Questions posed by the prof:
What obstacles to love do the characters experience?

What narratives about love does the story express? (Include production techniques if relevant).

Hi andy! Great to see you. I love this idea for a discussion and this movie is one of my favourites.

I've been trying to think of answers to this question..."what obstacles to love do the characters experience?"

One of the things that pops into my head is that pride and marriage might be obstacles. Or the idea that one spouse will not tolerate another spouses weaknesses. In a way Cary Grant is a difficult guy to love because he seems to be a bit of a partier. On the other hand...Hepburn's character seems to be a snob. She wants a husband who has good social standing. Yet...their original marriage had some beautiful qualities. They bonded over a simple physical and nature-based love of sailing and the outdoors. Their bond seemed to be a simple one...as opposed to progressing upa social ladder. Grant s a bit of a radical in that way. Hepburn is more materialistic.

I think there is some profound insight into fidelity and the male role of gender in our culture too. It is when we learn of why Hepburn's father says he found love outside his marriage. And why Hepburn's character had such a materialistic stereotype of a "good husband". I will wait to say more about this as I watch the film again...and maybe take notes of that important theme and revelation in the movie.

This is one of my all time favorite movies, too, and Katharine Hepburn is my favorite actress, Cary Grant my favorite actor.

I think the John Howard character, George, is way to "stodgy" for Hepburn's Tracy. Both Tracy and Dex are such free spirits and they live life with such passion. I think one of the things that got in their way of a lasting marriage the first time was their failure to accept the fact that the other was just as high-spirited as he/she was.

Like Candy, I'm going to have to watch the film again, though and pay closer attention to the dynamics.

Hey...here is some interesting stuff on Phillip Barry, author of the original play

http://books.google.com/books?id=zrJfQro...

The obstacle I have been thinking of is Tracy's lack of passion (it's funny that interpretation is at odds with Gabrielle's). The scene that happens just before the party, her father dresses her down for basically not showing any vulnerability. He says she sees herself as a goddess... cool, aloof, perfect. It is that speech that "drives her to drink" so to speak. After that speech, she downs three glasses of champagne and decides she is going to show everybody that she's no prude.

Jimmy Stewart's writer character is one representation of love in the film. He is a hard man on the outside, but Tracy reads his book and finds that he is capable of love, if not starved for love. There is a cultural narrative that suggests through art, love, emotion, meaning is made possible.

One question that springs to mind: is Carey Grant's character also an artist in a way? Is he seeking revenge or is he trying to win Hepburn's character back? Does he bring in the writer (Stewart) and the photographer/painter (Elizabeth Imbrie) to soften Tracy up? Or was he genuinely plotting revenge? Does it matter what his intentions are?

I also wonder about the word "important." Stewart's character says the photographer might be an "important" painter if only she had time. George is interested in being an "important" person, he wants to be in the magazines because he wants to become involved in politics. Is there a correlation between "importance" and the notion of love that drives the story?

I think Tracy is full of life when she's with Dex. I think it's after her divorce from Dex that she became cool and aloof, almost afraid to live and love again. I think George stifles Tracy. She comes alive with Dex. Maybe that scares her a bit.

We're going to watch this tonight. If Tricia is around...I'm making curry. You can come over and join us for the movie in our kitchen!

These are my notes I made right after watching the movie, with the questions Andy posted in my mind...first impressions...

Each character experiences different obstacles to love.

The mother's lack of focus is comical yet that is her way to overcome the chaos.

The father's recent past is reinforced by his introduction-yet-his cold (talking to)--"wake-up-call" is his way to overcome his parental responsibility to have his daughter a human being and not a rich upper class trophy.

All of the help in the house seek constant respect.

The young girl's obstacle is not only the experience of growing up-it is also her ideas of being included like an adult.

The magazine
s editor would like to be feared and powerful-yet-his reappearance shows how manipulative and wise with care he is.

Tracy's obstacle of love is herself, toward herself-which lead her "all-over-the-place".

The uncle is proof of one never getting past oneself.

George the fiance character just can't get past his own morals and work ethic.

Cary Grant's character is more than too smart for his and everyone's good-especially with such a sharp tongue.

jimmy Stewart's character has obstacles of self-belief, self ideas of class structuree, and his photographer's well pointed lack of "world experience".

The photographer's obstacle of money keeps herself from painting-and-she is not ready to stand up for herself-she is all too ready to trade positions with other characters.

