bombersflyup High Society is a unnecessary musical remake of "The Philadelphia Story."So I start watching and I'm thinking, I must have seen this before as I know everything that is happening, so I look up whether I have and I hadn't so I kept watching, only to soon realize this is "The Philadelphia Story." Damn that is annoying, as it is not labelled or in the introduction. I would never watch a remake of something I like. Anyway, if I had of seen this film first, I would of likely thought more of it but watching the exact same story and adding singalongs is really going to lower my opinion of it. I love Grace Kelly and Katharine Hepburn, so I'm not going to comment on the performance as it would be unfair to compare. Kelly is at her most alluring here though. Louis Armstrong is exceptional and that would be the one thing this film has over the original.

secondtake High Society (1956)You can see this movie as one of the last of the great silver screen musicals —and running out of originality and verve. Or you can enjoy Cole Porter brought down to a middle class sensibility (never mind the wealth of the characters here). Or you can just marvel at some great footage of Louis Armstrong, and at the inclusion a black jazz band as a centerpiece in a big budget movie.So there are reasons to give this movie a try, even though it is fairly slow going, and a pale shadow of the original, the truly great 1940 "Philadelphia Story." Grace Kelly plays the leading woman about to be married, and she lacks the cool stony quality that Hitchcock wisely taps and instead tries to be a lively, witty, physically lithe leading lady. Just like Katherine Hepburn? Yes, except she's no Katherine Hepburn, and it all feels a bit striving.Likewise for Bing Crosby, who plays a laid back guy who happens to have a jazz band (and who does a good swinging song with Louis and crew alongside). He isn't quite screen magic—that is, he's no Cary Grant. Frank Sinatra is fine, but he has a smaller role. Alas.And so it goes. Brightly lit, with big flashy Technicolor set design, the mood throughout is upbeat and fun and funny. And so it's not a bad thing to view. But if you take at all seriously the contention of one man interceding on the groom for his ex-bride, whatever the Hays Code strategy, it just lacks edge and conviction. Cole Porter doesn't let us down, so there's always that!

stephen-lambe An average of 7 out of 10? With Sinatra at the height of his powers and THOSE songs?Most of the lower scores for this film are from people who get hung up about the fact that this is a lesser remake of the brilliant Philadelphia Story. My advice would be to look on that film as separately as you can. In terms of plot, script and (to a lesser extent) performance this is indeed a simplification. Tracey's "arc" seems clunkier and more hurried and Crosby loses so much romantic screen time to Sinatra that when the final romantic denouement happens you think "where did THAT come from".BUT - it still works just fine and the songs are simply..er..sensational. Grace Kelly is lovely and funny even if there is a bit of a Katherine Hepburn impersonation going on, and Sinatra delivers the funniest lines in the film with great timing. And, of course, the boy can sing.For me the only slight false note comes from Louis Armstrong's monosyllabic commentary on the action. We KNOW where our sympathies lie, Louis - you don't need to tell us! But his songs - and the band - are as great as anything else in the film.Final shout out for Celeste Holm -her performance is the best and most layered in the film.Overall - the simplification of Philadelphia Story works well enough and any minus points are almost entirely made up for by the exuberant performances of Cole Porter's great songs.

vincentlynch-moonoi I'm one of those who don't admire this film much.On the positive side, it's a lush production. It has a Cole Porter score -- my favorite composer -- although I'm impressed with only a few of the songs: "True Love" (of course), "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" (with a swellegant turn by Celeste Holm), and the bright "Well, Did You Evah!" (in a terrific duet by Bing and Frank); the other songs are forgettable.Another positive note are a number of the supporting actors -- Celeste Holm as a reporter, Louis Calhern as an uncle, Sidney Blackmer as the father, Margalo Gillmore as the mother, and young Lydia Reed as the younger sister.Unfortunately, I can't say as much for the lead cast. Bing Crosby is always very natural on screen, and is here. Grace Kelly has another turn as a spoiled brat, and as far as I'm concerned flubs the role terribly. Frank Sinatra plays the smart ass that he seemed to be in real life...which may have gone over well in the 1950s, but isn't as attractive today; and ironically, he played a poor drunk (type casting from the Rat Pack days?). John Lund as the fiancée????? Stick with the original "The Philadelphia Story", or watch this one as a comparison. Frankly, about the only reason this film was made was Bing's whim and Grace Kelly's rising star (in terms of the latter, thankfully it was the last film with her that we had to suffer through).