High Society 4K 1956

Sixteen years after the premiere of “The Philadelphia Story,” in which Katharine Hepburn shone in the lead role, a musical version of the film was released, as bright and lively as most of the MGM musicals of that period. This time, the controversial character of Tracy Lord was played by the future Princess of Monaco, Grace Kelly, and it must be said that she did a wonderful job in the role, which became her last work in Hollywood. Grace did not try to imitate the great Hepburn, but created her own Tracy, thanks to which this character took on a whole new dimension.

Grace's co-stars in the film were no less colorful and famous: the leading singing stars of the time, Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby, as well as Louis Armstrong and Celeste Holm, who joined them. It is not surprising that the film has many noteworthy musical episodes. These include the song “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire,” which gave rise to the name of the famous television show, the duet between the two masters, Sinatra and Crosby, and, of course, the song “True Love,” in which Grace Kelly demonstrates her impressive vocal abilities for the first and only time in her film career.

Reality and fiction are intertwined in this film in a very amusing way. Grace plays a bride, while at the same time being one in real life at that moment. Moreover, as if to emphasize this circumstance, Kelly herself suggested using her engagement ring, a gift from Prince Rainier, in the filming, which was done because her real diamond was even larger than the fake one.

Grace's farewell to Hollywood, thanks to this sparkling musical comedy, turned out to be bright and cheerful. The final point was made. And then there was the departure to the shores of the tiny principality, and a life that was grayer and less happy than the one usually shown in movies. But that's a completely different story.