Press Release Warner Archive Collection Press Release: High Society (1956) (4k UHD Combo) (Blu-ray) (1 Viewer)

[Richard M S]

A spectacular restoration will definitely enhance the experience of watching High Society. The musical performances, sets and costumes, and Grace Kelly herself will be so much fun to watch in a restoration from the Original VistaVision Negative.

However, having watched this over Christmas, I do agree with some of the other posts. Long stretches of the film are a bit of a chore to watch. Sinatra, who was around age 39 or 40 here, looks even older than 54 year old Bing Crosby, which threw off his romance with Grace Kelly, at least to me.

 

[Keith Cobby]

I hope WA included a menu option for the musical numbers. This is an 'afternoon' film to be enjoyed over tea and cake or something fizzy!

 

[Robin9]

I like the movie but don’t love it. On the surface, Grace seemed a good choice for Tracy Lord but she just can’t deliver the sparkling Phillip Barry dialog with the effortlessness of Hepburn. Bing doesn’t project the old money class of Cary and Frank is certainly no folksy Jimmy. Moving the location to Newport doesn’t seem to quite work either because it’s always been a vulgar getaway for millionaires. As a result you lose the conflict of quiet old money with the loud world of an ugly gossip rag that is the heart of the story.

When Grace Kelly drives Frank Sinatra around the area, showing him the grand houses, some of which are too expensive to maintain, is very much an old money sequence. Bing Crosby was not re-channelling Cary Grant and Frank Sinatra was not trying to be like James Stewart.

 

[OliverK]

When Grace Kelly drives Frank Sinatra around the area, showing him the grand houses, some of which are too expensive to maintain, is very much an old money sequence. Bing Crosby was not re-channelling Cary Grant and Frank Sinatra was not trying to be like James Stewart.

I very much agree.

In any case it is better to enjoy than to compare because The Philadelphia Story may be a great movie but like with all great movies we need to watch something else from time to time...

Edit: Did not mean to belittle High Society as last time I watched it I enjoyed it a lot although it has been some time. It is just a completely different kind of movie. So it does not have to beat Philadelphia story at its game as it is very good - and better than Philadelphia Story - at its own game.

 

[Rob_Ray]

When Grace Kelly drives Frank Sinatra around the area, showing him the grand houses, some of which are too expensive to maintain, is very much an old money sequence. Bing Crosby was not re-channelling Cary Grant and Frank Sinatra was not trying to be like James Stewart.

Yes, I enjoy both THE PHILADELPHIA STORY and HIGH SOCIETY separately on their own terms. One is not trying to be the other. If you are looking for undiluted Philip Barry, you are better off choosing THE PHILADELPHIA STORY with the three stars at their peak with their performances.

But HIGH SOCIETY offers additional entertainment not found in the original source material. Mainly it's the Cole Porter score performed by three of the greatest musical performers of the 20th century: Crosby, Sinatra and Armstrong. If Crosby is no Cary Grant and Sinatra is no Jimmy Stewart, then the reverse is also true. Grant is no Bing Crosby and Jimmy Stewart is no Sinatra. And none of them has to be the other because the two movies have different entertainment agendas. I can't compare the two, as I love them both equally for different reasons.

 

[John Maher_289910]

This is my preferred version of The Philadelphia Story (and with a Philadelphia girl!) Day one, for me. I adore this film.

 

[DarkVader]

I adore everything about this film as well. I was 8 when I first saw it on television and it quickly became a personal favorite. This is my favorite Porter score. "Well, Did You Evah!" is the highlight of the film for me. I am so glad this film is getting a deluxe treatment.

 

[bujaki]

High Society lacks the talents of Virginia Weidler from The Philadelphia Story. Fatal flaw.
Looking forward to this release that I saw many times during its first run.

 

[Douglas R]

High Society would be a much better film without Grace Kelly. I’ve never understood the adulation she receives. Expressionless, wooden actress with a phoney accent and over-rated in the looks department. She was fortunate in being cast in some good films but I’ve never enjoyed her performance in any of them. There I’ve said it. You can hate me now.

