The Philadelphia Story (1940) in Color — Starring Cary Grant & Katharine Hepburn

The Philadelphia Story (1940) — Buy This Classic in Color

Experience the sparkling, sophisticated comedy masterpiece The Philadelphia Story (1940) colorized in stunning HD quality. Directed by George Cukor, this legendary MGM production stars Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, and James Stewart — three of the greatest stars in cinema history — in the most perfectly crafted romantic comedy ever made. Hepburn is Tracy Lord, a wealthy Philadelphia socialite whose second wedding is disrupted by the arrival of her charming ex-husband (Grant) and a wisecracking reporter (Stewart), forcing the ice queen to confront her own humanity in a champagne-soaked night of revelation that culminates in one of cinema’s most satisfying romantic endings. Winner of two Academy Awards. Now available as an instant, DRM-free digital download for only €15.00.

Plot Summary

Tracy Samantha Lord (Katharine Hepburn) is the queen of Philadelphia high society — beautiful, brilliant, poised, and utterly intolerant of human weakness. Her first marriage to C.K. Dexter Haven (Cary Grant) ended in divorce because Tracy could not accept Dexter’s drinking and Dexter could not tolerate Tracy’s demands for perfection. Now Tracy is about to marry George Kittredge (John Howard), a self-made man who worships her as a goddess on a pedestal — which is exactly where Tracy wants to be.

Two days before the wedding, Dexter arrives uninvited, accompanied by a pair of journalists from a gossip magazine: the sardonic, romantically frustrated reporter Macaulay ‘Mike’ Connor (James Stewart) and his photographer and long-suffering girlfriend Liz Imbrie (Ruth Hussey). The magazine’s publisher has leverage over Tracy’s family and demands wedding coverage in exchange for suppressing a scandal. Tracy is furious but trapped.

What follows is one of the most brilliantly constructed comedies ever written. Over a single extraordinary night of champagne, moonlight, and devastating personal revelations, Tracy’s icy perfection is shattered as three very different men — the charming ex-husband who knows her too well, the idealistic reporter who sees her afresh, and the adoring fiancé who doesn’t see her at all — each hold up a mirror to her true nature. Mike’s perception of Tracy as a genuine, passionate woman trapped inside a frozen socialite breaks through her defences. Dexter’s brutal honesty about her intolerance of human weakness challenges her to grow. The champagne-drenched climax forces Tracy to choose not between three men, but between being a goddess and being a human being.

Cast & Crew

Director: George Cukor
Stars: Katharine Hepburn is magnificent in the role that resurrected her career — vulnerable, funny, proud, and ultimately deeply human in a performance of exquisite range. Cary Grant is at his most charming and insightful as the knowing ex-husband. James Stewart won the Academy Award for Best Actor as Mike, delivering every wisecrack with impeccable timing and every romantic moment with genuine tenderness. Ruth Hussey earned an Oscar nomination as the dryly hilarious Liz.

Why Buy This Classic in Color?

This professionally colorized edition enhances the film’s elegant settings with era-accurate hues. The magnificent Lord estate, gleaming automobiles, luxurious evening gowns, and the moonlit poolside romance gain breathtaking visual sophistication through careful colour restoration. Now also available in colour.

Buy now for an instant, secure digital download with no DRM restrictions. Compatible with all devices that play MP4 files.

Historical Significance

Released in 1940, The Philadelphia Story is one of the most important films in Hollywood history. Katharine Hepburn, branded ‘box office poison’ in 1938, bought the film rights to Philip Barry’s Broadway play specifically to engineer her own comeback — one of the shrewdest career moves in entertainment history. The film won Academy Awards for Best Actor (Stewart) and Best Screenplay and is universally ranked among the greatest comedies ever made. Through colorization, this perfect romantic comedy is preserved for modern audiences.

Technical Details

• Format: MP4
• Resolution: HD 720p
• Colorized: Yes — professionally restored frame-by-frame
• Audio: Original English mono soundtrack
• Runtime: 112 minutes
• DRM-free: Yes — play anywhere, keep forever
• Instant download: Yes — available immediately after purchase
• Price: €15.00

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Movie-Specific Questions

Q: Is this really the greatest romantic comedy ever made?
A: Many critics and audiences believe so — the combination of three legendary stars, a perfect screenplay, and George Cukor’s elegant direction creates a comedy that has never been surpassed.

Q: Did James Stewart deserve the Oscar?
A: Stewart’s performances is wonderful, though many believed the award was compensation for not winning for Mr. Smith Goes to Washington the previous year. Regardless, his work here is charming, funny, and genuinely romantic.

Q: Did Hepburn really engineer her own comeback with this?
A: Yes — in one of Hollywood’s shrewdest moves, Hepburn bought the film rights and controlled the casting, turning her career around completely and establishing herself as an enduring star.

Digital Download Questions

Q: What format is the download?
A: The film is delivered as a high-quality MP4 file compatible with all modern devices and media players.

Q: Is there DRM protection?
A: No. The download is completely DRM-free — you own it outright and can play it on any device forever.

Q: How do I receive the film after purchase?
A: You receive an instant download link immediately after payment. A backup copy of the link is also sent to your email address.

Related Colorized Classics

• His Girl Friday (1940)
• Bringing Up Baby (1938)
• It Happened One Night (1934)
• The Awful Truth (1937)
• My Man Godfrey (1936)