The Philadelphia Story
Philadelphia socialites Tracy Lord and C.K. Dexter Haven married impulsively, with their marriage and subsequent divorce being equally passionate. They broke up when Dexter's drinking became excessive, it a mechanism to cope with Tracy's unforgiving manner to the imperfect, imperfections which Dexter admits he readily has. Two years after their break-up, Tracy is about to remarry, the ceremony to take place at the Lord mansion. Tracy's bridegroom is nouveau riche businessman and aspiring politician George Kittredge, who is otherwise a rather ordinary man and who idolizes Tracy. The day before the wedding, three unexpected guests show up at the Lord mansion: Macaulay Connor (Mike to his friends), Elizabeth Imbrie - the two who are friends of Tracy's absent brother, Junius- and Dexter himself. Dexter, an employee of the tabloid Spy magazine, made a deal with its publisher and editor Sidney Kidd to get a story on Tracy's wedding - the wedding of the year - in return for Kidd not publishing a salacious story with accompanying photographs of Tracy's father, Seth Lord, with a New York showgirl named Tina Marra. In reality, Mike and Liz are the reporter and photographer respectively for Spy. Mike and Liz don't particularly like this assignment or working for Kidd, but they need to make a living as their chosen other fields as serious writer and painter don't pay the bills. A suspicious Tracy is onto them, the entire truth which Dexter admits to her. Tracy decides to turn the tables on Mike and Liz. However, hours before the wedding, as the more self-assured Dexter and Liz get to work on how to get the Lords out from under Spy's threats, Tracy and Mike, both inebriated, go on a journey of self-discovery with Tracy ultimately coming to her realizations a little faster than Mike.
Despite its extremely modest budget of $914K, The Philadelphia Story became a box office success, earning $3.3M worldwide—a 261% return. The film's unconventional structure engaged audiences, proving that strong storytelling can transcend budget limitations.
2 Oscars. 9 wins & 5 nominations
Plot Structure
Story beats plotted across runtime
Narrative Arc
Emotional journey through the story's key moments
Story Circle
Blueprint 15-beat structure
Arcplot Score Breakdown
Weighted: Precision (70%) + Arc (15%) + Theme (15%)
The Philadelphia Story (1940) reveals strategically placed story structure, characteristic of George Cukor's storytelling approach. This structural analysis examines how the film's 15-point plot structure maps to proven narrative frameworks across 1 hour and 53 minutes. With an Arcplot score of 6.3, the film takes an unconventional approach to traditional narrative frameworks.
Structural Analysis
The Status Quo at 1 minutes (1% through the runtime) establishes Opening montage depicts the bitter end of Tracy and Dexter's marriage - she breaks his golf clubs, he shoves her face away. Tracy is established as cold, imperious, and intolerant of human weakness.. Structural examination shows that this early placement immediately immerses viewers in the story world.
The inciting incident occurs at 14 minutes when Spy magazine editor Sidney Kidd threatens to expose Seth Lord's affair with a dancer unless the family cooperates with a story about Tracy's wedding. The Lords' private world faces invasion by the press.. At 12% through the film, this Disruption aligns precisely with traditional story structure. This beat shifts the emotional landscape, launching the protagonist into the central conflict.
The First Threshold at 28 minutes marks the transition into Act II, occurring at 25% of the runtime. This shows the protagonist's commitment to Tracy makes the active choice to play along with the deception, allowing Mike and Liz into her home and wedding preparations. She enters this new world of masquerade, setting aside her instinct to simply throw them out., moving from reaction to action.
At 57 minutes, the Midpoint arrives at 50% of the runtime—precisely centered, creating perfect narrative symmetry. The analysis reveals that this crucial beat At the pre-wedding party, Tracy gets gloriously drunk on champagne. Her defenses dissolve completely. She becomes warm, playful, and genuinely human for the first time - a false victory as this vulnerability will lead to consequences., fundamentally raising what's at risk. The emotional intensity shifts, dividing the narrative into clear before-and-after phases.
The Collapse moment at 85 minutes (75% through) represents the emotional nadir. Here, Morning after: Tracy wakes with no memory of the previous night. Dexter carried her home from the pool in Mike's arms - witnessed by George. George confronts her with cold accusations. Tracy faces the death of her self-image as the perfect, untouchable woman., shows the protagonist at their lowest point. This beat's placement in the final quarter sets up the climactic reversal.
