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Father of the Bride

Play trailer Poster for Father of the Bride 1950 1h 33m Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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90% Tomatometer 30 Reviews 74% Popcornmeter 10,000+ Ratings
When beautiful Kay Banks (Elizabeth Taylor) announces her engagement to Buckley Dunstan (Don Taylor), her doting middle-class father, Stan (Spencer Tracy), must contend with a variety of problems, ranging from money issues to wedding planning difficulties. As things get hectic, Stan's wife, Ellie (Joan Bennett), tries to be the calm in the center of the storm. At the heart of the comedy, though, is Stan's emotional tie to his little girl, and his realization that she has indeed grown up.
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Father of the Bride

Father of the Bride

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Critics Consensus

With a terrific script, great performances from Spencer Tracy and Elizabeth Taylor, and assured direction from Vincent Minnelli, Father of the Bride endures as a sparkling comedy of its era.

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Critics Reviews

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Bob Thomas Associated Press 07/29/2019
Spencer Tracy underplays the comedy to good effect, and Joan Bennett and Elizabeth Taylor are beautiful and efficient. Go to Full Review
TIME Magazine 03/23/2011
Under Vincente Minelli's crisp direction, the fun rarely lets up. Go to Full Review
Dave Kehr Chicago Reader 03/23/2011
This ostensibly lighthearted film about Spencer Tracy's Kafkaesque attempts to bring off his daughter's wedding is one of the bleakest films of a bleak decade. Go to Full Review
Matt Brunson Film Frenzy 09/09/2023
4/4
A genuine cinematic treasure, Father of the Bride finds Spencer Tracy delivering what I would deem his finest performance. Go to Full Review
Mike Massie Gone With The Twins 08/18/2020
5/10
What it needs - and never finds - is a few extraordinarily eccentric personas and some slapstick to even out the customariness of matrimonial stresses and wedding-day chaos. Go to Full Review
Renee Schonfeld Common Sense Media 04/19/2016
4/5
Old-fashioned, star-studded, father-daughter comedy. Go to Full Review
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Audience Reviews

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Debi M Jun 17 Excellent all the way around! See more CodyZamboni 06/08/2023 Movie is amusing, and at times, poignant. Tracy and the radiant Elizabeth Taylor are the whole show. Their charisma makes this movie. A lot of the jokes and comedic situations are tame, or fall flat, but the overall feel good vibe, and genuine emotion, and heartbreak of a father realizing he'll be missing his daughter, make this worthwhile viewing. See more Taylor L 01/08/2023 Elizabeth Taylor announces to her parents that she's engaged, and before leaving that same seat admits that she doesn't know what her fiancé does for a living, just that he says "it's good to get married young". There are a few red flags there. This classic comedy basically has two jokes - "wow, that's expensive" and "wow, I'm so busy" - but Spencer Tracy gives a true star performance that shows a bit of sarcastic humor as a shield to cover up a mix of emotions hitting him, a bit of heartbreak at losing his only daughter and joy at seeing her happy. There isn't much in the way of character development or big narrative swings (even a brief squabble that threatens to derail the wedding is resolved in about two minutes), though one scene really breaks up the coasting tone - a supernatural nightmare scenario that sees Tracy sink into the aisle while others look on with giant phantom eyes. It looks like Orson Welles directed it, and as a representation of his nervousness and anxiety it's quite a spooky turn for the script. Apart from that, not many surprises especially if you're familiar with the Steve Martin remake, but an enjoyable classic that makes up for its more dated pieces with some real heart in its protagonist. Funny how Taylor is the bride-to-be in this one when she was notorious for her many marriages. Her fake film dad probably drew the line at financing that eighth marriage at Neverland Ranch. (3/5) See more Mark A 12/16/2022 Spencer Tracy's slow burn is wonderful. See more joel h 06/21/2022 While I do prefer the 1991 version of Father of the Bride, the 1950 version also has a lot to offer. Spencer Tracy's character is a little gruffer than Steve Martin, which makes him a little less likeable, yet I was still able to see his side of things, as I'm a dad with daughters, as well. Wedding customs have changed, styles have changed, family dynamics have changed, but there's still something timeless about this story. See more @Runes 07/03/2021 This movie reminds me why I hate comedies. They end up not being funny. Tracy tries to make it work and somehow the movie doesn't fall into boredom. But I just feel if they went with a different route this would end up being more interesting. See more Read all reviews
Father of the Bride

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Movie Info

Synopsis When beautiful Kay Banks (Elizabeth Taylor) announces her engagement to Buckley Dunstan (Don Taylor), her doting middle-class father, Stan (Spencer Tracy), must contend with a variety of problems, ranging from money issues to wedding planning difficulties. As things get hectic, Stan's wife, Ellie (Joan Bennett), tries to be the calm in the center of the storm. At the heart of the comedy, though, is Stan's emotional tie to his little girl, and his realization that she has indeed grown up.
Director
Vincente Minnelli
Producer
Pandro S. Berman
Screenwriter
Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett
Distributor
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Production Co
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Genre
Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
Jun 16, 1950, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Jan 1, 2009
Runtime
1h 33m
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