The Philadelphia Story
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM) | Release Date: December 5, 1940 CRITIC SCORE DISTRIBUTION
96
METASCORE
Universal acclaim based on 13 Critic Reviews
Positive:
13
Mixed:
0
Negative:
0
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Critic Reviews

Critic scorePublicationBy date
100
The GuardianPeter Bradshaw
Utterly beguiling, funny and romantic. Read full review
100
Slant MagazineJeremiah Kipp
Add Hepburn’s persona, beautifully explored here in all its wonder, and Stewart’s likeability, and George Cukor’s sensible, subtle, and lovingly unrushed direction of a firecracker script…the result is a studio picture far deeper and richer than its whimsical surface style might lead you to believe. Read full review
100
The TelegraphMarc Lee
Mercifully, The Philadelphia Story then transmogrifies into one of the smartest, sassiest - and sexiest - movies ever. Read full review
100
The New York TimesBosley Crowther
Provided you have a little patience for the lavishly rich, which these folks are, you should have great fun at The Philadelphia Story. For Metro and Director George Cukor have graciously made it apparent, in the words of a character, that one of the "prettiest sights in this pretty world is the privileged classes enjoying their privileges." And so, in this instance, you will too. Read full review
100
Time OutGeoff Andrew
A delight from start to finish, with everyone involved working on peak form. Read full review
100
The New YorkerJohn C. Mosher
The film is a Hepburn triumph, and moviegoers who resent the theatre's habit of requisitioning their stars may feel that Miss Hepburn's time on the stage has not been spent in vain and that she simply prepared herself for this achievement during the long run of the play. Read full review
100
St. Louis Post-DispatchJoe Holleman
It's shocking that Grant wasn't even nominated for an Oscar. [1 March 2005, p.E01]
90
Chicago ReaderDave Kehr
George Cukor gives it the royal treatment with a splendid supporting cast.
90
TimeStaff (Not Credited)
The result of all this high-priced maladjustment is terribly funny, terribly upper class. No one could have written it better than Plahywright Barry, who has written it often ("Holiday," "The Animal Kingdom," et al.)...It's a good, entertaining show. Read full review
90
The New YorkerPauline Kael
Shiny and unfelt and smart-aleck-commercial as the movie is, it's almost irresistibly entertaining - one of the high spots of M-G-M professionalism.
80
EmpireJake Hamilton
Excellent casting, a great storyline and a shrp script mean that this remains a classic of the genre and one of Katherine Hepburn's best roles. Read full review
80
VarietyHerb Golden
A picture every suburban mamma and poppa must see–after Junior and little Elsie Dinsmore are tucked away. Read full review
80
TV Guide MagazineStaff (Not Credited)
With such a stellar cast, a fine director working in the type of picture he did best, and some genuinely witty dialogue, this film has all the ingredients for a great comedy. And it is great, though there have been many funnier comedies. The film has an unfortunate tendency to take itself too seriously for long stretches. Read full review
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