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 Theatrical release poster | |
| Directed by | Richard Brooks |
| Screenplay by | Gore Vidal |
| Based on | "The Catered Affair" 1955 teleplay by Paddy Chayefsky |
| Produced by | Sam Zimbalist |
| Starring | Bette Davis Ernest Borgnine Debbie Reynolds Barry Fitzgerald Rod Taylor |
| Cinematography | John Alton |
| Edited by | Gene Ruggiero Frank Santillo |
| Music by | André Previn |
| Production company | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| Distributed by | Loew's Inc. |
| Release date |
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| Running time | 92 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $1 million |
| Box office | $1.5 million |
The Catered Affair (also known as Wedding Party) is a 1956 American comedy drama film directed by Richard Brooks and produced by Sam Zimbalist from a screenplay by Gore Vidal, based on a 1955 television play by Paddy Chayefsky. The film stars Bette Davis, Ernest Borgnine, Debbie Reynolds, Barry Fitzgerald and Rod Taylor. It was Taylor's first film for Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer after signing a long-term contract with the studio. The film score was by André Previn and the cinematographer was John Alton.
Plot
Agnes Hurley (Davis) is a disillusioned housewife, married to Bronx cab driver Tom Hurley (Borgnine), who works for a large taxi fleet. Agnes wants something better for her daughter, Jane (Reynolds), while Tom has been saving that money for many years to purchase a taxi medallion and become self-employed.
When Jane announces her engagement to Ralph Halloran (Taylor), Aggie sees this as an opportunity to have a romantic elaborate wedding, which she never had because they could never afford it. However, the daughter does not want it because it is causing awkward conflicts with her family and friends.
The film deals with the ensuing money troubles and conflicts within the family, which also involve Uncle Jack Conlon (Fitzgerald), who lives with them. The conflict is resolved when Agnes realizes that it is the happiness of her family, rather than the expensive ceremony, that is most important. Plans for the expensive wedding are shelved and Tom gets the medallion and a new taxi.
Cast
- Bette Davis as Agnes Hurley
- Ernest Borgnine as Tom Hurley
- Debbie Reynolds as Jane Hurley
- Barry Fitzgerald as Uncle Jack Conlon
- Rod Taylor as Ralph Halloran
- Robert Simon as Mr. Halloran
- Madge Kennedy as Mrs. Halloran
- Dorothy Stickney as Mrs. Rafferty
- Carol Veazie as Mrs. Casey
- Joan Camden as Alice Scanlon
- Ray Stricklyn as Eddie Hurley
- Jay Adler as Sam Leiter
Production
MGM bought the screen rights in 1955. Ann Blyth was originally announced for the female lead.
Debbie Reynolds later said she "hated making" the film "for personal reasons. I like the result and he directed me well but the director made it difficult for me and gave me a hard time."
"He called me ‘Little Miss Hollywood’ and made no attempt to hide his disdain for me. Every day he was rude, and once he slapped me across the face in front of everyone. I don't know what I'd done to anger him that time. I was always professional."
Reception
According to MGM records, the film earned $947,000 in the U.S. and Canada and $520,000 in other countries, resulting in a loss of $106,000. Critics' reviews were unfavorable, with the film currently holding a 17% on Rotten Tomatoes.
New York Times critic Bosley Crowther compared the film unfavorably to Marty and said the film lacked "compassion or appeal." He said that was "partly the fault of the writing, partly the fault of the film and partly the fault of the direction, which is uneven in compass and style." Crowther criticized the performances, saying that Davis "gives the role the air of a gentlelady who has come down a little in the world and deliberately uses had grammar, with some effort and considerable shame," while Borgnine "gawks gargoylishly as her Bronx mate."
Stage adaptation
A musical adaptation also titled A Catered Affair, with book by Harvey Fierstein and lyrics and music by John Bucchino, premiered at San Diego's Old Globe Theatre in 2007 and the following year played on Broadway at the Walter Kerr Theatre. The cast included Faith Prince, Tom Wopat, Leslie Kritzer and Fierstein.
See also
References
- ^ The Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.
- Stephen Vagg, Rod Taylor: An Aussie in Hollywood, Bear Manor Media, 2010 p 53
- "Ann Blyth Will Star in Remake From TV". Los Angeles Times. June 14, 1955. p. 16.
- Howard Thompson (Aug 9, 1964). "The 'Unsinkable' Debbie Reynolds Rides the Crest". New York Times. p. X7.
- "The Catered Affair (1956)". RottenTomatoes.com. Retrieved February 4, 2017.
- Crowther, Bosley (1956-06-15). "Screen: 'Catered Affair'; Adaptation of TV Play Arrives at Victoria The Cast". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2023-08-06.
External links
- The Catered Affair (1956 film) at IMDb
- A Catered Affair at the Internet Broadway Database
- The Catered Affair at the TCM Movie Database
- Template:Amg movie
- The Catered Affair at the AFI Catalog of Feature Films
| Films directed by Richard Brooks | |
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- 1956 films
- 1956 comedy-drama films
- American black-and-white films
- American comedy-drama films
- 1950s English-language films
- Films scored by André Previn
- Films about weddings
- Films based on television plays
- Films directed by Richard Brooks
- Films set in the Bronx
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer films
- Plays by Paddy Chayefsky
- Films with screenplays by Gore Vidal
- 1956 comedy films
- 1956 drama films
- 1950s American films