The Philadelphia Story (1940)

A fast-talking, opinionated socialite (Hepburn) is soon to be married, but two tall, suited, skinny spanners (Stewart and Grant) put themselves on the visitors list, effectively clogging up the works with their smugness and charm.
TPS is a classic era romantic comedy based on a play by Phillip Barry. The three stars light up every scene each time they cross paths, testing the tolerances and attractions of each other, inadvertently or otherwise. It starts slow, but once it hits its stride it doesn't ever disappoint. The supporting cast deserve credit, too, from the eldest to the youngest they're all excellent.

5 names for a boat out of 5

Keeper of the Flame (1942)

War correspondent Steve O'Malley (Tracy) aspires to write a posthumous biography of an American hero who kept his private life a closely guarded secret. O'Malley’s investigations lead him to the widow Christine (Hepburn), who puts his motivations and commitment to the truth to the test.
A number of lengthy scenes let the actors work their craft well, but after a strong start the story fails to sustain the sense of intrigue it set out to explore. Instead, it takes on a rather dry and occasionally dreary political aspect that left me bored and uninvolved with much of the second half.  It’s certainly not the 'fiery love drama' the original one sheet promised.

2½ trumpets blown out of 5