexter, and Mike.

The night before the wedding, Tracy gets drunk for only the second time in her life and takes an innocent midnight swim with Mike. When George sees Mike carrying an intoxicated Tracy into the house afterward, he assumes the worst. The next day, he tells her that he was shocked and feels entitled to an explanation before going ahead with the wedding. Yet, she admits she really has none, and realizes that he does not really know her at all. He has loved her as a perfect, ideal - a virginal statue - not as a human being and so she breaks off the engagement. Then she realizes that all the guests have arrived and are waiting for the ceremony to begin. Mike volunteers to marry her (much to Liz's distress), but she graciously declines. She also realizes her own imperfections and criticalness towards others. Then, Dexter, who clearly planned to get her back all along, offers to marry her again, and she gladly accepts.

Musical numbers[]

  • "Lydia, the Tattooed Lady" - Dinah
  • "Over the Rainbow" - Mike Connor
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