directed by George Cukor
USA 1940

 

Its witty dialogue, romantic complications, and class-skewering satire are hallmarks of screwball comedy, but George Cukor’s classic The Philadelphia Story doesn’t turn on absurd situations, outlandish behavior, or unpredictable plot twists. Instead, it’s a more mature and humanistic social satire, a comedy of manners skewering every kind of snobbery: not only the class-based snobbery of the rich against the poor — and the poor against the rich — but also the intellectual snobbery of the literate against the popular, and above all the moral snobbery of the self-righteous against the imperfect.


Excerpt from Steven D. Greydanus' review located HERE

Posters

Theatrical Release: December 1st, 1940

Reviews    More Reviews    DVD Reviews

DVD Comparison:

Warner (Two-Disc Special Edition) - Region 2,4,5 - PAL vs. Warner (old) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Warner (Two-Disc Special Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC

Big thanks to Henrik Sylow for the PAL screen captures!

(Warner (Two-Disc Special Edition) - Region 2,4,5 - PAL LEFT vs. Warner (old) - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. Warner (Two-Disc Special Edition) - Region 1- NTSC - RIGHT)

DVD Box Covers

OR buy the Warner Classic Comedies Collection (Bringing Up Baby / The Philadelphia Story Two-Disc Special Edition / Dinner at Eight / Libeled Lady / Stage Door / To Be or Not to Be)...

       

Distribution

Warner

Region 2,4,5 - PAL

Warner (old)

Region 1  - NTSC

Warner (2 disc)
Region 1 - NTSC
Runtime 1:47:38 (4% PAL speedup) 1:52:24 1:52:04
Video 1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 6.19 mb/s
PAL 720x576 25.00 f/s

1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 4.68  mb/s
NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

1.33:1 Original Aspect Ratio
Average Bitrate: 5.73 mb/s
 NTSC 720x480 29.97 f/s

NOTE: The Vertical axis represents the bits transferred per second. The Horizontal is the time in minutes.
Bitrate:

Warner (PAL)

 

Bitrate:

Warner (old)

 

Bitrate:

 

Warner (SE)

 

Audio 1.0 Dolby Digital English, German (dub), Spanish (dub) English (Dolby Digital 1.0 Mono)

English (Dolby Digital 2.0 Dolby) 

Subtitles English, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, Finnish, Icelandic, Croatian, Slovenian, Polish, Czech, Bulgarian, Turkish, Greek, Hebrew etc. English, French, Spanish, English (Hearing Impaired) and none English, French, Spanish, English (Hearing Impaired) and none
Features Release Information:
Studio: Warner

Aspect Ratio:
Fullscreen - 1.33:1

Edition Details:
• Audio commentary by Jeanine Basinger
• Cukor Trailer Gallery
• Katharine Hepburn: All About Me - A Self Portrait (1:10:02)
• The Man who made the Movies: George Cukor (55:02)
• That Inferior Feeling (9:09)
• The Homeless Flee (7:35)
• Victory Theater Broadcast 7/20/1942 (57:59)
• Lady Esther Screen Guild Playhouse Broadcast 3/17/1947 (29:22)

DVD Release Date: June 20, 2005
Keep Case

Chapters 30

 

 Release Information:
Studio: Warner

Aspect Ratio:
 Original aspect Ratio 1.33:1

Edition Details:
• Theatrical trailer (3:38)

DVD Release Date: December, 2000
Snapper Case

Chapters 30

Release Information:
Studio: Warner

Aspect Ratio:
Original aspect Ratio 1.33:1

Edition Details:

Disc 1:
• Digitally Remastered Movie with Commentary by Film Historian Jeannine Basinger
• George Cukor Movie Trailer Gallery

Disc 2:
• Two Insightful Documentaries About the Star and Director: Katharine Hepburn: All About Me - A Self-Portrait and The Men Who Made the Movies: George Cukor
Robert Benchley Short That Inferior Feeling
• Cartoon The Homeless Flea
• Audio-Only Bonus: Two Radio • Adaptations Featuring the Movie's Three Stars.

