Movie Monday: The Philadelphia Story (1940)
Oh The Philadelphia Story! This was the movie that made me question who was the better Hepburn: Audrey or Katherine? Of course, Katherine Hepburn was labeled box office poison for many years until Phillip Barry wrote a screenplay specifically for Hepburn, that play is what became The Philadelphia Story. Katherine Hepburn was so taken with this play that she made the impassioned decision to forgo a salary and fund the whole stage production out of her personal funds. However, being the savvy business women that she was, Hepburn did receive a significant portion of the profits from the huge success that this play became.
Katherine Hepburn soon realized the kind of box office hit she potentially had on her hands! So she bought the rights to The Philadelphia Story, convinced Louis B. Mayer of MGM to fund her project, and chose the men she wanted playing her opposites. Now that is what I call an empowered female!
These photos are not mine.
I just love how Katherine Hepburn was her own woman and never let anyone else’s opinion get in her way. Just imagine the kind of criticism she received after wearing these pants as a woman of 1940! That must have been tough, but she never let it get her down. That drive and passion is what makes her such a legendary figure in classic cinema. Plus, you can’t forget about all of the amazing work, pre-code and post-code.
Back to what I was saying, when it comes to picking between Audrey Hepburn and Katherine Hepburn, I just can’t do it. They are both so inspirational and impressive to me! Both for the boundaries they broke, and simply for their body of work they each produced throughout their lifetimes.
These photos are not mine.
We can’t ignore the talented men in The Philadelphia Story! This film adds to the repertoire of films James Stewart starred in before he was called to serve in the United States military. This role was a little unconventional for him since, in my opinion, he wasn’t necessarily the leading man that Cary Grant was made to be in this story. Especially since Stewart had just come off a year so fantastic he received and Oscar nomination for Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Maybe that is what James Stewart wanted, though? His career certainly was never a boring one, and he later make such a big come back that some of his most iconic films would come out of the second half of his career as an actor!
Cary Grant, on the other hand, had already made several films with Katherine Hepburn by this time such as Sylvia Scarlett and Bringing Up Baby. Although Grant and Hepburn had a history together, he would only make The Philadelphia Story if he received top billing and was paid $135,000 that he would later donate to the British War Relief Fund.
These photos are not mine.
The fashion in this film would easily transition into today’s popular styles. The ruffled and gingham skirt Hepburn wore, the dress pictured above that everyone kept referring to her as a goddess while she was wearing it (let’s be honest, it is a stunning dress), and the strong shoulders in the suits the men and women wore all would be a smashing hit on the modern runways. Also, surprisingly there have been a couple of celebrities who have worn a bathrobe dress on the red carpet so even the bathrobes worn in the pool scene would probably be a success today!
These photos are not mine.
Fun fact: this picture above is the photo I use as the wallpaper on my laptop! I love it because it looks like they are always surprised to see me when I open the lid! Haha!!
In the words of Katherine Hepburn, “If you obey all the rules, you miss all the fun.”
Until next time next…
Much Love,
Sarah
