Father of the Bride (1950)

Father of the Bride (1950)

6/10

Starring

Spencer Tracy

Joan Bennett

Elizabeth Taylor

Don Taylor

Billie Burke

 

Directed by Vincente Minnelli

 

I enjoyed this movie, though not as much as the 1991 remake of the same name starring Steve Martin. I guess I’m a little spoiled from watching the 1991 version so often—it made me miss the soundtrack. This movie doesn’t have a soundtrack, and that played a huge part in why I didn’t love it as much as the remake. Even though the movie was fun, it made me appreciate the men and women who work on movie scores even more.

The plot is similar to the remake, though many of the character names are different. This was my first time seeing the original movie and also my first time seeing Elizabeth Taylor act. Spencer Tracy, as usual, stood head and shoulders above the rest. I loved his portrayal of Stanley Banks, with his knack for acting and his ever-present stinginess. The incredible talent in this movie, with Joan Bennett and others, makes it easy to fall in love with the characters as you watch them navigate Stanley’s attempts to save money while struggling to accept that his little girl is getting married.

The movie begins with the aftermath of the wedding of Kay Banks (Elizabeth Taylor) to Buckley Dunstan (Don Taylor). Stanley is left wondering how his little angel suddenly grew up and became a woman.

From there, Stanley narrates the events that led up to this day. His daughter Kay seems to be in her own little world, which makes Stanley nervous. He begins to suspect a guy is behind it all when Kay starts talking about someone named Buckley, who she believes is the smartest man in the world. Soon, Stanley has to face the reality that Kay is marrying Buckley—and that he’s the one footing the bill for the wedding. Stanley tries everything in his power to cut costs while doing his best not to upset his wife and daughter in the process.

This movie is a timeless gem that can be enjoyed at any time. It earned numerous accolades and Oscar nominations, and it’s featured in the AFI Top 100 Laughs. While I believe the remake beats it hands down, I still appreciate the work this movie put in to pave the way for the remake we know and love.

It was hard finding this movie to watch, so I do not know where you can find it, but please do a search it is worth seeing, if only to compare it with the remake.