DVD Release Date: March 1st, 2005
Keep Case inside cardboard box
Chapters: 30

 

Comments:
NOTE: Although there are some minute differences in the image of the new 2-disc editions, it can be considered negligible, but at the same time very interesting. We use first-frame matches and not slightly different damage marks from the PAL to the NTSC - nothing outrageous though. I would say on of the major differences are in the subtitle font. Other than that we have the same menus, same extras and if I was forced to choose a superior image - it might very well be the PAL.  The PAL edition has more DUB and subtitles options as often the case with European vs. North American releases. BOTTOM LINE: I'd be happy with either new edition, and buy where you find the most reasonably priced Amazon shipping.

*****

The biggest areas of improvement in the new SE package are 1) The extras, 2) the contrast level, and 3) slight more screen information on the right, top and bottom edges of the frame. The new edition has far superior black levels. this was the most noticeable improvement to the image. I found the sharpness to be the same. Minimal damage and dust still appear in the same spots in the new edition and good film grain is still present. Subtitles on the new edition s are less intrusive and we find superior. Audio also appeared to be an improvement, although my ears have trouble detecting anything more than major differences. The extras on the new disc are tremendous - short cartoons, extensive bio featurettes, audio radio inserts etc. etc. I was initially suspicious of this new SE when I saw the similar damage marks on the new transfer, but the host of extras and convincingly strong black levels have sold me. We recommend the new edition whole-heartedly. A solid DVD of a classic and wonderful film.

P.S. LOVE The Homeless Flea short cartoon addition. I wish there was more of this with classic films put to DVD these days.

 - Gary W. Tooze




DVD Menus

(Warner (old) - Region 1 - NTSC - LEFT vs. Warner (Two-Disc Special Edition) - NTSC + PAL - RIGHT)

 

NOTE: The Region 2 - PAL menus are exactly the same as the 2-disc NTSC except for the set-up options:

 

Warner (Two-Disc Special Edition) - Region 1- NTSC - Disc 2 menus

 

 

Subtitle sample

(NOTE: not exact frame capture)

 

(Warner (Two-Disc Special Edition) - Region 2,4,5 - PAL TOP vs. Warner (old) - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. Warner (Two-Disc Special Edition) - Region 1- NTSC - BOTTOM)


 

Screen Captures

(Warner (Two-Disc Special Edition) - Region 2,4,5 - PAL TOP vs. Warner (old) - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. Warner (Two-Disc Special Edition) - Region 1- NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

 

(Warner (Two-Disc Special Edition) - Region 2,4,5 - PAL TOP vs. Warner (old) - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. Warner (Two-Disc Special Edition) - Region 1- NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

NOTE: Notice black levels of the phone!

 

 

(Warner (Two-Disc Special Edition) - Region 2,4,5 - PAL TOP vs. Warner (old) - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. Warner (Two-Disc Special Edition) - Region 1- NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

 

(Warner (Two-Disc Special Edition) - Region 2,4,5 - PAL TOP vs. Warner (old) - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. Warner (Two-Disc Special Edition) - Region 1- NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

 

(Warner (Two-Disc Special Edition) - Region 2,4,5 - PAL TOP vs. Warner (old) - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. Warner (Two-Disc Special Edition) - Region 1- NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

 

(Warner (Two-Disc Special Edition) - Region 2,4,5 - PAL TOP vs. Warner (old) - Region 1 - NTSC - MIDDLE vs. Warner (Two-Disc Special Edition) - Region 1- NTSC - BOTTOM)

 

 

Hit Counter

Report Card:

Image:

SE PAL/NTSC tie

Sound:

PAL for extras DUBs
Extras: SE PAL/NTSC tie
Menu: SE PAL/NTSC tie

 




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Many Thanks...

