Odell Public Library, 307 S. Madison Street, Morrison, IL, will celebrate weddings and the month of June with the 1950’s movie, “Father of the Bride.” You are cordially invited to attend on Tuesday, June 13, 2017, at 2:00 p.m. This film comedy classic stars Spencer Tracy, Elizabeth Taylor, and Joan Bennett as the Banks family. “Father of the Bride” is on the list of the Top 100 Comedies of the American Film Institute.
The movie opens with the father of the bride, Stanley Banks (Tracy), sitting in the middle of a very messy room, following the wedding of his only daughter, Kay (Taylor.) He then begins to narrate the story back to the day he and his wife, Ellie (Bennett), received the news that their daughter Kay was going to get married. We then follow the family through all the decisions, planning, and the wedding itself. The story is really about “Pop” losing his cherished daughter and paying for that privilege.
Taylor is perfect as the young bride. She looks radiant as Kay Banks, and the first time she is seen in her wedding gown is memorable. The movie greatly benefited from Taylor’s real life wedding a month previously to Nicky Hilton. MGM actually gave Taylor the wedding gown, which was made by famed costumer, Edith Head.
However, the movie belongs to the great actor, Spencer Tracy. He is hilarious as he comes to grips with all that giving his daughter’s hand in marriage entails. In one wonderful scene, he is greatly agitated as he paces his bedroom, with the reality that all this is happening, and he must pay for it. Once he has his wife Ellie all worked up, he comfortably settles himself into bed and goes to sleep.
The film is a time capsule of the American family in the 1950’s. “Father of the Bride” is a comedy classic. Nearly every television sitcom of the 1950’s followed the blueprint created by this movie.
Come and join us for a fun-filled, delightful June wedding. There is no charge, although donations are always most welcome.