“You’ll never be a first-class human being, or a first-class woman, until you’ve learned to have some regard for human frailty.”
synopsis
Tracy Lord, a sharp-tongued Philadelphia socialite, is preparing to remarry after divorcing her charming but unreliable first husband, C.K. Dexter Haven. As wedding preparations unfold, a cynical reporter and photographer arrive to cover the event, stirring emotional chaos. Old resentments resurface, new attractions spark, and Tracy is forced to confront whether her standards are protecting her—or isolating her.
pairs well with ...
mini-review
Directed by George Cukor, this is high-society screwball at its most polished. Katharine Hepburn is magnificent—intelligent, imperious, human beneath the armor. Cary Grant plays Dexter with breezy confidence, and James Stewart adds wounded idealism (and won an Oscar for it). The film’s central idea—that perfection can be a form of cruelty—is surprisingly sharp for a romantic comedy.
Champagne (after 9 a.m., of course) and the pleasure of watching adults argue intelligently.
Absurdist's Corner
The sheer density of razor-sharp wit at one wedding would require oxygen masks for the guests.
fun facts
The film was based on a Broadway play written specifically to revive Katharine Hepburn’s career.
James Stewart won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role.
It helped cement the golden-age romantic triangle template.