George Cukor directed the black and white film, The Philadelphia Story, in 1940. This film fits the screwball comedy genre but is not one of the funniest films of this genre. The entertainment comes not from what the characters say but how they deliver what they say. The film deals with love, marriage, human growth and class distinction. Things that can be relatable back in the 40’s and even still today to some extent.
There are two events that foreshadow what will happen later on. One is when the Spy magazine gets trampled on by the horse’s hoof. The camera makes sure to follow the magazine till it hits the ground and the horse running over it. Its meaning is later explained when viewers finally learn that George is not the right one for Tracy because he is only worried about his reputation and how this marriage will make him more popular in the press. The significance of the horse running over the magazine shows that Tracy will not end up going through with the marriage. The other is when Dexter gives Tracy a model of their boat that they sailed on in the summer after they got married. Tracy puts in the boat in the pool while she is swimming. The boat is close to her and then the audience sees her get out and the boat continue to sail in the pool. This shows that Dexter has always been close to her even after their breakup. He is working on a way to get back to her.
Stanley Cavell makes two great points in his book the Pursuit of Happiness. One point is the audience is torn between what guy they want Tracy to end up with. Both men, Dexter and Mike, are great guys who love and appreciate Tracy and vice versa. Cavell claims that the one picked is the one chosen by the genre that makes the perfect fit. One reason Dexter is chosen is because Mike belongs to the wrong class. The thing that Dexter has on Mike is that Tracy and he grew up together. It also fits the notion that the heroine can rewin or win back the female character. In the film, when Dexter gets in the car to check on Tracy to get her to come inside after she has been drinking is probably the most intimate moments throughout the whole film. Mike and Tracy have a shared interest in books and such but they do not have memories together like Dexter and her.
Another point that Cavell mentions is Tracy and her father’s relationship. The two of them have a showdown when he returns. Tracy has assumed his position as the figure head when he lefts and now he has come back to reclaim is position and she is not willing to give it up so easily. The father is able to reclaim his wife quite easily from Tracy. This shows that Tracy’s mom can’t and want offer her comfort or protection which the film shows their loss of connection through the rest of the film. One example would be when they are at the party and Tracy thought her mother left a long time ago.
I leave you with a line from the film, Tracy: The time to make up your mind about people is never.
There are two events that foreshadow what will happen later on. One is when the Spy magazine gets trampled on by the horse’s hoof. The camera makes sure to follow the magazine till it hits the ground and the horse running over it. Its meaning is later explained when viewers finally learn that George is not the right one for Tracy because he is only worried about his reputation and how this marriage will make him more popular in the press. The significance of the horse running over the magazine shows that Tracy will not end up going through with the marriage. The other is when Dexter gives Tracy a model of their boat that they sailed on in the summer after they got married. Tracy puts in the boat in the pool while she is swimming. The boat is close to her and then the audience sees her get out and the boat continue to sail in the pool. This shows that Dexter has always been close to her even after their breakup. He is working on a way to get back to her.
Stanley Cavell makes two great points in his book the Pursuit of Happiness. One point is the audience is torn between what guy they want Tracy to end up with. Both men, Dexter and Mike, are great guys who love and appreciate Tracy and vice versa. Cavell claims that the one picked is the one chosen by the genre that makes the perfect fit. One reason Dexter is chosen is because Mike belongs to the wrong class. The thing that Dexter has on Mike is that Tracy and he grew up together. It also fits the notion that the heroine can rewin or win back the female character. In the film, when Dexter gets in the car to check on Tracy to get her to come inside after she has been drinking is probably the most intimate moments throughout the whole film. Mike and Tracy have a shared interest in books and such but they do not have memories together like Dexter and her.
Another point that Cavell mentions is Tracy and her father’s relationship. The two of them have a showdown when he returns. Tracy has assumed his position as the figure head when he lefts and now he has come back to reclaim is position and she is not willing to give it up so easily. The father is able to reclaim his wife quite easily from Tracy. This shows that Tracy’s mom can’t and want offer her comfort or protection which the film shows their loss of connection through the rest of the film. One example would be when they are at the party and Tracy thought her mother left a long time ago.
I leave you with a line from the film, Tracy: The time to make up your mind about people is never.
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