The story shows that you can't hide true love. All of the jealousy and overacting with it's well written narrative pushes it all along. I found that the costumes constantly reinforced the narrative. Gestures combined with hats, dresses, coats, ties and jackets, buttoned and loose, danced along to make it all relevant.

Thanks for the notes, Stagg. I like that you noticed the hats, LOL.

I'm going to "skim" the movie again tonight to look for other production values that are noteable...

I really moticed a lot more things with the idea of costumes and production in the back of my head. Plus...the dialogue was just fantastic all over again...it just keeps on giving. Cary Grant's facial expressions could keep a viewer busy in themselves.

I'm way too tired to make any much of a conrtribution tonight...but...

I believe that one of the major obstacles of Katherine Hepburn's character was that she didn't have compassion. She wasn't able to imagine that other people might have valid and real reasons for their behaviour. She saw any flaw or undesirable habit or action as a weakness. It's possibly that the layers of commentary about class may have been played out in Hepburn's character representing people who have gifted and protected lives with safe moneyed existence are not sensitive to others. it's possible the story has a subtext using Hepburn in such a way.

Whether or not that was intended her character's couldn't love because she couldn't put herself in someone else's shoes. She could imagine reasons they might have acted the way they did.

I have many more thoughts on this...but what a crazy day I've had...didn't stop moving since dawn...must...fall..into...bed...


zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

http://www.goodreads.com/photo/group/262...

Check out the "romantic glow" lighting. I think it's notable that the director used this stylized lighting here, when George is telling her she is pure and a goddess, the exact qualities that Dexter and her Father criticized her for.

They use a similar lighting scheme when she is dancing with George, then when Dexter and Tracy are in the car after the party, then when Tracy and Mike are having their moment in the garden later that night...

If I could figure out how to embed photos, I could post them here to show things more clearly... Does anybody know how to do that?

Andy wrote: "http://www.goodreads.com/photo/group/26210.Salon_des_Refus_s?photo=48916

Check out the "romantic glow" lighting. I think it's notable that the director used this stylized lighting here, when Georg..."

That's interesting, Andy. And it makes me want to watch the film again today. Of course I have the DVD since it's one of my favorites.

I'm sorry, I don't know how to embed photos.

I identified four scenes that have that soft glow... Kind of hard to see on the youtube version :)

*spoiler*

I think the glow is softest in the scenes between Tracy and George. Could be the directors needed to use whatever trick they could to keep the audience involved in that relationship, since everybody knows she's going to end up with one of the others :)

http://www.goodreads.com/photo/group/262...

Some interesting background on The Philadelphia Story:

The Philadelphia Story (1940) is an intelligent, sophisticated, classic romantic comedy-farce (part screwball) of love and marriage, human growth and class distinctions. Its screenplay is a witty, sparkling, and bright adaptation of Philip Barry's Broadway hit play. (The play opened in late March 1939 and ran for a full year with more than 400 performances and a nationwide tour). [Barry's inspiration for the lead female character was derived from real-life Philadelphian WASP heiress Hope Montgomery Scott (1905-1995).:] Barry, who is uncredited as the screenwriter in the film, wrote the part specifically for the talents of Katharine Hepburn who played the hit role in the theatre. [Hepburn's suggested title for the play was The Answer to This Malden's Prayer.:]

http://www.filmsite.org/phil.html

Thanks for uploading those photos Andy. A terrific observation. It seems each single male character had a moment in the movie of such lighting. I think it's a good observation this glowing light was used to keep the audience involved in how romantic possibilities for each man is there.

I really noticed details in the sets. I was highly struck by Cary Grant's character. he was a rich probably potentially spoiled person...yet he used his hands. He got his hands dirty. First, he made his own sail boat! Now THAT is a reflection of Malcolm Gladwell's concept of 10,000 hours!

This makes a highlight that this movie deals a lot with the various definitions of "virtue" Several times Hepburn is refered to as a virgin...a married maiden". Virtue in our society can be virginity. Virtue can also be kindness, it can be aptitude, it can be financial success...and each character seems to reflect a stereotype of virtue.

But there is Cary Grant who by reading was able to quit drinking. He can build a sail boat. His house was filled with hand made accomplishments, he could hunt animals. So we slowly earn that he is much more earthy and practical than some of the other rich people. He has more in common with the writer and artist from Spy magazine!

Cary Grant seems to know what "true love" really is...he took the marriage vows to heart. Where Hepburn's character...she drops the vows as soon as she sees a weakness.

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Links about 10,000 hours:

http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-...

http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Outliers_(book)