One of my favorite movies is “The Philadelphia Story” with Cary Grant, Jimmy Stewart and Katherine Hepburn, and a Packard convertible. Grant’s character “C. K. Dexter Haven” helps Hepburn’s character Tracy Lord (his ex-wife) do anything possible to avoid scandal at the hands of reporter Stewart (Macaulay Connor) and his boss, the evil tabloid publisher. The main characters are from very wealthy, “old money” Philadelphia families; even the potential groom in Lord’s upcoming second marriage is looked down upon as an outsider because he is “new money.” The very idea of commoners getting a glimpse into their lives is horrifying and they cold shoulder the reporter Connor as the lowest of the low. Connor foolishly thinks he has a chance with Lord, but finally realizes he is doomed — the rich and poor don’t mix.
As a Midwesterner, I never thought of why the movie was called “The Philadelphia Story” rather than being set in the wealthy borough of some other city, but as I learned more, it makes perfect sense. There seems to be a long held tenet that the wealthy in Philadelphia strive to be left alone. One may live in a mansion, and be the man in charge at the office, but when he is mixing with “everyday people,” he finds it best if no one knows he has money; he doesn’t dress to show off and he doesn’t drive a car that is flashy. The goal is to have nice things, but not to call attention. Just like Tracy Lord, the wealthy don’t want any undue attention focused on them. If you were one of the lucky ones who had money during the sad days of the Depression, you didn’t want to paint a target on your back with your car.
Read more.
