High Society (1956) is musical film made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in VistaVision and Technicolor with music and lyrics by Cole Porter. It was directed by Charles Walters and produced by Sol C. Siegel from a screenplay by John Patrick, based on the play The Philadelphia Story by Philip Barry. The cinematography was by Paul Vogel, the art direction by Cedric Gibbons and Hans Peters and the costume design by Helen Rose.
The successful jazz musician C.K. Dexter-Haven (Bing Crosby) had married and divorced rich Tracy Samantha Lord (Grace Kelly), but remains in love with her. She, however, is about to get married to a bland gentleman of good standing, George Kittredge (John Lund). The intense and edgy reporter by the name of Mike Connor (Frank Sinatra) covers the nuptials for Spy Magazine, and falls for her as well. She must choose between the three very different men in a course of self-discovery.
The film stars Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra, Celeste Holm with Louis Armstrong, John Lund, Louis Calhern, Sidney Blackmer, and Margalo Gillmore.
High Society marked the final acting role for Grace Kelly before she became Princess of Monaco (the film was actually released three months after her marriage to Prince Rainier III of Monaco). At the time of the film's release, Sinatra and Holm were over forty and Crosby was fifty-three. Kelly, however, was only twenty-six and was actually the second consideration for the part of Tracy Lord, the original choice, Elizabeth Taylor, being unable to commit.
High Society would mark the first on-screen pairing of Frank Sinatra and Bing Crosby, two of the most popular singers and actors of the 1940s and 1950s. They would act together again in the Sinatra-produced Robin and the 7 Hoods in 1964. This would be the second time that Bing Crosby and Grace Kelly acted together, the first time being in The Country Girl in 1954.
I've already made known just how much I enjoy the original "The Philadelphia Story." This musical adaptation with Sinatra, Crosby and Louis Armstrong just really takes the story to another level. The music naturally ingratiates itself to the telling of the narrative. This movie is a perfect fit for Grace Kelly in her final role. She's delicate and debonair yet not afraid to lend herself to the film's comedic element. This production marks one of the greatest film spectacles ever!
High Society "Did you ever?" - Frank Sinatra & Bing Crosby http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kKhi4BfDNZE I seriously LMAO every time I watch Frank and Bing prance arm-in-arm out to the dance floor, only to headily retreat back in for another drink. I think that most men can relate to that.
High Society - Mind if I make love to you? by Frank Sinatra http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpQIZEcpypI&feature=related This is one of the most famous scenes EVER noted for its aesthetic value -- the reflection of the house and it's white pillars off of the swimming pool with Frank and Grace as its graceful epicenter; it's really just an extravagant and telling scene of the age!
