HOW TO COMMIT MARRIAGE

US, 1969, 98 minutes, Colour.
Bob Hope, Jackie Gleason, Jane Wyman, Leslie Neilsen, Maureen Arthur, Paul Stewart, Tina Louise.
Directed by Norman Panama.

How to Commit Marriage was one of Bob Hope's last films. It teams him with Jane Wyman, who gives an engaging comedy performance. Jackie Gleason there - in his usual style. The supporting cast includes a very young Tim Matheson.

The film was very much of its period - echoes of eastern mystical leaders, trendy diets and religions, the psychedelic period for nightclubs, clothing ... The film pokes fun at these - in fact, taking the opposite view of stability in marriage and family.

The film was written and directed by Norman Panama, long-time collaborator of writer-director Melvin Frank.

The film is amusing - echoing reactions to some of the trends of the late '60s.

1.Entertaining comedy? The themes of the late '60s? Satire? Traditional stances? The strong cast?

2.Affluent background, families and homes? The music world of the period - and the poking fun and producers and entrepreneurs, their tactics? The concerts? The eastern religious leaders and their entourages? Musical score?

3.The title and its ironies? Marriage and divorce, family? The stances of the film-makers?

4.Frank and Elaine, their initial nightmares, split-screen techniques? The decision for a divorce? Their wanting to hide this from their daughter? Her suddenly turning up with her fiance? Their saving face? The preparations for the marriage? The children idealising them? The encounter with Oliver and Laverne? The background to the marriage, rehearsals, preparations, Frank threatening Oliver? The wedding and Oliver's announcement? The collapse of the marriage? Frank and Elaine going their own ways? Frank trying to sell the house, the encounter with Lois, the misinterpretation of the compromising episode? Her transforming him - collages and split screens again? Hairpiece, trendy clothes? The contrast with Elaine and Phil Fletcher and the selling of the house? Her transformation and curls? The lack of contact with Nancy and David? Their apprehensions? Going to hear them play - and encountering each other as well as Oliver and Laverne? Their discovery that Nancy was pregnant? The attitude of the youngsters in giving away their baby? Oliver's manoeuvring behind the scenes? Their decision to pretend to be the McGruders? and adopt the baby? Their tactics and techniques? The collage of their having to drive and spend time and conceal the truth from everyone? The happy times together - and the imaginary dancing, and waking up and clashing? The build up to the concert - Frank's decision to impersonate the religious leader, Elaine telling the long story? The performance on stage, the speech about marriage? The farcical chase? Oliver's seeming relenting? The friendship between them all at the end? The farcical touches? Frank with Bob Hope's capacity for wisecracks?

5.David and Nancy, fairly square for the times, music, loving love, wanting to get married? Their reaction against Oliver and his tirades against marriage, his crassness? The preparation for the wedding, the idealism? The disillusionment, their going off, living together? Joining the group the Comfortable Chairs? Their reliance on the guru? The decision to give the baby away? The birth of the child, their going back to play? Going to the lecture - the response to Frank's speech on children? The reconciliation, the recovery of the child - and happy ever after?

6.Oliver and Laverne, the entrepreneur, his crass style, his naming bands, capitalising on gurus? Paying off the guru to persuade them to give away the child? Drinking, ruining the marriage? The clashes with Frank - especially about the selling of the house? The farce of the performance, his pulling the wrong beard, chasing Frank? His final relenting? And Frank and Oliver stuck in the mud? Laverne - auditioning to be Oliver's wife ...?

7.Lois, separation, buying the house, attracted to Frank, transforming him, the outings? Phil Fletcher as a contrast, stable businessman, escorting Elaine?

8.The musical groups, the rock and roll of the time? The personalities of the groups - and the fashions and trends in clothing, music, diet, religion? The gurus and their entourage - and their being sent up?

9.Farcical comedy, wisecracks and wit? The attitudes towards marriage and the changing times of 1970?