"One of my all-time favourite musicals, High Society is one of those delightful romances that remain enjoyable, no matter how many times you have seen them. A remake of George Cukor’s 1940 The Philadelphia Story which starred Cary Grant, James Stewart and Katharine Hepburn, the joy of this 1956 film is the combination of a witty script and the sparkling performances from its compelling cast. To get us in the mood, first up there’s the six minute overture, which teases us with a medley of the highly contagious Cole Porter tunes, ending with “Who Wants to be a Millionaire”. Singing the title tune and acting as a kinda musical narrator is the sensational and gravel-voiced Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong, who blows his horn and sings and mops his brow and thoroughly entertains us. “End of song, beginning of story”, says Satchmo as he puffs on a cigarette from the back of a bus with the other musicians, as they approach the lavish mansion in Rhode Island where the story is set.

We get to know all the characters — the romantic Dexter, cynical Tracy and curious Mike who is not at all used to being around the rich and famous. “So far I’ve received 24 nut dishes and 16 icepicks”, says the bride to be, to which her kid sister retorts, “That should give you a rough idea of what people think of your next husband.” The barbs come like sharp shooting bullets and so do the laughs as we enter the world of this mixed up bunch who toy with emotions almost as a hobby. Worth seeing just to goggle at Grace Kelly’s beautiful wardrobe, there are many highlights such as the haunting melodic “True Love” sung by Crosby and Kelly. Things turn into a comedy of errors as cupid starts flinging arrows, but all’s well that ends well, in one of the most entertaining films of the era." – Louise Keller, Urban Cinefile

"Perceived wisdom screams that 1956’s High Society isn’t fit to buff the custom-made brogues of 1940’s The Philadelphia Story, which it’s a remake of. Perceived wisdom can take a brisk running jump. Yes, High Society is different, but it’s no less smart, witty or effortlessly entertaining. And it’s got SONGS... Infiltrating the society wedding of Tracy Lord (Grace Kelly), Hello-style scribbler Mike Connor (Frank Sinatra) enters a world of insecure but lovable rich folks. Tracy flirts ferociously with Mike but anyone with half a brain can see that she’s really got the hots for ex-hubby CK Dexter-Haven (Bing Crosby). But will she see it before the wedding? Kelly is weaker than Katharine Hepburn in Story, but she muddles through on looks alone. Frank and Bing, meanwhile, slip on the Jimmy Stewart and Cary Grant roles like tailormade suits, radiating casual magnetism and easy charm. And so what if director Charles Walters settles for mimicking George Cukor’s set-ups shot for shot — he still deserves a fat slap on the back for flawlessly shoehorning in a half-dozen belting Cole Porter numbers (including “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?”, “Now You Has Jazz”, “True Love” and “Well, Did You Evah?”). Hollywood hokum at its most magically, glossily simple — watch it and be happy to the tips of your toes." – Total Film

Director: Charles Walters
Producer: Sol C. Siegel
Screenplay: John Patrick. Based on the play The Philadelphia Story by Philip Barry
Photography: Paul C. Vogel
Editor: Ralph E. Winters
Music: Cole Porter

With: Bing Crosby (C.K. Dexter-Haven), Grace Kelly (Tracy Lord), Frank Sinatra (Mike Connor), Celeste Holm (Liz Imbrie), John Lund (George Kittredge), Louis Calhern (Uncle Willie), Sidney Blackmer (Seth Lord), Louis Armstronh (himself)

107 mins, 35mm

G cert