By Chlotrudis Independent Film Society
Rating: 5 cats
Director: George Cukor
Starring: Cary Grant | Doris Nolan | Edward Everett Horton | Katherine Hepburn | Lew Ayers
Country: united_states
Year: 1938
Running time: 95
IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0030241
Thom says: “Maybe it was my effusive mood but this pure professional comedy romance entranced me. While not a gigantic fan of neither Cary Grant nor Katherine Hepburn they click together with such an authentic force (BRINGING UP BABY, THE PHILADELPHIA STORY, SYLVIA SCARLETT) that they are a joy to watch together. And it certainly didn’t hurt having “lady’s director” George Cukor at the helm. Full marks to the original Philip Barry play from which it was adapted. Criterion always does a marvelous restoration help to their choices so the print was clear and sharp. Johnny Case (Cary Grant) & Julia Seton (Doris Nolan, who didn’t have much of a career after this film) meet cute (off-screen) at a holiday in Aspen and almost immediately become engaged. The problem is that Julia is one of the heirs to the vast Seton fortune ruled over by her imperious father who is far from being a sure-thing to give his approval to the betrothal. Johnny, while somewhat of a self-made man, comes from a dubious background and some of his friends are far from the high society of the Seton variety. Julia invites Johnny to her family mansion for a long weekend to meet her brother Edward & sister Linda (a mannish Katherine Hepburn) and eventually introducing him to the father. While both Edward & Linda immediately take to the delightful Johnny and are all in on planning their fathers acceptance. The film might work out for the best for everyone but it takes deep into the sto ry to find this out. Characters are drawn skillfully and the actors are committed and so entertaining. The title of the film is something of a ruse because we see nothing of the holiday where Johnny & Julia meet and no one goes on a holiday during the course of the film. Edward Everett shows up as an old friend of Johnny’s and he’s much less nelly than his usual performances. 5 cats“