In one of her most famous roles, Katharine Hepburn plays Tracy Lord, the daughter of a well-to-do Pennsylvania family in The Philadelphia Story (1940). The young socialite is about to embark on a second marriage and the lucky groom is George Kittredge (John Howard), a comparatively staid but extremely wealthy gentleman. Her first husband was C.K. Dexter Haven (Cary Grant) who is certainly more colorful than Kittredge if slightly less responsible. When Dexter makes an unexpected appearance at the Lord's home on the eve of Tracy's wedding, it is not so much to wish her well as to shield her from the prying eyes of an overly ambitious reporter (James Stewart) assigned to cover the nuptials. When The Philadelphia Story was released, it broke the previous box office record held at Radio City Music Hall where it earned $600,000 in six weeks. It also proved that Katharine Hepburn knew how to deliver a hit when given the opportunity and was just the opposite of box office poison as she had previously been branded due to several unsuccessful movies. The Philadelphia Story also did well at the Academy Awards® that year. The film earned six nominations including Best Picture, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Actor, Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress.
› Among writer Philip Barry’s closest friends at Harvard College was Edgar Scott who later married one of Philadelphia’s most famous socialites, Helen Hope Montgomery. It was through Philip’s friendship with the celebrated pair that the character of Tracy Lord and The Philadelphia Story were born.
› Barry’s play became a tremendous success on Broadway. Realizing the potential of The Philadelphia Story, Katharine Hepburn purchased the motion picture rights to the property and approached Louis B. Mayer, head of MGM, with a deal. She agreed to sell Mayer the rights to the property for the very modest amount of $250,000, in exchange for the authority to select her own director, screenwriter and cast. Securing control over the production, Hepburn chose George Cukor to direct. The two had worked together in Hepburn's first film role, A Bill of Divorcement (1932) and then again in the 1933 version of Little Women.
› Katharine and MGM studios immediately thought of casting Clark Gable as Macaulay Connor and Spencer Tracy in the role of Dexter Haven, but neither stars were interested in the project. The studio recommended James Stewart and Cary Grant instead, both of whom happened to prefer the roles they ended up portraying in the film.
› In the scene where Macaulay visits Dexter after Tracy’s engagement party, James Stewart had the idea that his character should have the hiccups and decided to try it out without telling anyone beforehand. When he hiccupped, a surprised Cary Grant reacted with an improvised “Excuse me.” Both actors kept their composure throughout the take, neither one breaking into laughter or out of character.
› Charles Walters directed a musical version of The Philadelphia Story called High Society (1956). Grace Kelly, Bing Crosby, and Frank Sinatra played the respective roles of Katharine Hepburn, Cary Grant, and James Stewart.
› With a total of four Oscars®, Katharine Hepburn is the world record holder for the most Oscars® won in the Best Actress category. During her legendary film career that spanned over seventy-three years, Katharine garnered twelve Academy Award nominations and is ranked #1 female star in the American Film Institute’s 50 Greatest Movie Legends. The intersection of East 49th Street and 2nd Avenue near her residence in New York City was renamed “Katharine Hepburn Place.”
› Katharine Hepburn was born on May 12, 1907, in Hartford, Connecticut. Her father was a physician and her mother was a suffragette. She was mostly home-schooled, and her parents encouraged her to always speak her mind. In 1928, Katharine graduated from Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania, with a degree in history and philosophy.
› Throughout most of her life, Katharine avoided dining out as much as possible and preferred having her meals at home. She explained that it was because “restaurant prices gave [her] indigestion.” One of her favorite foods for lunch was chicken salad made with capers and peeled grapes. For dinner, she required at least five vegetable dishes. And all of her meals finished off with a dessert. Her favorites were brownies, lace cookies, and ice cream.
› Katharine excelled in athletics and was an avid golfer, tennis player, and swimmer. For years, she swam almost every day, even in the wintertime. Katharine was equally fastidious in other aspects of her everyday life. While reading fan letters, Katharine often returned several of them back to her fans after making corrections on their spelling and grammar mistakes.
HIGH SOCIETY (1956)
In this musical remake of “The Philadelphia Story,” Grace Kelly plays the bride-to-be whose upcoming wedding is derailed by ex-husband Bing Crosby and reporter Frank Sinatra.
ADAM’S RIB (1949)
Husband-and-wife lawyers Spencer Tracy and Katharine Hepburn face the biggest case of their professional lives when they take opposite sides in a trial in this hilarious George Cukor comedy.
LITTLE WOMEN (1933)
Katharine Hepburn stars in the Louisa May Alcott talea about the joys and sorrows of four sisters growing up in New England during the Civil War. Directed by George Cukor.
MY MAN GODFREY (1936, Special Edition)
William Powell is Godfrey, the "bum" who is brought home by society girl Carole Lombard to serve as her eccentric family's butler in this classic screwball comedy.
YOU CAN’T TAKE IT WITH YOU (1938)
Lionel Barrymore stars as the head of an eccentric family preparing for a visit by granddaughter Jean Arthur's beau (James Stewart) and his strait-laced parents.
THE PHILADELPHIA STORY (1940)
Katharine Hepburn stars as society girl Tracy Lord, whose upcoming marriage is imperiled by the attentions of reporter James Stewart and ex-husband Cary Grant.
Philadelphia Story, The -- (Movie Clip) Great Leveleler
Philadelphia Story, The -- (Movie Clip) They Grew Up Together
Philadelphia Story, The -- (Movie Clip) I'll Confess!
› Among writer Philip Barry’s closest friends at Harvard College was Edgar Scott who later married one of Philadelphia’s most famous socialites, Helen Hope Montgomery. It was through Philip’s friendship with the celebrated pair that the character of Tracy Lord and 
› With a total of four Oscars®, Katharine Hepburn is the world record holder for the most Oscars® won in the Best Actress category. During her legendary film career that spanned over seventy-three years, Katharine garnered twelve Academy Award nominations and is ranked #1 female star in the American Film Institute’s 50 Greatest Movie Legends. The intersection of East 49th Street and 2nd Avenue near her residence in New York City was renamed “Katharine Hepburn Place.”
