Just saw it and it has a good cast but has no energy or chemistry. It looks like it was done on the cheap, the sets couldn't look more phoney or cheesy. Apart from "True Love" and "Swell Party" the songs aren't very good. Can't compare with "The Philadelphia Story".
shareI actually am not a big fan either. I adore The Philadelphia Story and I am in love with Frank Sinatra, so the story and cast was fine but I really did not like this movie. It was just...lackluster. But I did like the songs.
So I can easily watch the musical numbers (especially those with Frank) but the acting left something to be desired--I found that the dialogue was word for word and the actions were shot in almost exactly the same way and that didn't work for me.
~"Cow talk!"
Different stokes. I, on the other hand, find it just about perfect. It is, one must understand, a light musical at its best really. I am watching it right now (Thank you, TiVo.) in high def and find it most delightful indeed. I do not want to imply that I just found this pearl in the oyster. I have the DVD and have watched it loads of times but never tire of it. It is, of course, the music of some of our finest artists from when I was a child and whose talents never bore me -- including, by the way, the great lyricist and composer Cole Porter with orchestrations by the eternal greatnest of Nelson Riddle. And, of course, this is the last movie that the lovely, late and great Grace Kelly made. I viewed her grave last summer in Monaco in the cathedral right next to her prince. She died because, as the Chairman of the Board says, the idle rich drive too fast. Anyway, it's really all about great music coming from the best entertainers -- ever. This is not, by any means, "The Phiadelphia Story", admittedly a great movie. The "High Society" plot just happens to be based upon that play/movie. "High Society" stands all by itself as a great musical comedy. My two cents.
shareI so wanted to like this movie -- ingredients are there -- but I was bummed too. It felt more like an exercise everyone was going through.
When I want Grace Kelly, I just go to Rear Window. Umm, that close-up of hers.
I agree with the detractors; I wouldn't say the movie "sucks" but I do think there was a distinct lack of energy on the part of Kelly (who also ruined "The Swan" for the same reason, though that one was probably never going to be a classic) and Crosby. It's like they're on vacation or something, they needed a director who could reign them in. Part of the reason might be that it was Kelly's last film and she was getting ready to go marry the Prince of Monaco, so she was really just going through the motions on this one. Frankly I've never seen her give a good performance in anything but a Hitchcock movie, so I'd say she's similar to Kim Novak in that she needed a good director like Hitch to do good work.
Did I not love him, Cooch? MY OWN FLESH I DIDN'T LOVE BETTER!!! But he had to say 'Nooooooooo'
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Wow...that's a little harsh.
This is one of my all time favorites. I bought in on video and than replaced it when the DVD came out.
Grace Kelly, Bing Crosby, and Frank Sinatra are wonderful, not to mention Celeste Holm. They all had great chemistry.
don't say 'sucks, laxlon. if absolutely necessary say 'smells'!
i agree, the movie is almost unbearable in that bing (while he is absolutely fabulous) is completely miscast. how, in the world, are we to believe that this tracy lord could be in love with this ck dexter-haven? i realize cary grant was much older than hepburn, but for god's sake, we are talking cary-freaking-grant!
Actually, Grant was but three years older than Hepburn. That's another thing there. In addition to Kelly not being 1/2000th the actress that Hepburn was and being miscast in her role, she would naturally have a harder time producing chemistry with her much older co-workers than Hepburn was able to with her similar aged peers (yes, PEERS. Not replacement father figures.).
A lot of twisted or over PC people like to invest in passionately defending them, but onscreen May-December romances NEVER generate chemistry, period.
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I agree, this film sucks. And how stpuid to have old Bing at 56 falling for a woman more than half his age.
shareonscreen May-December romances NEVER generate chemistry, period.
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I offer "Harold and Maude" as the counter-example.
Adding to GeorgeBailey's post, I offer Bogey and Bacall as an example.
shareI completely agree, this was just awful. Especially the acting, everyone except Kelly was obviously cast(miscast more like it) solely for their singing. Unfortunately the acting was so bad I really wasn't in the mood to listen to a song. And after just watching the original and enjoying it so much this was just a chore to sit through. Also what struck me was after seeing how thin Hepburn was in the original, Grace Kelly looked borderline anorexic. Beautiful face but wow from the neck down she wasn't much to look at. Also since she didn't sing I was especially disapointed in her acting.
shareI agree. This movie was pretty bad. Didn't expect this from such a good cast but...
Ask your child what he wants for dinner only if he’s buying- Fran Lebowitz
I was disappointed too. It's hard to like this one when you've seen the original, I mean, it's hard not to compare the 2 movies and their performances. I'm not Kate Hepburn's greatest fan, but she was fabulous in The Philadelphia Story, while Grace Kelly's performance was just embarrassing. The girl who played the sister had nothing on Virginia Weidler...
The one thing I really loved about the movie was Louis Armstrong's cameo. Not even Frank made me like this movie :(
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"A dog took my face and gave me a better face to change the world"
It's not a puss dripping zit on the original 1940 masterpiece. The movie is nothing more than an insult to the original and one of the first most notoriously unneeded, f#ck-up remake flicks. I'm sure it's fanbase consists primarily of people who soak up anything related to Grace Kelly (guys with grade school crushes and teeny bopper glamour/style devotees).
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Buu, I didn't like it either. Of course it doesn't 'sucks', because of the music, but there wasn't chemistry between the characters, their relationships are awfully developed and the end didn't seem right...I'm gonna check The Philadelphia Story...
The Bride: Where's Bill?
Juno MacGuff: I'm pregnant