George Cukor's The Philadelphia Story Warner (Two-Disc Special Edition) - Region 2,4,5 - PAL vs. Warner (old) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Warner (Two-Disc Special Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC DVD George Cukor The Philadelphia Story DVD Review Cary Grant Katharine Hepburn James Stewart Screwball comedy DVD Review Cary Grant Katharine Hepburn James Stewart Screwball comedy George Cukor The Philadelphia Story DVD Review Cary Grant Katharine Hepburn James Stewart Screwball comedy DVD Review Cary Grant Katharine Hepburn James Stewart Screwball comedy George Cukor's The Philadelphia Story Warner (Two-Disc Special Edition) - Region 2,4,5 - PAL vs. Warner (old) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Warner (Two-Disc Special Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC DVD George Cukor The Philadelphia Story DVD Review Cary Grant Katharine Hepburn James Stewart Screwball comedy DVD Review Cary Grant Katharine Hepburn James Stewart Screwball comedy George Cukor The Philadelphia Story DVD Review Cary Grant Katharine Hepburn James Stewart Screwball comedy DVD Review Cary Grant Katharine Hepburn James Stewart Screwball comedy George Cukor's The Philadelphia Story Warner (Two-Disc Special Edition) - Region 2,4,5 - PAL vs. Warner (old) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Warner (Two-Disc Special Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC DVD George Cukor The Philadelphia Story DVD Review Cary Grant Katharine Hepburn James Stewart Screwball comedy DVD Review Cary Grant Katharine Hepburn James Stewart Screwball comedy George Cukor The Philadelphia Story DVD Review Cary Grant Katharine Hepburn James Stewart Screwball comedy DVD Review Cary Grant Katharine Hepburn James Stewart Screwball comedy George Cukor's The Philadelphia Story Warner (Two-Disc Special Edition) - Region 2,4,5 - PAL vs. Warner (old) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Warner (Two-Disc Special Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC DVD George Cukor The Philadelphia Story DVD Review Cary Grant Katharine Hepburn James Stewart Screwball comedy DVD Review Cary Grant Katharine Hepburn James Stewart Screwball comedy George Cukor The Philadelphia Story DVD Review Cary Grant Katharine Hepburn James Stewart Screwball comedy DVD Review Cary Grant Katharine Hepburn James Stewart Screwball comedy George Cukor's The Philadelphia Story Warner (Two-Disc Special Edition) - Region 2,4,5 - PAL vs. Warner (old) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Warner (Two-Disc Special Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC DVD George Cukor The Philadelphia Story DVD Review Cary Grant Katharine Hepburn James Stewart Screwball comedy DVD Review Cary Grant Katharine Hepburn James Stewart Screwball comedy George Cukor The Philadelphia Story DVD Review Cary Grant Katharine Hepburn James Stewart Screwball comedy DVD Review Cary Grant Katharine Hepburn James Stewart Screwball comedy George Cukor's The Philadelphia Story Warner (Two-Disc Special Edition) - Region 2,4,5 - PAL vs. Warner (old) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Warner (Two-Disc Special Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC DVD George Cukor The Philadelphia Story DVD Review Cary Grant Katharine Hepburn James Stewart Screwball comedy DVD Review Cary Grant Katharine Hepburn James Stewart Screwball comedy George Cukor The Philadelphia Story DVD Review Cary Grant Katharine Hepburn James Stewart Screwball comedy DVD Review Cary Grant Katharine Hepburn James Stewart Screwball comedy George Cukor's The Philadelphia Story Warner (Two-Disc Special Edition) - Region 2,4,5 - PAL vs. Warner (old) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Warner (Two-Disc Special Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC DVD George Cukor The Philadelphia Story DVD Review Cary Grant Katharine Hepburn James Stewart Screwball comedy DVD Review Cary Grant Katharine Hepburn James Stewart Screwball comedy George Cukor The Philadelphia Story DVD Review Cary Grant Katharine Hepburn James Stewart Screwball comedy DVD Review Cary Grant Katharine Hepburn James Stewart Screwball comedy George Cukor's The Philadelphia Story Warner (Two-Disc Special Edition) - Region 2,4,5 - PAL vs. Warner (old) - Region 1 - NTSC vs. Warner (Two-Disc Special Edition) - Region 1 - NTSC DVD George Cukor The Philadelphia Story DVD Review Cary Grant Katharine Hepburn James Stewart Screwball comedy DVD Review Cary Grant Katharine Hepburn James Stewart Screwball comedy George Cukor The Philadelphia Story DVD Review Cary Grant Katharine Hepburn James Stewart Screwball comedy DVD Review Cary Grant Katharine Hepburn James Stewart Screwball comedy