The Philadelphia Story (1940)

 George Cukor's "The Philadelphia Story"

Based on the stage play of the same name, George Cukor's film adaption of "The Philadelphia Story" could not have been made without its star, Katharine Hepburn. Now considered perhaps her finest performance, Hepburn's role in getting the film made extended way beyond simply starring in the production. She had been the lead actress of the stage play version and had performed the part 417 times from 1939 to 1940. The playwright of the production, Philip Barry, had even wrote the part specifically for Hepburn. Hepburn, who had just been labelled 'box-office poison' a couple of years earlier after the commercial failures of films like "Bringing Up Baby" and "Holiday," wanted to revigorated her reputation by bringing this project to the big screen.

In order to accomplish this, she had her romantic partner, Howard Hughes, purchase the film rights for the play and gave them to her. Hepburn then sold these rights to Louis B. Mayer in exchange for final approval on the film's producer, director, screenwriter, and cast. For director, she selected George Cukor, with whom she had worked with frequently. For screenwriter, she selected Donald Ogden Stewart, who was friends with the Philip Barry, the original playwright. As for cast, Hepburn wanted Clark Gable and Spencer Tracy, both of whom where unavailable. Instead, Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart were cast. The whole production came together through Hepburn. 

The story stars Hepburn as Tracy Lord, a wealthy socialite whose wedding plans get complicated when her ex-husband brings a pair of tabloid magazine journalists to detail the event. Through a comedy of manners, Tracy ends up rediscovering herself through these interactions and ends up not going through with her wedding.

I found the story itself to be rather benign. However, the story gets completely elevated through its superb cast and its unflinching charm. I was won over.