This was a better film the second time around except that well, the fact that Tracy Lord (Katharine Hepburn) ends up with her ex-husband, C.K. Dexter Haven (Cary Grant) who pushed her down during one of their fights before they divorce.
Fast forward, two years later and Tracy's engaged to the kind, safe but boring George Kitteridge (John Howard) who didn't come from money, unlike Dext. And while she's worried about having a perfect wedding, she doesn't want the press there. Too bad the editor has other ideas and she's forced to go along with it because there is some dirt on her father, Seth (John Halliday) so complications ensue with the arrival of Macaulkey 'Mike" Connor (James Stewart) and photographer Liz Imbrie (the snappy Ruth Hussey).
While everything is largely improbable and Mike is too nice of a guy to take advantage of a drunk Tracy, the point she makes to George the next morning is great. She wants her fiancé to think better of herself than she does, which is accurate. And then, partly to save face but also because he's been in love with her the whole time, Dext proposes to her so they end up getting re-married, which I don't approve of.
Originally a stage production, it translates well to the screen though the dialogue is too snappy and the witty comebacks aren't realistic. Still, the performances are great and I found at least part of the ending message great, so I'm glad I re-watched it, given more glad it was an option on HBOMax. Grade: A-
Side Notes:
-While I utterly adore Jimmy Stewart, he should not have beaten Henry Fonda at the Oscars.
-Hepburn and Hussey were also nominated and while they gave the two best performances in the film, they failed to win.
-Virginia Weidler portrays Tracy's younger sister, Dinah, and she's a wild scene stealer.
-I wonder if Tracy ever checked out Mike's book from the library or if she just lifted it.
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