High Society

Tracy Lord, a glamorous socialite, is on the verge of a wedding that will close the season with aplomb. Her ex husband, C. K. Dexter-Haven, teams up with a sympathetic reporter named Mike Connor to probe the truth about Tracy's feelings. Over a tight 48 hour window they dip into the party circuit, a succession of conversations, and a handful of Cole Porter songs that color the social whirl. Old loyalties and new ambitions collide as the trio tests what people will do for love, reputation, and a happier ending. The result is a witty, polished musical comedy built on relationships and society's expectations. The film crackles with wit and lavish production. Audiences linger on the glamour and sharp wit.

Directed by Charles Walters, High Society arrived in 1956 from MGM. It adapts Philip Barry's The Philadelphia Story with a Cole Porter score, pairing Grace Kelly with Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra, Celeste Holm and John Lund in supporting roles.

With a budget of 2.8 million, the musical grossed about 8.2 million worldwide, signaling strong audience appeal for its star laden performances and glossy production. The result reinforced MGM's confidence in mid century musical comedies. That momentum helped MGM projects.

Its Cole Porter numbers, including Well, Did You Evah and Now You Has Jazz, helped define mid century musical films, while Grace Kelly's performance stands as her final screen appearance before marrying into royalty. The movie remains a stylish touchstone of 1950s pop culture, influencing fashion and screen comedy worldwide.

Critics at the time praised its wit, performances, and gleaming production, while noting its familiar plot from The Philadelphia Story. The film explores themes of social pretension, personal honesty, and the pull between public image and private desire, all delivered with buoyant charm that reveals tenderness beneath the surface subtly.