High Society

Where to begin? I had the pleasure last weekend of introducing my youngest daughter to one of the great classic remakes of all time. In 1940 a superb romantic comedy was released starring the highest of Hollywood royalty at the time, Katherine Hepburn, Cary Grant and James Stewart. It was called the Philadelphia Story.
Some sixteen years later they decided to remake it as a musical. There must have been many people shaking their heads. Still they managed to cast Grace Kelly in her last film before leaving Hollywood to become, Princess Grace of Monaco. They roped in the two top popular performers of the time, Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra and songs and music by Cole Porter. Then, as the icing on the cake they brought in Louis Armstrong and his band, playing himself. They moved the story from Philadelphia to the legendary Newport Jazz Festival on Rhode Island. And thus was born a truly classic film that far eclipsed the original and produced some the most famous songs of last century. The classic, True Love, Who wants to be a millionaire? and a show stopping duet with Sinatra and Crosby singing, Did You Evah?
My own personal favourite is Now You Has Jazz with Frank Sinatra and Louis Armstrong explaining the nature of Jazz.
It is a romantic comedy and Louis Armstrong weaves it all together. It is the most watched film in my collection. I love it to bits.
My daughter, is now a convert, although how she managed to miss it over the last thirty five years will remain a mystery, but one I am sure familiar to many parents of adult children!
High Society is an absolute must see, if you want to be any kind of movie buff. Even if you don't it is such a feel good film, watch it some miserable day and you will be walking on sunshine at the end.
For those interested watch out for the fabulous wardrobe that Grace Kelly wears throughout the film, a shimmering beauty at 26.

Five stars

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