"Here Comes the Groom" is a marvelous comedy romance with some very good music and performers. Johnny Mercer and Hoagy Carmichael won the 1951 Oscar for best original song with "In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening." This film has a superb cast all around, and some special cameo appearances. But this is foremost a superb comedy. The plot in bringing two war orphans home has a nice touch, but it too feeds the comedy. The several raucous scenes are capped and interspersed with very funny dialog and some hilarious zingers.
Bing Crosby and Jane Wyman star as Pete Garvey and Emmadel Jones. Franchot Tone is Wilbur Stanley, and Alexis Smith is his "kissin' cousin" Winnifred (four times removed, as Pete tells Emmy). A great supporting cast (more than 150 roles) fills out this film, several with very meaty and funny parts. The two young French war orphans, Bobby and Suzi, are played exquisitely by Jacques Gencel and Beverly Washburn. Crosby's Garvey is a real conniver here - but with a big heart. Tone is excellent and humorous as a sparring opponent with Pete, over Emmy. And Wyman plays Emmy to a T - as the determined woman, tired of waiting for Pete, and now wanting to marry her boss, millionaire Wilbur.
This was the first view most movie fans had of Anna Maria Alberghetti. The 15-year-old Italian-born soprano just one year before had made her Carnegie Hall debut. Here, she plays a blind young teen who is a war orphan, Theresa. In her one scene, she gives a captivating rendition of the beautiful song, "Caro Nome" from Verdi's opera, "Rigoletto." On his plane back to the States from Paris with Bobby and Suzi in tow, Garvey is prodded to sing and the USO troupe just happens to include a handful of big name entertainers of the day. The cameos include Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong on trumpet, comedian Phil Harris, and Dorothy Lamour and Frank Fontaine.
This may be Crosby's best comedic role in movies. His humor and trademark asides that he ad-libbed seemed natural here. The wedding rehearsal is a hoot all the way, and the climax wrestling match between Emmy and Winnie is a riot. And, wow, is it done well by these women - or their stand-ins, if such were used.
"Here Comes the Groom" is a great film with two tales. One is about efforts to place war orphans in families after WW II. The other is a love story about a guy who keeps backing off his planned trip to the altar with a childhood sweetheart. The two mixed together make for a great mayhem and much humor. The title may seem wacky, but it will make sense when one watches the film.
Although the plight of hundreds of thousands of homeless and lost children at the end of World War II was a serious matter, this film manages to give a light-hearted touch of hope for the future of the war orphans. It's a movie fit for all ages and one that should delight the whole family. The small faults that will be obvious to some, don't hinder this from being an outstanding musical comedy and superbly enjoyable movie.
Here are some favorite lines form this film.
Pa Jones, "He's not even a man. He's a tradition."
Ma Jones, "You watch yourself, Emmy. Rattlesnakes can look pretty harmless sometimes."
Emmy Jones, "Where you off to next, Pete - Alaska, Yugoslavia?"
George Degnan, " He's younger than you thought he was, isn't he, Pete?" Pete nods his head, and George continues, "And, he, he's better looking than you thought he was, isn't he, Pete?" Pete looks at George and says, "All that, and $40 million besides."
Pa Jones, getting breakfast served in bed in the Stanley mansion, "Only birds eat in the same nest they sleep in."
Emmy Jones, "Wilbur, do me a favor. Ask him to sing at our wedding. He thinks he can sing, you know. And nothing would give me greater pleasure than to marry you if he has to sing to us."
George Degnan, "You know, Miss Stanley, men seldom make passes at flat-heeled lasses." Pete Garvey, "George, that's beautiful (sic) put, beautifully put." George, "Yes, I thought so."
Winifred Stanley, "You'll still be here too, won't you?" George Degnan, "Sure, sure. Running a newspaper's just a hobby with me."
George Degnan, referring to Pete and the two children, "Three orphans in search of a mother."
Emmy Jones, "Oh, and you used to be such a good reporter. Now you sound like a journalist."
George, Degnan, "If this works, I'm a duck-billed platypus." Pete Garvey, "Meet me down at the zoo in the morning."
Emmy Jones, "Wilbur, I, I mustn't let the children see me marrying another man." Wilbur Stanley, "Another man? Me?" Emmy, "Well, Pete's their father, and not you, and they think I'm their mother, and, well, couldn't you just send them away or something?"
Wilbur Stanley, to the minister, "I beg your pardon. Would you mind waiting a moment? I'll be right back." Ma Jones, "Throw 'em out!"
Emmy Jones, "Marry Pete Garvey - are you crazy?" Wilbur Stanley, "Yes, darling, I am." Emmy, "Oh, Wilbur." Ma Jones, "Watch yourself, Emmy."
Pete Garvey, "I'd rather go to prison for the rest of my life." Emmy Jones, "Oh, you're always thinking about yourself all the time. What about Bobby and Suzi?"
Aunt Abby, "Who's marrying who?" Uncle Adam, speaking into her hearing piece, "Whom, my dear."
Ma Jones "No, Emmy, don't do it."
Emmy Jones, "I'm sorry, Wilbur." Cousin Winnie, "Aw, phooey, nobody's sorry."
Uncle Prentiss, "What's happened to Winnifred? She's completely lost her dignity." Aunt Amy, "She's completely lost her girdle."
