Is It Even a Comedy? I came across this film while watching Academy Award winners and nominees. "The Philadelphia Story" won two Oscars—for Best Actor and Best Adapted Screenplay. It also received four additional nominations, including Best Picture, Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, and Best Director. By the standards of the American Film Academy, this is quite a “high-profile” film. It also stars one of my favorite actresses of classic Hollywood, Katharine Hepburn, so I approached it with particular interest. The film was directed by the well-known filmmaker George Cukor. Under his direction, both before and after this project, came movies that are still widely recognized today: "Gaslight", "Romeo and Juliet", "The Wizard of Oz", "A Star Is Born", and others. So I expected a polished production and an engaging story. It’s important to note that the film is an adaptation of Philip Barry’s play—and you can feel that throughout. There’s a strong emphasis on facial expressions and gestures in the acting, bright and projected delivery of dialogue, and a fair amount of theatrical exaggeration. It feels like a film, but with a very noticeable dose of stage theatrics. That’s not necessarily a bad thing. It just doesn’t always work for me personally. The synopsis itself sets the tone for something akin to a modern-day romantic comedy. A divorced heroine is about to remarry when her ex-husband suddenly reappears—accompanied by a pair of journalists determined to sensationalize the upcoming event. The film often delivers jokes that aren’t particularly funny, though at times you can genuinely laugh at the characters’ elaborate and witty exchanges. Still, you should be prepared for ornate dialogue throughout most of the movie—conversations that don’t always advance the plot and at times shift the film toward melodrama, though it never fully becomes one. The acting is solid. The performers handle their roles well, though they sometimes feel like prisoners of the script’s structure. What truly surprises me is the number of nominations and even James Stewart’s win for Best Actor. I respect him greatly, but in my opinion, this is not his strongest performance. The trio of Cary Grant, James Stewart, and Katharine Hepburn is undoubtedly a powerhouse team of classic Hollywood talent. In a different project, this could have resulted in a much stronger film. That said, they clearly handle the comedic-melodramatic tone with skill. Overall, the film is average. I even rewatched it, remembering that I hadn’t liked it much the first time. The second viewing was more enjoyable, but it still doesn’t quite reach the level of a truly good film in my personal estimation. With such an outstanding cast full of potential and an experienced director at the helm, the story and lengthy runtime make the film feel somewhat unremarkable. Each of the key contributors has far stronger works that I would recommend watching. If not instead of this film, then at least alongside it—to better appreciate the full scope of their talent. 6 out of 10