The Philadelphia Story (1940)

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. (imdb)
Cast and Information
Directed By: George Cukor
Written By: Donald Ogden Stewart, Philip Barry
Starring: James Stewart, Cary Grant, Roland Young, Katharine Hepburn, John Howard, John Halliday, Henry Daniell, Virginia Weidler, Ruth Hussey, Mary Nash, Dorothy Fay
Country: USA
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The Philadelphia Story belongs to 79 collections
1. 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die (collaborative: moderated by kozan26 - 234 stars)
2. IMDB Top 250 (collaborative: moderated by ppinocchio - 123 stars)
3. Academy Award - Oscar - Best Picture and Nominees (collaborative: moderated by smviper00 - 44 stars)
4. They Shoot Pictures 1,000 Greatest Films (2008 revision) (collaborative: moderated by Scottathon - 39 stars)
5. Empire's 500 Greatest Movies Of All Time (public: Ross - 36 stars)
6. New York Times' The Best 1,000 Movies Ever Made (collaborative: moderated by theficionado - 32 stars)
7. Rotten Tomatoes - over 95% (collaborative: moderated by Pickpocket - 32 stars)
8. They Shoot Pictures 1,000 Greatest Films (2010 revision) (collaborative: moderated by MMAlpha - 32 stars)
9. National Film Registry (collaborative: moderated by PeaceAnarchy - 30 stars)
10. The Guardian's 1000 films to see before you die (collaborative: moderated by PeaceAnarchy - 30 stars)
11. AFI 100 (collaborative: moderated by PeaceAnarchy - 27 stars)
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31. AFI 100 Years... 100 Laughs (collaborative: moderated by iceblox - 8 stars)
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38. Best of Classic Old Hollywood (pre-70s) (collaborative: moderated by 90sCoffee - 6 stars)
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45. Criterion Collection (Blu-ray and 4K) (public: PepeCamello - 3 stars)
46. Katharine Hepburn's Oscar Nominations (collaborative: moderated by CCLZA - 2 stars)
47. AFI - 10 Top 10 Romantic Comedies (collaborative: moderated by CCLZA - 2 stars)
48. IMDb Top of The 1940's (collaborative: moderated by PeaceAnarchy - 2 stars)
49. Romantic Comedy (collaborative - 1 star)
50. Philadelphia (collaborative: moderated by djross - 1 star)
51. Sight and Sound 2002 (Single Vote) (collaborative: moderated by PeaceAnarchy - 1 star)
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Browse the full list of collections
Stars | User | Rating | |
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Tjekhov | 70 69th |
Jimmy stewart just crashed the top five of people I would have liked to have a drink with.
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Pickpocket | 1 12th |
For some reason this is on all of the best of and must see lists but it really is undeserving. Probably hailed as a classic more for its seasoned director and all star cast then anything else. It's just not funny at all. Jimmy Stewart is good but that's about it. It's really a chore to sit through this movie. Incredibly dated.
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twincinema | 70 53rd |
Uh, 1940 was a wild time. The horny uncle was something else.
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KasperL | 85 93rd |
A terrific romantic comedy with a love triangle to die for. James Stewart plays drunk brilliantly. But then again, he's always brilliant.
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BattleToad | 99 99th |
With outstanding performances across the board, this is possibly the best romantic comedy to of all time. The screenplay and dialogue are incredible. It's very funny, and the romance seems quite real. No less should be expected from James Stewart, Katherine Hepburn, and Cary Grant. It's absolutely amazing. Awesome!
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closer_ | 94 99th |
It is fantastic .. Before Julia Robets there was Katherine Hepburn. She steals the movie !
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mattorama12 | 55 24th |
Some enjoyable parts. The characters were likeable but it wasn't really compelling. I never really cared who she ended up with, which is a definite flaw.
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strumpus | 88 93rd |
Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart and Katherine Hepburn in the same cast list. What's not to like?
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SlrSoapbox | 90 92nd |
A great comedy that was ahead of its time.
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Moribunny | 20 9th |
As I watch this I envision a "laugh" prompt lighting up on every other line of the dialogue. With its incessant chatter it tries desperately to be funny and fails miserably, repeatedly. In its desperation it sinks as low as to steal a song from a yesteryear Marx Brothers movie. I can't help but surmise that the continued popularity of a comedy so dull is owed to the popularity of the leads.
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1 | Sapphire | 95 95th |
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This is THE quintessential Katharine Hepburn role & it's also one of her finest performances. She's an absolute goddess in this. She has all kinds of gorgeous men chasing after her - & who can blame them? Oh, yeah...Cary Grant & Jimmy Stewart are along for the ride as well.
