honestly i think my biggest problem with high society (1956) is that pitting frank sinatra at that point in his life and career against bing crosby at that point in his life and career just isn't fair. the philadelphia story works bc in 1940 cary grant and jimmy stewart were at similar levels of desirability, just, like, in different directions: grant was 37 years old, out of his baby face phase but still young. he's suave and sophisticated and portrays dexter as someone who knows katharine hepburn's tracy better than anyone and can be her intellectual equal. stewart, on the other hand, is a few years younger, boyish and still a little rough around the edges but undeniably charming. he makes mike seem sweet and a little shy, someone who loves tracy a lot but doesn't fully understand her. in high society, though, there's really no contest. crosby is in his early 50s, and he's already on the decline. there's really no indication as to what grace kelly's tracy sees in him, aside from the fact that he's familiar to her, because she's known him for a long time. sinatra, on the other hand, is in his prime. his take on mike isn't charmingly inexperienced, but confident and self-assured. the point of the philadelphia story is that tracy has trouble choosing because both men are desirable in different ways. even if you personally prefer mike, tracy choosing dexter at the end doesn't feel like a let down because, i mean, come on, it's cary grant. high society falls flat because, for the average viewer, the obvious choice is mike, but, because the plot requires it, tracy chooses dexter. where tracy in the philadelphia story chooses a man who can challenge her and make her want to be a better person over a man who worships her but comes from a different world, tracy in high society chooses what she knows over something new and exciting.
blakekathryn
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prguitarman
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