13 November 2010

37. The Philadelphia Story




It's a screwball comedy, so there will be witty banter, there will be simple characters in battles of will, there will be complications of all kinds, most especially in love.

In a dialogue-free scene, we see a rich, spoiled Katherine Hepburn kicking out her husband, Cary Grant. The set-up gives us everything: later we see her debating whether or not to get married to the next man, who she clearly doesn't fit with. Jimmy Stewart and his photog sidekick are set to cover the story for the society pages, and Cary Grant comes along to get in the mix and try to win Hepburn back. Guess how it all works out?

Like I said: complications. Hepburn, who never gets drunk, gets drunk. She hooks up with Stewart. Grant blackmails Hepburn. A mix-up -- who is the uncle and who the father? Grant writes Stewart's story. Stewart proposes, she dismisses, takes Grant in the end.

The reason the writing works so well, besides the crackling dialogue, is that it depicts a high-class society life that many wish they were able to live, and it structures the story, all the way to the absolute end, making the audience wonder what will happen next. This is the screenwriter's primary concern: always keep them guessing.

3 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said...

ninest123 16.03
cheap oakley sunglasses, tiffany jewelry, ugg boots, michael kors outlet, ray ban sunglasses, louis vuitton, oakley sunglasses, ray ban sunglasses, polo ralph lauren outlet, tory burch outlet, oakley sunglasses, jordan shoes, longchamp, louboutin, louis vuitton, louis vuitton, burberry, ugg boots, louboutin outlet, michael kors outlet, michael kors, prada outlet, oakley sunglasses, replica watches, michael kors outlet, nike outlet, tiffany and co, prada handbags, ray ban sunglasses, louboutin shoes, nike air max, louis vuitton outlet, ugg boots, christian louboutin outlet, longchamp outlet, michael kors outlet, burberry outlet online, ugg boots, louis vuitton outlet, uggs on sale, oakley sunglasses, polo ralph lauren outlet, replica watches, chanel handbags, gucci outlet, nike free, michael kors outlet, longchamp outlet, nike air max

8:30 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

kate spade outlet, hogan, coach outlet, michael kors, sac longchamp, nike air max, nike free run uk, ralph lauren pas cher, longchamp pas cher, coach outlet, nike blazer, vans pas cher, nike air max, lululemon, lacoste pas cher, air max, burberry, kate spade handbags, michael kors, mulberry, michael kors, nike free, tn pas cher, true religion jeans, true religion jeans, hollister pas cher, louboutin pas cher, michael kors, abercrombie and fitch, air jordan pas cher, true religion outlet, ray ban uk, sac guess, hollister, oakley pas cher, ralph lauren uk, converse pas cher, replica handbags, north face, air force, true religion jeans, nike roshe, nike roshe run, timberland, new balance pas cher, hermes, vanessa bruno, nike air max, coach purses, ray ban pas cher, north face

8:31 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

hollister, moncler, barbour, coach outlet, pandora charms, moncler, moncler outlet, moncler, ugg boots uk, wedding dresses, sac louis vuitton pas cher, canada goose, moncler, ray ban, ugg,uggs,uggs canada, links of london, louis vuitton, doudoune canada goose, converse, canada goose, pandora charms, swarovski, karen millen, canada goose outlet, replica watches, thomas sabo, pandora jewelry, swarovski crystal, barbour jackets, bottes ugg, pandora jewelry, canada goose, vans, montre pas cher, converse outlet, louis vuitton, juicy couture outlet, canada goose uk, juicy couture outlet, moncler, marc jacobs, gucci, canada goose, moncler, louis vuitton, canada goose outlet, supra shoes, ugg,ugg australia,ugg italia, louis vuitton, moncler, toms shoes, lancel, ugg pas cher
ninest123 16.03

8:33 PM  

Post a Comment

<< Home