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Nathan S | 3 45th |
Consistently amusing, occasionally laugh-out-loud hilarious, and always very watchable. The three leads are good, of course, but it reaches its greatest heights when Stewart is on screen. Still, I don't feel quite as strongly for it as its glowing reputation might suggest.
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Farzan | 90 89th |
Really funny at times. One of the best romantic comedies. Stewart, Grant, and Hepburn all perform amazingly. Should not be missed.
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Stain | 0 8th |
Too cute
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sebby | 40 15th |
Shockingly dull given the talent of the two leading men. Hepburn was given way too much creative control; Cukor was a poor choice to helm the film. Jimmy Stewart singing "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" is worth, let's say, +40 points to the score.
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AnnMovie | 90 61st |
A charming classic! This was much better than I'd anticipated, fun, funny, and thoughtful. A great film to watch, if for nothing else than the wonderful acting of Stewart and Grant! The scene with the two of them is such a delight! Some of the other acting could have been better, but overall it was a charming film!
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1 | cestmoi | 100 92nd |
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Loved it! Comedy classic.
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Luna6ix | 73 44th |
Having three acting behemoths like Stewart, Grant, and Hepburn is a big downer, because every time one is taken off screen I want them back immediately. The story isn't of the quality I would have expected and its execution isn't great on anybody's part except the acting. The only part of this movie that even got me to chuckle was the end, but still two hours of Stewart and Grant is never a waste of time.
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JakeAesthete | 83 83rd |
The ending felt unearned, but drunk Jimmy Stewart was great...
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Jeb | 95 87th |
The touchstone of romantic comedies and a criterion for screenplays which even today has not been exceeded. All of the three leads unsuccessfully try to surpass one another in the beginning, but somewhere in their Katharine Hepburn wins you over with her allurement, desireability and seductiveness. James Stewart and Cary Grant should also not be missed. While the attempted humor is not only dated but uneventful, The Philadelphia Story still is an extraordinary film.
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1 | Ranald | 55 24th |
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Dated and fairly slight, but quite fun for what it is.
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chemical404 | 91 99th |
My favorite romantic comedy of all time! It is witty, elegant, smart... The cast couldn't be better. Hepburn was a surprise, her acting is much better than in other films I've seen. I find it impossible to pick my favorite Steward's performance, but this is a strong contender. The afterparty scene with Hepburn and Steward took my breath away. These 10 minutes are perfect.
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PhantomZone | 94 91st |
One of the great acted films of any era. Hepburn shines and is backed up brilliantly by Grant and Stewart.
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1 | nunstrangler | 100 95th |
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Classic comedy, with trio of Hepburn, Grant, and Stewart all serving aces.
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Jgirl2688 | 97 89th |
I love the dialogue in this movie, and the performances are all wonderful.
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1 | DolphinSpurs | 100 97th |
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My, how this script is yar. A must watch. The crackling, whip-smart script provides excellent fodder for Katherine Hepburn, Cary Grant and a young Jimmy Stewart to play to their strengths. Grant is irascible as the charming hero secretly pining for his ex-wife who is set to marry again. Hepburn, notably written about as a cold, unapproachable star seems to take the words to heart when the same is said about her character. Every actor delivers here. One of cinema's classic stories.
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mwgerb | 65 77th |
The 1940s equivalent of a raunchy rom-com, though it's not as raunchy today; it's definitely a product of its times. This is pure classic Hollywood, full of veiled innuendos, soft lighting, well-written dialog, and high caliber stars. Speaking of, drunk Jimmy Stewart is one of the greatest things I've ever seen.
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billkerwin | 92 89th |
A good play, well-filmed with a classic cast.
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1 | bluebobs | 89 96th |
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Even though I have only recently seen thisfilm for the first time, it may well have become one of my favourites. Both Katherine Hepburn and James Stewart shine in this film.
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1 | waddayanuts | 84 94th |
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Stewart, Grant and Hepburn all brought their A games here. In their company you can be sure to have a great time. Sit back and enjoy!
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Ununnilium | 92 92nd |
It has complex characters and emotional intensity. I still want to stab the dad, but mostly, it's a story about different people realizing that they need to imagine each other more complexly. (And Virginia Weidler as Dinah Lord is hilarious, I will brook no argument on this.)
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ribcage | 99 99th |
thoughtful, clever dialogue. great characters and great acting. some really powerful scenes.
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chmul_cr0n | 79 88th |
Just darn great.
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1 | PUNQ | 90 99th |
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Untouchable cast! Ace writing! Brilliant acting! Impeccable style! Nothing more is needed to be said. It's The Philadelphia Story (1940)!
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Average Percentile 69.02% from 1817 Ratings | ![]() |