 

[Robert Crawford]

High Society would be a much better film without Grace Kelly. I’ve never understood the adulation she receives. Expressionless, wooden actress with a phoney accent and over-rated in the looks department. She was fortunate in being cast in some good films but I’ve never enjoyed her performance in any of them. There I’ve said it. You can hate me now.

I hate you.

 

[richardburton84]

It’s been a while since I last saw this film, but I recall my main disappointment with this film is that it didn’t really give Grace Kelly a musical number (I do recall her singing a few snatches of “You’re Sensational” in a scene where her character is drunk) so we never really get to hear her sing. That said, it will be good to revisit it in what I’m sure will be a magnificent restoration.

 

[bujaki]

It’s been a while since I last saw this film, but I recall my main disappointment with this film is that it didn’t really give Grace Kelly a musical number (I do recall her singing a few snatches of “You’re Sensational” in a scene where her character is drunk) so we never really get to hear her sing. That said, it will be good to revisit it in what I’m sure will be a magnificent restoration.

Her duet with Crosby, True Love, was awarded a Gold record.

 

[Robin9]

High Society would be a much better film without Grace Kelly. I’ve never understood the adulation she receives. Expressionless, wooden actress with a phoney accent and over-rated in the looks department. She was fortunate in being cast in some good films but I’ve never enjoyed her performance in any of them. There I’ve said it. You can hate me now.

Wow! I've always had reservations about Grace Kelly and been astonished by the rapturous adoration of her fans, but I never especially disliked her. I now think she was a pretty good actress, better than is commonly recognized but I agree with you about her looks.

 

[Keith Cobby]

What a career and a life. 11 films in 5 years, including 3 for Hitch, an AA winner, and High Noon.

 

[The-Cinema-Upstairs]

Going Hollywood might have a chance from WAC. The consensus seems to be that the footage included in their recent remaster of That’s Entertainment! has had some work done, so WAC might do it. There is also his pre-stardom appearance in Confessions Of A Co-Ed being worked on by Kino as part of their Sylvia Sidney Pre-Code Double Feature (which does not have a release date yet). Otherwise, I am inclined to agree with you, since Universal's MOD program is doing almost nothing with new-to-blu titles.

During their most recent podcast episode, Kino revealed they have a new deal with Universal which includes a number of titles from the 30s - 50s; so let me join you in keeping my fingers crossed there is more Bing among those titles.

 

[Astairefan]

During their most recent podcast episode, Kino revealed they have a new deal with Universal which includes a number of titles from the 30s - 50s; so let me join you in keeping my fingers crossed there is more Bing among those titles.

I wouldn't count on Kino having anything more. Kino's Insider has never had much positive to say about sales for their Bing Crosby films, and a few years ago (in Agust 2022), they had this to say: "The only others we would probably be interested in if they were available to us, are High Society, The Country Girl and maybe Stagecoach." Since then, we've gotten The Country Girl, and that's been it for his starring vehicles from Kino. I think the only reason that we are getting the aforementioned Confessions Of A Co-Ed is because that was when he was still part of the Rhythm Boys and hadn't gone off on his own yet (and therefore, he's not the main sales appeal). I really don't think that we'll see anything more from Kino other than titles like that (or Stagecoach, if they ever make another deal with Disney/Fox).

 

[Keith Cobby]

I assume KL have Anything Goes as it's a 1956 Paramount VistaVision title.

 

[Jimbo.B]

I may have reservations about her performance as Tracy Lord in High Society but just her presence in a movie is reason enough for me to watch it. I mean, I even sat through Fourteen Hours just to catch a glimpse of her at the end!

 

[The-Cinema-Upstairs]

I may have reservations about her performance as Tracy Lord in High Society but just her presence in a movie is reason enough for me to watch it. I mean, I even sat through Fourteen Hours just to catch a glimpse of her at the end!

Truth! If you've seen the restored HIGH SOCIETY clips in the reconstructed THATS ENTERTAINMENT Blu ray you know you will want this release for your collection. Exceptional picture quality has a way of bringing a whole new appreciation towards a film - at least in my experience that has often been the case.

 

[RBailey]

If they had announced this yesterday, for an April Fool's joke, they could have listed The Bowery Boys instead

Since WB owns the Bowery Boys series, a cool extra would have been adding the Monogram "High Society" film and a brief extra on the mix-up with the Academy Awards nomination.