Aunt Amy, laughing at the wedding rehearsal mayhem, "This is better than television."
George Degnan, "Got any clues?" Pa Jones, "Well, nothing that I can't be hanged fer."
Bing Crosby and Jane Wyman star as Pete Garvey and Emmadel Jones. Franchot Tone is Wilbur Stanley, and Alexis Smith is his "kissin' cousin" Winnifred (four times removed, as Pete tells Emmy). A great supporting cast (more than 150 roles) fills out this film, several with very meaty and funny parts. The two young French war orphans, Bobby and Suzi, are played exquisitely by Jacques Gencel and Beverly Washburn. Crosby's Garvey is a real conniver here - but with a big heart. Tone is excellent and humorous as a sparring opponent with Pete, over Emmy. And Wyman plays Emmy to a T - as the determined woman, tired of waiting for Pete, and now wanting to marry her boss, millionaire Wilbur.
This was the first view most movie fans had of Anna Maria Alberghetti. The 15-year-old Italian-born soprano just one year before had made her Carnegie Hall debut. Here, she plays a blind young teen who is a war orphan, Theresa. In her one scene, she gives a captivating rendition of the beautiful song, "Caro Nome" from Verdi's opera, "Rigoletto." On his plane back to the States from Paris with Bobby and Suzi in tow, Garvey is prodded to sing and the USO troupe just happens to include a handful of big name entertainers of the day. The cameos include Louis "Satchmo" Armstrong on trumpet, comedian Phil Harris, and Dorothy Lamour and Frank Fontaine.
This may be Crosby's best comedic role in movies. His humor and trademark asides that he ad-libbed seemed natural here. The wedding rehearsal is a hoot all the way, and the climax wrestling match between Emmy and Winnie is a riot. And, wow, is it done well by these women - or their stand-ins, if such were used.
"Here Comes the Groom" is a great film with two tales. One is about efforts to place war orphans in families after WW II. The other is a love story about a guy who keeps backing off his planned trip to the altar with a childhood sweetheart. The two mixed together make for a great mayhem and much humor. The title may seem wacky, but it will make sense when one watches the film.
Although the plight of hundreds of thousands of homeless and lost children at the end of World War II was a serious matter, this film manages to give a light-hearted touch of hope for the future of the war orphans. It's a movie fit for all ages and one that should delight the whole family. The small faults that will be obvious to some, don't hinder this from being an outstanding musical comedy and superbly enjoyable movie.
Here are some favorite lines form this film.
Pa Jones, "He's not even a man. He's a tradition."
Ma Jones, "You watch yourself, Emmy. Rattlesnakes can look pretty harmless sometimes."
Emmy Jones, "Where you off to next, Pete - Alaska, Yugoslavia?"
George Degnan, " He's younger than you thought he was, isn't he, Pete?" Pete nods his head, and George continues, "And, he, he's better looking than you thought he was, isn't he, Pete?" Pete looks at George and says, "All that, and $40 million besides."
Pa Jones, getting breakfast served in bed in the Stanley mansion, "Only birds eat in the same nest they sleep in."
Emmy Jones, "Wilbur, do me a favor. Ask him to sing at our wedding. He thinks he can sing, you know. And nothing would give me greater pleasure than to marry you if he has to sing to us."
George Degnan, "You know, Miss Stanley, men seldom make passes at flat-heeled lasses." Pete Garvey, "George, that's beautiful (sic) put, beautifully put." George, "Yes, I thought so."
Winifred Stanley, "You'll still be here too, won't you?" George Degnan, "Sure, sure. Running a newspaper's just a hobby with me."
George Degnan, referring to Pete and the two children, "Three orphans in search of a mother."
Emmy Jones, "Oh, and you used to be such a good reporter. Now you sound like a journalist."
George, Degnan, "If this works, I'm a duck-billed platypus." Pete Garvey, "Meet me down at the zoo in the morning."
Emmy Jones, "Wilbur, I, I mustn't let the children see me marrying another man." Wilbur Stanley, "Another man? Me?" Emmy, "Well, Pete's their father, and not you, and they think I'm their mother, and, well, couldn't you just send them away or something?"
Wilbur Stanley, to the minister, "I beg your pardon. Would you mind waiting a moment? I'll be right back." Ma Jones, "Throw 'em out!"
Emmy Jones, "Marry Pete Garvey - are you crazy?" Wilbur Stanley, "Yes, darling, I am." Emmy, "Oh, Wilbur." Ma Jones, "Watch yourself, Emmy."
Pete Garvey, "I'd rather go to prison for the rest of my life." Emmy Jones, "Oh, you're always thinking about yourself all the time. What about Bobby and Suzi?"
Aunt Abby, "Who's marrying who?" Uncle Adam, speaking into her hearing piece, "Whom, my dear."
Ma Jones "No, Emmy, don't do it."
Emmy Jones, "I'm sorry, Wilbur." Cousin Winnie, "Aw, phooey, nobody's sorry."
Uncle Prentiss, "What's happened to Winnifred? She's completely lost her dignity." Aunt Amy, "She's completely lost her girdle."
Aunt Amy, laughing at the wedding rehearsal mayhem, "This is better than television."
George Degnan, "Got any clues?" Pa Jones, "Well, nothing that I can't be hanged fer."