Father of the Bride (1950)

#83 on Laughs
After spending a long day shoveling the massive amounts of snow we got, watching a film from the list seemed like  a good idea. And this was a cute one.
Father of the Bride, stars Spencer Tracy, and Elizabeth Taylor.  I know, you were probably picturing this when you saw the film title: 

What up, Steve Martin?

Well, here is a surprise. That was a remake.  It was interesting to see the differences and similarities between the remake and the original.  The father still misses important events on the wedding day, the bride still has a fight with the groom, the presents still pile up.  I will say, I like the way they updated the old fashioned bits from the original for the remake.  It was also interesting to see how some scenes were exact repeats of the original/remake.

It was kind of odd to see Spencer Tracy running around a house, trying not to miss things, not fitting into a tux, etc. I’m use to him being so much more…serious.  Even though I know he has been in plenty of comedies. 

And of course the bride to be, Elizabeth Taylor, is gorgeous. As always her acting was excellent. 

Not sure how I feel about her dress though....

Some of my favorite actors show up in this, but briefly.  Billie Burke is Elizabeth Taylor's mother in law (but she isn't nagging anyone!!!) and Russ Tamblyn is the younger brother, but he doesn't do much in this film.  A shame really, because he is excellent (You probably know him from West Side Story.)

I think my favorite thing in the film was Spencer Tracy complaining about having to pay $3.75 a head for the reception. I used a conversion site, and figured out how much that would have been in today dollars.  The number amount he is bellyaching about? $35 a head .  $35!!!  All I could think was how happy people would be if they could throw a wedding reception for that amount…

Movies where weddings are a main plot point always make me think of the weddings I've been to/been involved in.  The ups, the downs, the stress, the excitement.  Sometimes I think people miss the point of the day, worrying about the money or making sure everything is perfect.  And then like in the movie, one person walks down the aisle, eyes locked on the other, and all is right in the world....at least for a little while.

/being sappy

Favorite Quote:
Stanley Banks: I always used to think that marriages were a simple affair. Boy meets girl. Fall in love. They get married. Have babies. Eventually the babies grow up and meet other babies. They fall in love. Get married. Have babies. And so on and on and on. Looked at that way, it's not only simple, it's downright monotonous. But I was wrong. I figured without the wedding.

Topper (1937)

#60 on Laughs

When a move opens with Cary Grant driving a car with his feet, (whilst singing) you know it is going to be good.

Seriously. With his feet. In a tux!

Cosmo Topper (Roland Young) is the president of a bank. George Kerby (Grant) is the largest shareholder in the bank.  The two could not lead more different lives.  Kerby and his wife are carefree, party goers.  Topper's life is micromanaged by his wife down to the second. Mrs. Topper is played by Billie Burke, who most of you know as Glinda from The Wizard of Oz.  

{I wonder if she always plays bossy people?  Topper don't run, Topper eat this for breakfast. Follow the Yellow Brick road. Figure out your problems for yourself, Dorothy. Nag nag nag.}

Topper takes a strange turn early in the film (no spoilers, so I'm not telling you what the turn is. If you really want to know, you can Google it).  The film is basically the story of how the Kerby's teach Topper to relax.

I feel like this is the definition of screwball comedy.  Because I see most of these wonderful films on TCM, Robert Osborne told me that this was Cary Grant’s first foray into screwball comedy. I'm so happy he continued in them after this, because he made some great ones. So if you are looking for a fun, slightly bizarre, film to watch, Topper is an excellent choice.


Cosmo Topper: My wife objects to drinking.
George Kerby: Then she shouldn't drink.
Cosmo Topper: She doesn't.
George Kerby: What's her objection?

~~~

O.M.G. A blog post!  I know it has been a while….a long while.  I apologize to the few readers I have if they are still around.  I got busy with work stuff, and to be honest I haven’t been watching movies from The List that often.  But now I am in the mad dash to meet my movie watching goal for the year, because I failed so spectacularly in the first 11 months of the year.   December is usually my annual “I need to watch films from the list because I was a slacker all year” time.  It is becoming sort of a tradition. 

Either way.  This (hopefully) means more blog posts, and more consistency here, at least for a little while.