High Society

Released Jul 17, 1956

1 hr. 47 min.

Musical

Comedy

List

83%

18 Reviews

Tomatometer

82%

10,000+ Ratings

Audience Score

Jazz artist C.K. Dexter Haven (Bing Crosby) is still hung up on his ex-wife and neighbor, socialite Tracy Samantha Lord (Grace Kelly), however Tracy is engaged to another man (John Lund). Matters are complicated even further when a magazine reporter (Frank Sinatra), in town to cover Tracy's wedding, also winds up falling for the beautiful bride-to-be. As Tracy tries to decide on the ideal husband, each suitor works hard to convince her he is the best choice.

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isla s

This is definitely a swooner type musical, dating from the 1950s. It is perhaps a little slow plot pace wise but the characters are interesting enough and I certainly recognised a few of the songs. I thought this was a reasonably enjoyable musical. Some of the script is cringey but of course its a film of its time, so sexist comments etc. are to be expected. I wouldn't say this is a particularly standout type musical but its not bad either, hence my rating, so yes I'd recommend it but only to fans of musicals.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/31/23

Full Review

Audience Member

Enjoyable overall with a great cast and especially the music & songs that go with Armstrong, Crosby, Sinatra, and Kelly. I didn't necessarily enjoy the story but still worth watching.

Rated 3.5 out of 5 stars

01/13/23

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Liam D

Not as good as the Philadelphia Story but it's still pretty great

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

03/28/22

Full Review

Audience Member

An early example of why re-makes should be considered with caution. Too much a musical for my taste except for the scene in Uncle Willy's bar. The vast crumbling hole is in the direction and the writing, the first being too slap-slick and the second being dis-integrated. Clearly following direction the early scenes are just goofy and Grace Kelly is mis-directed in all but the scene after the swim. A brightly colored yet pale reflection of the mono-chromatic original...

Rated 2 out of 5 stars

02/02/23

Full Review

William L

Sinatra, Crosby, and Armstrong (plus his entire band) should have made High Society a stunner of a musical adaptation of a previously massively successful rom-com, but the numbers feel awkwardly pasted in and the plot itself seems like a pale imitation of the Cukor classic. Though the lead actors were at the top of their careers, none of them seem to have an ounce of chemistry between them (sort of a vital component of a film based on whirlwind romances and charisma), more the result of casting on paper than any sort of compatability. The music is decent enough and probably the film's high point (there's a minimum threshold for a Cole Porter composition sung by some of the top mid-century crooning talent), but it's rather poorly integrated into the fabric of the film, and not enough to save the overall product. If you think that cash-grab Hollywood remakes of established properties are a new invention, you'd be mistaken. The pop-out bar in the library, though. Now that was a nice touch. (2.5/5)

Rated 2.5 out of 5 stars

06/08/21

Full Review

lanfranco c

Sparkling, funny comedy. The Hollywood Heyday.

Rated 3 out of 5 stars

03/30/23

Full Review

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Charles Walters

Director

Bing Crosby

C.K. Dexter-Haven

Grace Kelly

Tracy Samantha Lord

Frank Sinatra

Mike Connor

Celeste Holm

Liz Imbrie

Louis Calhern

Uncle Willie

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Edward Kosmal

St. Louis Post-Dispatch

It starts off at a listless, unflattering pace, but before the show is over, the Technicolor VistaVision musical is resuscitated, finishing off with a flair.

Jan 31, 2023

Full Review

Empire Magazine

Rated: 4/5

Dec 30, 2006

Full Review

Bosley Crowther

New York Times

High Society...is as flimsy as a gossip-columnist's word, especially when it is documenting the weird behavior of the socially elite.

Rated: 2/5

Mar 25, 2006

Full Review

Chris Hunneysett

Daily Mirror (UK)

sparkling fresh and brilliant entertainment

Rated: 5/5

Apr 8, 2021

Full Review

Clyde Gilmour

Maclean's Magazine

There is enough polish and melody here to make it an item worth catching, but it hardly measures up to the all-star potency of its participants.

Nov 7, 2019

Full Review

Andrea Beach

Common Sense Media

Charming, boozy musical remake has less screwball humor.

Rated: 4/5

Jan 31, 2017

Full Review

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Synopsis

Jazz artist C.K. Dexter Haven (Bing Crosby) is still hung up on his ex-wife and neighbor, socialite Tracy Samantha Lord (Grace Kelly), however Tracy is engaged to another man (John Lund). Matters are complicated even further when a magazine reporter (Frank Sinatra), in town to cover Tracy's wedding, also winds up falling for the beautiful bride-to-be. As Tracy tries to decide on the ideal husband, each suitor works hard to convince her he is the best choice.

Director: Charles Walters
Screenwriter: Philip Barry, John Patrick
Distributor: MGM/UA Home Entertainment Inc., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co: Metro Goldwyn Mayer, Bing Crosby Productions
Genre: Musical, Comedy
Original Language: English
Release Date (Theaters): Jul 17, 1956, Original
Release Date (Streaming): Oct 1, 2016
Sound Mix: Perspecta Stereo
Aspect Ratio: 35mm, Flat (1.85:1)

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