Movie · 1956 · Music, Comedy, Romance · 1h 52m · NR · English
Curator score: 5.4/10 (19.2K ratings)
They're all together for the first time!
Overview
With socialite Tracy Lord about to remarry, her ex-husband - with the help of a sympathetic reporter - has 48 hours to convince her that she really still loves him.
Ratings
Curator score: 5.4/10
IMDb: 6.9/10
Rotten Tomatoes: 87%
Metacritic: 65
TMDB: 6.8/10
Director
Charles Walters
Production
Sol C. Siegel Productions, Bing Crosby Productions, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Cast
Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Celeste Holm, John Lund, Louis Calhern, Sidney Blackmer, Louis Armstrong, Margalo Gillmore, Lydia Reed, Gordon Richards, Richard Garrick, Hugh Boswell, Joe Evans, Paul Keast, Richard Keene, Ruth Lee, Thomas Martin, Reginald Simpson, Helen Spring
Curator Review
Verdict
A glossy, star-driven musical remake that trades some of the original’s wit and romantic tension for Technicolor polish, songs, and easy charm. It’s best appreciated as a breezy showcase for glamour, standards, and celebrity chemistry rather than as a superior screwball comedy.
Best for
fans of 1950s studio musicals
viewers who enjoy elegant romantic comedies
audiences looking for star vehicles and fashion-forward glamour
classic Hollywood fans who like standards and show tunes
Skip if
you want the sharpest version of this story
you prefer fast, modern comedy pacing
you’re allergic to old-school musical interludes
you need strong romantic chemistry to carry a remake
Overview
High Society is less a reinvention than a luxurious re-packaging: the bones of a sophisticated romantic comedy are still there, but the movie is most interested in atmosphere, music, and star presence. Grace Kelly is the center of gravity, and the film knows it, dressing her in one exquisite look after another while the surrounding plot moves with polished, almost ceremonial ease.
Worth noting
The musical numbers are the main attraction, especially when the film leans into its crossover novelty and lets its performers simply inhabit the room. The tone is light, urbane, and often pleasantly frivolous, though it can feel a little too smooth compared with the sharper, more electric comedy it’s remaking.
Bottom line
Still, there’s a lot to enjoy if you come for classic Hollywood craftsmanship: the widescreen sheen, the standards, the easy confidence of the performances, and the pleasure of watching a studio-era production aimed squarely at glamour. It may not fully recapture the romantic spark of its source, but it remains an appealing, very watchable artifact of midcentury movie elegance.
Top Letterboxd reviews
Patrick Willems (3.5★) · 1111 likes
Obviously not as good as The Philadelphia Story but it does open with Louis Armstrong singing a song explaining the plot and then looking at the camera and saying "End of song, beginning of story!" Every movie should begin that way.
hailey 🌼 (3.5★) · 761 likes
love that they just made an entire movie just so they can dress grace kelly in pretty outfits...I APPROVE
lucy (3★) · 373 likes
the most romantic part of this is frank sinatra and bing crosby's duet and that's all there is to it
Valentina · 370 likes
The Philadelphia Story is a $300 bottle of champagne whereas, this movie is a $25 bottle of merlot. While this one isn't as good, you still enjoy that bottle.