Father of the Bride (1950)

In my opinion Vincent Minnelli's Father Of The Bride remains a charming delightful sparkling comedy of its era with a terrific script, assured direction from Vincent Minnelli and undeniably remarkable performances from Spencer Tracy as Stanley T. Banks the worn-out middle aged father of the bride who was nominated for an academy award for best actor. Elizabeth Taylor as the bride, the typical spoiled daughter of mid-American bourgeois and Joan Bennett as Tracy's harried middle-aged wife. With that and even more the film manages to provide an amusing snapshot of the lives of middle- and upper-middle class families during the 1950's In my opinion Vincent Minnelli's Father Of The Bride remains a charming delightful sparkling comedy of its era with a terrific script, assured direction from Vincent Minnelli and undeniably remarkable performances from Spencer Tracy as Stanley T. Banks the worn-out middle aged father of the bride who was nominated for an academy award for best actor. Elizabeth Taylor as the bride, the typical spoiled daughter of mid-American bourgeois and Joan Bennett as Tracy's harried middle-aged wife. With that and even more the film manages to provide an amusing snapshot of the lives of middle- and upper-middle class families during the 1950's

"Father of the Bride" is such a flawless film that you cannot truly appreciate its artistry unless you watch it more than once. Splendidly cast, splendidly thesped, and perfectly hilarious without stooping to lowest common denominator humor to score points, this comedy was made when comedies could be funny without being stupid. Everything is told from the perspective of the eponymous character. Indeed, the entire movie constitutes a flashback as it opens with a disheveled Stanley Adams (Spencer Tracy) and his wife Ellie (Joan Bennett) sitting in the shambles of their house after their daughter Kay (Elizabeth Taylor) has been hitched to Buckley Dunstan (Don Taylor). Most of the comedy grows out of the predicaments that Tracy and company find themselves in when it comes time to throw a marriage for their daughter. For example, at the announcement of Kay's wedding, Stanley has planned a small speech, but he finds himself stuck in the kitchen of their house mixing drinks for the guests. When he finally gets a chance to get out of the kitchen and deliver his speech, everybody has left the premises. Later, Stanley has a nightmare about Kay's wedding; he dreams that he is trying to walk up the aisle, but the aisle turns into a surreal path and it is little for than a trampoline and our protagonist is struggling to keep his suit on no matter how rough the aisle becomes. At one point, when Buckley decides that Kay and he should honeymoon in Nova Scotia because the fishing is fantastic, Kay almost has the wedding canceled. She complains to Pops that she wouldn't have the opportunity to display herself in all her evening apparel. Predictably, Buckley arrives and they fall into each other's arms. Clocking in at 94 nimble minutes, "Father of the Bride" qualifies as superior entertainment for the entire family. Incidentally, a sequel followed entitled "Father's Little Dividends" with Spencer Tracy and virtually the entire cast reprising their roles under the sure-handed direction of Vincente Minnelli. Other interesting scenes that stand out include the Coke scene in the kitchen when a younger man has to teach Spencer Tracy the correct way to remove the cap from a bottle of soda pop. Another cute scene involves an older Tracy trying to squeeze into his old cutaway suit. Although he manages to squeeze into it, Stanley later splits the seams in the back when he struggles to open two jammed door. Yes, Steve Martin stepped into Tracy's shoes for the 1991 remake and the 1995 sequel.

After his daughter selects a mate, the father must endure sleepless nights, sticker shock, and the disruption of his household as he navigates through the nightmare of wedding planning. Tracy is terrific as the harried father whose plans for a small wedding go awry. As his wife and daughter, Bennett and Liz Taylor aren't given much to do except look supportive and lovely, respectively. Interestingly, both actresses played Amy in film versions of "Little Women," Bennett in 1933 and Taylor in 1949. Don Taylor, who plays the groom, would have a long career as a TV director. Minnelli does a nice job of balancing the comedy and the sentimentality.

Marriage (and the married life) may be wonderful, but the wedding is something else, entirely. Based on the novel by Edward Streeter, this simple story of the "Father of the Bride" is Hollywood at its best. Despite the fact it doesn't contain an elaborate dance number or colorful sets, this movie shows director Vincente Minnelli at the peak of his craft. Spencer Tracy (the father of the bride) tells of how his daughter's wedding turns his life upside down (and his bank balance.) But, more than that, this movie not only shows life in an average!? American family, but it lovingly portrays the relationship between a father and his daughter. Despite Elizabeth Taylor's subtle and surprisingly effective role as the daughter and her exquisite looks, it is definitely Spencer Tracy's movie. In fact, his expressions and his whole manner and attitude make for the whole plot and the whole enjoyment of the film. A personal favorite highlight of mine is the "they're the ones...the smooth talkers" speech. Director Minnelli puts Elizabeth's looks to great use in close-ups and she truly makes a stunning bride. Joan Bennett is great as the mother. Young Russ Tamblyn is one of Elizabeth's brothers. Billie Burke (Oz's Glenda, the Good Witch of the North) and Moroni Olsen (who provided the voice of the "Mirror, Mirror on the Wall" in Snow White - the original) are the parents of the groom. If you haven't seen this gem, you have missed an essential. Watch this immediately!! Reviewer's Orders!!