The resentment towards Hollywood remakes is not a contemporary phenomenon, but rather an attitude that has persisted throughout the years among the more refined circles. This may explain why critics were far from enthusiastic about 1956's musical extravaganza, High Society, which was essentially a retelling of the celebrated 1940 romantic comedy, The Philadelphia Story.
Like its predecessor, the new version is based on Philip Barry's 1939 Broadway play, but with a notable change: the setting shifted from Philadelphia to Newport, Rhode Island. Tracy Samantha Lord (Grace Kelly), a socialite who recently ended her marriage to C.K. Dexter-Haven (Bing Crosby), jazz singer and descendant of a "robber baron" residing in an adjacent estate, is at the centre of the plot. With her upcoming nuptials to the snobbish George Kitteridge (John Lund) on the horizon, a tabloid reporter, Mike Connor (Frank Sinatra), and his photographer colleague, Liz Imbrie (Celeste Holm), descend upon the Lord estate to cover the event. They gained access after their editor promised Tracy's mother (played by Margalo Gillmore) to withhold an article about her father, Seth Lord (played by Sidney Blackmer), having an affair with a showgirl. Dexter, still pining for his estranged wife, attempts to woo her back, but his efforts are complicated when she starts to develop feelings for Mike.
High Society, boasting an impressive cast that included some of Hollywood's greatest luminaries of the time, alongside Louis Armstrong and his band who played themselves in a clever nod to the recently established Newport Jazz Festival, was a commercial success. However, this accolade did not extend to critical reception, which labelled it as unoriginal and inferior in terms of acting performances compared to the 1940 version and the works of Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, and James Stewart.
Some of these comparisons may indeed be at the expense of the 1956 film, but the producers cannot be accused of trying something different. The most obvious change is genre: High Society is a musical – not just any musical, but one penned by legendary Cole Porter. His songs are woven throughout the film, compensating for the lack of witty dialogue, with "True Love" becoming Crosby's last big hit.
The trio of main performers is indeed somewhat inferior to their counterparts in the 1940 film, but only marginally so. Bing Crosby may lack Cary Grant's suave demeanour, but he makes up for it with a laid-back charm and undoubtedly benefits from his past real-life romance with Grace Kelly, which aids in establishing on-screen chemistry.
Grace Kelly, whose career was drawing to a close as she prepared to marry Prince Rainier of Monaco (a diamond engagement ring is visible on screen), bravely tries to embody her character in Katharine Hepburn's style. While this effort is not entirely successful, she compensates with her elegant presence and putting her ethereal beauty to good use.
Frank Sinatra is serviceable but unremarkable in his role as Mike, while Celeste Holm shines brighter as his colleague. Young Lydia Reed, who plays Tracy's sister, is noticeably inferior and underutilized compared to Virginia Wielder, who portrayed her counterpart sixteen years earlier.
Director Charles Walters, known for his work on MGM musicals and comedies, was a fitting choice for this film. He handles the material well, aided by Technicolor and VistaVision widescreen format, which lends High Society a visually appealing sheen surpassing that of The Philadelphia Story.
Screenwriter John Patrick's script is focused on plot but finds room to comment on real-life issues of the mid-1950s. In one scene, Tracy points out the heavy taxation of upper-class estates – a reference to tax rates at the time being the highest in US history – an aspect that often goes overlooked in historical accounts and popular culture depictions of this period.
High Society is far from perfect and definitely inferior to its predecessor. However, it would be a shame for modern viewers to overlook this entertaining work of Hollywood at its golden age solely because it does not live up to the standards set by The Philadelphia Story. Instead, one should appreciate High Society for what it is: an enjoyable musical romp with some of the greatest stars of the time.
RATING: 6/10 (++)
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