High Society | |
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Theatrical release poster
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Directed by | Charles Walters |
Produced by | Sol C. Siegel |
Screenplay by | John Patrick |
Based on |
The Philadelphia Story 1939 play by Philip Barry |
Starring | |
Music by | Cole Porter |
Cinematography | Paul Vogel |
Edited by | Ralph E. Winters |
Production
company |
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Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
Release date
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Running time
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111 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Budget | $2,762,000 |
Box office | $8,258,000 |
High Society is a 1956 American musical comedy film directed by Charles Walters and starring Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, and Frank Sinatra. The film was produced by Sol C. Siegel for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and shot in VistaVision and Technicolor, with music and lyrics by Cole Porter.
Based on the play The Philadelphia Story by Philip Barry, with a screenplay by John Patrick, the film is about a successful popular jazz musician who tries to win back the affections of his ex-wife, who is preparing to marry another man. The cast also features Celeste Holm, John Lund and Louis Calhern, with a musical contribution by Louis Armstrong.
High Society was the last film appearance of Grace Kelly, before she became Princess consort of Monaco.
The highly successful jazz musician C.K. Dexter Haven (Bing Crosby) was divorced from wealthy Newport, Rhode Island socialite Tracy Samantha Lord (Grace Kelly), but remains in love with her. She, however, is about to get married to a bland gentleman of good standing, George Kittredge (John Lund).
Spy Magazine, a fictional tabloid newspaper in possession of embarrassing information about Tracy's father, sends reporter Mike Connor (Frank Sinatra) and photographer Liz Imbrie (Celeste Holm) to cover the nuptials. Tracy begins an elaborate charade as a private means of revenge, introducing her Uncle Willy (Louis Calhern) as her proper father Seth Lord (Sidney Blackmer) and the latter as her "wicked" Uncle Willy.