Happy Is the Bride
Happy Is the Bride is a 1958 black and white British comedy film written and directed by Roy Boulting and starring Ian Carmichael, Janette Scott, Cecil Parker, Terry-Thomas and Joyce Grenfell.[1] It is based on the play Quiet Wedding by Esther McCracken, previously filmed in 1941.[2]
| Happy Is the Bride | |
|---|---|
.jpg.webp) British theatrical poster | |
| Directed by | Roy Boulting |
| Produced by | Paul Soskin |
| Screenplay by | Roy Boulting Jeffrey Dell |
| Based on | play Quiet Wedding by Esther McCracken. |
| Starring | Ian Carmichael Janette Scott Cecil Parker |
| Music by | Benjamin Frankel |
| Cinematography | Edward Scaife |
| Edited by | Anthony Harvey |
Production company | Paul Soskin Productions (as Panther) |
| Distributed by | British Lion Films (UK) |
Release date |
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Running time | 84 minutes |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
Cast
- Ian Carmichael as David Chaytor
- Janette Scott as Janet Royd
- Cecil Parker as Arthur Royd
- Terry-Thomas as Policeman
- Joyce Grenfell as Aunt Florence
- Eric Barker as Vicar
- Edith Sharpe as Mildred Royd
- Elvi Hale as Petula
- Miles Malleson as 1st Magistrate
- Athene Seyler as Aunt Harriet
- Irene Handl as Mme. Edna
- John Le Mesurier as Chaytor
- Thorley Walters as Jim
- Nicholas Parsons as John Royd
- Virginia Maskell as Marcia
- Brian Oulton as 2nd Magistrate
- Joan Hickson as Mrs. Bowels
- Cardew Robinson as George the Verger
- Sam Kydd as Foreman
Plot
In a quiet summer corner of Wiltshire that is forever England, David and Janet decide to tie the knot. Unfortunately this is the cue for everyone else to take over proceedings, to the dismay of the couple and the increasing despair of Janet's father. One way or another the wedding - if there is one - is going to be an unforgettable occasion.[3]
Critical reception
Leonard Maltin called the film a "mild farce";[4] while Bosley Crowther in The New York Times wrote, "Mr. Boulting has assembled and directed a typically fine British cast, which plays the farcical proceedings with skill and apparent enjoyment...all the characters are amusing. That's usually the way in a Boulting film." [5]
Box office
Kinematograph Weekly listed it as being "in the money" at the British box office in 1958.[6] It was one of the twelve most popular films of the year in Britain.[7]
References
- "Happy Is the Bride". BFI. Archived from the original on 14 January 2009. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
- "Quiet Wedding (1941)". BFI. Archived from the original on 13 July 2012.
- "Happy Is the Bride (1958) - IMDb" – via www.imdb.com.
- "Happy Is the Bride (1958) - Overview - TCM.com". Turner Classic Movies.
- Crowther, Bosley (30 June 1959). "Screen: Marital Farce; ' Happy Is the Bride' in Premiere at Guild (Published 1959)" – via NYTimes.com.
- Billings, Josh (18 December 1958). "Others in the Money". Kinematograph Weekly. p. 7.
- "Britain's Money Pacers 1958". Variety. 15 April 1959. p. 60.