Film High Society(1956) starring Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra & Bing Crosby

Film High Society(1956) starring Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra&Bing Crosby

High Society is a 1956 American musical romantic comedy film directed by Charles Walters and starring Bing Crosby, Grace Kelly, and Frank Sinatra. The film was produced by Sol C. Siegel for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, and shot in VistaVision and Technicolor, with music and lyrics by Cole Porter.

Film High Society(1956) starring Grace Kelly, Frank Sinatra&Bing Crosby

The film is a musical remake of the 1940 film The Philadelphia Story which was based on the 1939 play The Philadelphia Story by Philip Barry. 

High Society's screenplay was written by John Patrick and involves a successful popular jazz musician (Bing Crosby) who tries to win back the affections of his ex-wife (Grace Kelly), who is preparing to marry another man. The cast also features Celeste Holm, John Lund, and Louis Calhern, in his final film, with a musical contribution by Louis Armstrong. The film was Grace Kelly's last professional appearance before she married Prince Rainier III and became Princess consort of Monaco.

Grace Kelly with Prince Rainier II on their wedding day, 1956

Plot

Grace Kelly in High Society(1956)

Successful singer-composer C.K. Dexter-Haven (the grandson of a Newport "robber baron") is divorced from wealthy Newport, Rhode Island socialite Tracy Samantha Lord. Dexter, who lives next door to the Lord estate, remains in love with her but she is now engaged to socially prominent and snobbish George Kittredge. As Tracy prepares for her upcoming wedding, Dexter is busily organizing elements of the Newport Jazz Festival.

Meanwhile, Spy, a fictional tabloid newspaper, possesses embarrassing information about Tracy's errant father, Seth Lord, and has coerced the family into allowing reporter Mike Connor and photographer Liz Imbrie to cover the nuptials. Tracy, resenting their forced presence, begins an elaborate charade, including introducing her Uncle Willy as her father, while Seth is passed off as "wicked" Uncle Willy.

Frank Sinatra and Celeste Holm in film High Society(1956)

When Tracy drives Mike around Newport, he notices some neglected mansions; Tracy explains many owners have been forced to board up or sell off their properties due to high taxes. Her Uncle Willy is selling his own estate. The two form a mutual attraction, leaving Tracy to choose from three very different men during a course of self-discovery.

Grace Kelly with Frank Sinatra in film High Society(1956)

As a wedding gift, Dexter gives Tracy a scale model of their former sailboat, "True Love," which evokes her memories about their happy honeymoon aboard it. Tracy gradually realizes George knows little about her true self and has instead created an idealized image of her.

Grace Kelly with the sailboat in film High Society(1956)

Grace Kelly with Bing Crosby in film High Society(1956)

Grace Kelly with the sailboat in film High Society(1956)

Grace Kelly with the sailboat in film High Society(1956)

Grace Kelly in film High Society(1956)

During the wedding-eve party at Uncle Willy's house, George catches a tipsy Tracy kissing Dexter on the patio. George leaves Tracy in an empty room to sober up but, still tipsy, she climbs out the window and runs into Mike. George finds her again after she and Mike have had a swim in the Lords' pool.

Grace Kelly in film High Society(1956)

Grace Kelly in film High Society(1956)

The next day, Tracy has hazy memories of the previous night. She initially intends to go through with the wedding, then prods George into agreeing to call it off. While informing the waiting guests the wedding is canceled, Dexter suddenly proposes that he be the groom. Knowing she loves him, Tracy accepts. Liz and Mike, who now realize they love each other, tell Tracy and Dexter that they are not writing a story about the wedding or other events to protect the family's privacy.

Grace Kelly with Bing Crosby, Celeste Holm and Frank Sinatra in film High Society(1956)

Grace Kelly with Bing Crosby in film High Society(1956)

Grace Kelly with Celeste Holm and Frank Cinatra in film High Society(1956)

Cast

Grace Kelly as Tracy Lord

Bing Crosby as C. K. Dexter-Haven

Frank Sinatra as Mike Connor

Celeste Holm as Liz Imbrie

John Lund as George Kittredge

Filming took place between January and March 1956. The location scenes were mostly shot in and around Clarendon Court in Newport, Rhode Island, which was then owned by Mae Cadwell Hayward, and later purchased in 1970 by Claus von Bülow.

The location, according to Turner Classic Movies, enabled them to take advantage of the Newport Jazz Festival, established in 1954, incorporating it into the film by giving Crosby's character a background as a descendant of a Gilded Age robber baron who became a jazz composer and friend of jazz star Louis Armstrong, who plays himself in the film, and patron of the Festival.

This film featured Grace Kelly's final role before she became Princess of Monaco; it was released three months after her marriage to Prince Rainier III. In the film, Kelly wore the Cartier engagement ring given to her by Rainier.

Production

Filming took place between January and March 1956. The location scenes were mostly shot in and around Clarendon Court in Newport, Rhode Island, which was then owned by Mae Cadwell Hayward, and later purchased in 1970 by Claus von Bülow.

The location, according to Turner Classic Movies, enabled them to take advantage of the Newport Jazz Festival, established in 1954, incorporating it into the film by giving Crosby's character a background as a descendant of a Gilded Age robber baron who became a jazz composer and friend of jazz star Louis Armstrong, who plays himself in the film, and patron of the Festival.

This film featured Grace Kelly's final role before she became Princess of Monaco; it was released three months after her marriage to Prince Rainier III. In the film, Kelly wore the Cartier engagement ring given to her by Rainier. Her costume was designed by her friend, MGM head costume designer Helen Rose who would go on to design Grace Kelly's wedding dress when she marries Prince Rainier III.

Release

Opening on July 17, 1956, High Society garnered mixed reviews, often being compared as a lesser offering to The Philadelphia Story, a previous adaptation in 1940 of the same play starring Cary Grant in the Bing Crosby part, Katharine Hepburn in the Grace Kelly role, and James Stewart in an Oscar-winning turn as the reporter played in the remake by Frank Sinatra.