FATHER OF THE BRIDE

US, 1950, 93 Minutes, Black and White.
Spencer Tracy, Joan Bennett, Elizabeth Taylor, Don Taylor, Billie Burke.
Directed by Vincente Minnelli.

Father of the Bride is one of MGM's most successful comedies and entertaining films. Directed by Vincente Minnelli, in the middle of his career with excellent musicals and melodramas, it features Spencer Tracy at his best as the harassed American father. Joan Bennett and Elizabeth Taylor are most attractive as mother and daughter. The incidentals of the film and the hilarious scenes and dialogue show a cross-section of middle America in a very entertaining way. The film was so successful that the complete team of director and stars were re-assembled for the aftermath of the wedding - grandchildren and the humorous sequel Father's Little Dividend.

1. Why is this considered an American comedy classic? Impact in the 1950's, now?

2. The importance of the stars and their reputation and impact, the director and his Hollywood style, a representative film from old-style Hollywood?

3. The black and white photography, music, the sets of home, streets, churches, shops? The atmosphere of an authentic piece of Americana of the 40s?

4. The flashback structure, audience involvement and interest, Stan talking to the audience and remembering, the irony of the point-of-view of the father of the bride on the wedding day, the ironic flashbacks and the narrative by Stan? Bringing up back to a happy ending? The audience's knowledge that the wedding actually took place?

5. The quality of the comic dialogue, conventional situations and the way they were visualised, farce, situation comedy, the varying types within the family, the caterer, the minister etc.?

6. The film's exploration of the theme of marriage by comedy: the satirical aspects on people's expectations of marriage, ceremonies? An acknowledgement of the reality of marriage and the building of the future? The sentimental value of the film? The memory of the old days compared with the new? Reflections on the nature of marriage and its place in society? The happiness and beauty of marriage? The atmosphere of joy and celebration - American style? Was this of value for the average audience?

7. The focus of the title on the father of the bride, Spencer Tracy as Stan? Spencer Tracy's qualities and style? Stan Banks' value and point-of-view, his home, a lawyer, his American attitudes? Love for his wife, boys, pride in his daughter? His possessive attitude? Kaye as a little girl? The humour of his visualising her potential husbands? His disdainful attitude towards Buckley, to the Duns tans? How typical a father? The film continued and shows his attitude towards life and people?

8. Stan and his career? The way he built up his home, the quality of the relationship between Ellie and himself, the way this was visualised in their talks at home, plans, sensitivity to one another, sleeping worries, coping with the Duns tans, preparations for the marriage? His foibles, his incessant talking and liking people on his own terms etc.?

9. How conventional an American mother was Ellie? Sensible, sensitive? Ambitious for her daughter, remembering what she lacked? A comparison with the Duns tans and their style of life and home? Their attitude towards Buck ey?
10. How attractive were Kaye and Buckley as representing the new generation? Elizabeth Taylor as Kaye? Her place in the home, modern attitudes, attitudes towards the wedding and its preparation, Buckley? The character of Buckley and his regard for Kaye? Their joy together, their clash over the honeymoon, participation in the wedding? A solid beginning to a good marriage?

11. The humour in the details of the wedding plans: the amount of money, the guest lists, clothes and Stan trying to fit into his old clothes, the gifts, the humour of the rehearsal? How humorous was Stan's nightmare and the way that it was visualised? The catering?

12. The contrast with the day itself: the hurried preparations, the departure from how, the hectic nature of everything being removed from the house, the caterers setting up, accidents and chandeliers smashing etc.? The contrast with the church and the dignity and decorum of the ceremony?

13. The humour of the party, the crowds, the happiness of Kaye and Buckley, Stan not being able to participate (the memory of the initial party where he remained in the kitchen serving drinks?). His moods in not being able to farewell his daughter, the happiness of the phone call? The content of his being with Ellie?

14. The values of America that his film represented,, took for granted? The middle-class background? Audience response to these ordinary values?