The Second Threshold at 90 minutes initiates the final act resolution at 80% of the runtime. Tracy has her breakthrough: George's "forgiveness" reveals he only loves her as a statue, not a woman. She realizes Dexter was right - she needs to come down from her pedestal. She chooses authenticity over appearances, calling off the wedding to George., demonstrating the transformation achieved throughout the journey.
Emotional Journey
The Philadelphia Story's emotional architecture traces a deliberate progression across 15 carefully calibrated beats.
Narrative Framework
This structural analysis employs structural analysis methodology used to understand storytelling architecture. By mapping The Philadelphia Story against these established plot points, we can identify how George Cukor utilizes or subverts traditional narrative conventions. The plot point approach reveals not only adherence to structural principles but also creative choices that distinguish The Philadelphia Story within the comedy genre.
George Cukor's Structural Approach
Among the 4 George Cukor films analyzed on Arcplot, the average structural score is 6.9, demonstrating varied approaches to story architecture. The Philadelphia Story takes a more unconventional approach compared to the director's typical style. For comparative analysis, explore the complete George Cukor filmography.
Comparative Analysis
Additional comedy films include The Bad Guys, Ella Enchanted and The Evening Star. For more George Cukor analyses, see My Fair Lady, A Star Is Born and Adam's Rib.
Plot Points by Act
Act I
SetupStatus Quo
Opening montage depicts the bitter end of Tracy and Dexter's marriage - she breaks his golf clubs, he shoves her face away. Tracy is established as cold, imperious, and intolerant of human weakness.
Theme
Dexter later tells Tracy she lacks "an understanding heart" and is like a bronze goddess - beautiful but untouchable. This articulates the film's central question: can Tracy learn to be human and accept imperfection in herself and others?
Worldbuilding
The Lord family estate and Philadelphia high society are established. Tracy is engaged to self-made man George Kittredge. Her father Seth has been absent due to an affair. The family dynamics reveal Tracy's rigid moral standards and her strained relationship with her father.
Disruption
Spy magazine editor Sidney Kidd threatens to expose Seth Lord's affair with a dancer unless the family cooperates with a story about Tracy's wedding. The Lords' private world faces invasion by the press.
Resistance
Ex-husband Dexter Haven arrives with Spy magazine's Macaulay "Mike" Connor and photographer Liz Imbrie, posing as friends. Tracy resists but must cooperate. Dexter guides the scheme while challenging Tracy's self-righteousness about her father's failings.
Act II
ConfrontationFirst Threshold
Tracy makes the active choice to play along with the deception, allowing Mike and Liz into her home and wedding preparations. She enters this new world of masquerade, setting aside her instinct to simply throw them out.
Mirror World
Tracy discovers Mike Connor is a serious writer, not just a tabloid hack. Their intellectual connection begins as she reads his short stories. Mike represents authenticity and passion - qualities Tracy has suppressed in herself.
Premise
The romantic comedy premise unfolds: Tracy navigates attention from three very different men. Dexter undermines her certainty about George. Mike is drawn to her despite his class consciousness. George remains oblivious. Tracy's goddess facade begins showing cracks.
Midpoint
At the pre-wedding party, Tracy gets gloriously drunk on champagne. Her defenses dissolve completely. She becomes warm, playful, and genuinely human for the first time - a false victory as this vulnerability will lead to consequences.
Opposition
Complications intensify. Tracy and Mike share a romantic moonlit conversation and swim. Dexter watches knowingly. George grows suspicious. Tracy's intoxicated behavior threatens the respectable wedding she planned. Her carefully constructed life unravels.
Collapse
Morning after: Tracy wakes with no memory of the previous night. Dexter carried her home from the pool in Mike's arms - witnessed by George. George confronts her with cold accusations. Tracy faces the death of her self-image as the perfect, untouchable woman.
Crisis
Tracy processes her shame and confusion. George offers to "forgive" her publicly to save face. Mike offers to marry her out of honor. She faces the hollow reality of George's conditional love and her own fear of being truly known.
Act III
ResolutionSecond Threshold
Tracy has her breakthrough: George's "forgiveness" reveals he only loves her as a statue, not a woman. She realizes Dexter was right - she needs to come down from her pedestal. She chooses authenticity over appearances, calling off the wedding to George.
Synthesis
Tracy announces she won't marry George. The assembled wedding guests wait. Dexter steps forward, suggesting they not waste the wedding. Tracy accepts - choosing to remarry the man who knows her flaws and loves her anyway. The ceremony proceeds with Tracy transformed.
Transformation
Tracy and Dexter remarry surrounded by family and friends. The bronze goddess has become a flesh-and-blood woman who can accept imperfection in herself and others. Her understanding heart has finally awakened.