While watching the first half of 1956’s High Society, I wondered why this film was on the list. It appeared to be the opposite of all those unpleasant films that are great but not good, such as The Phenix City Story. This one seemed, to quote an oft-used phrase from Gardner Dozois, pleasant but minor.
The cast was nothing to sneeze at, with Kelly joined by Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby and Louis Armstrong, but it’s not quite up there with the great musicals in my opinion.
Now, the second half certainly picked up, becoming funnier and worthy of its source material (the Screwball-perfect Philadelphia Story), but though even more pleasant, seemed minor.
That’s until you factor in that the film was Grace Kelly’s last as a professional actress. Now there’s a compelling reason to list it among the greats, because she was one of the greats, and sorely missed.
As a change of pace and a comedy in the midst of the melodramas we’d been subjected to lately, it was a very welcome film. But I’m not sure it makes it in on its own merits, but on that of a star who faded out of Hollywood when this one was launched.
Gustavo Bondoni’s latest novel is a dark historical fantasy entitled The Swords of Rasna, in which the Etruscan armies attempt to hold the Roman legions at bay… by any means necessary. You can check it out here.
Classically Educated 