Family Honeymoon (1948)

A bachelor marries a widow and her three kids join the honeymoon.

Director:

Claude Binyon

Writers:

Homer Croy (novel), Dane Lussier

Stars:

Claudette Colbert, Fred MacMurray, Rita Johnson

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Claudette Colbert	...	Katie Armstrong Jordan
Fred MacMurray	...	Grant Jordan
Rita Johnson	...	Minna Fenster
William H. Daniels	...	Arch Armstrontg (scenes deleted) (as William Daniels)
Gigi Perreau	...	Zoe
Jimmy Hunt	...	Charlie
Peter Miles	...	Abner
Lillian Bronson	...	Aunt Jo
Hattie McDaniel	...	Phyllis
Chill Wills	...	Fred
Catherine Doucet	...	Mrs. Abercrombie (as Catharine Doucet)
Paul Harvey	...	Chancellor Fenster
Irving Bacon	...	Mr. Webb
Chick Chandler	...	Taxi driver
Frank Jenks	...	Gas Station Attendant

Storyline

Grant Jordan, bachelor botany professor, marries Katie, a widow with three kids, despite the machinations of Grant's former girlfriend Minna. But on the wedding day, Aunt Jo, who was to babysit, breaks a leg; so the kids come along on the honeymoon. After misadventures en route, they make it to the Grand Canyon, only to find Minna there, still scheming.

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Plot Keywords:

widow | honeymoon | grand canyon | taxi driver | teddy bear | 

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Genres:

Comedy

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

24 February 1949 (USA)

Also Known As:

Fünf auf Hochzeitsreise

Filming Locations:

Grand Canyon National Park, Arizona, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Universal International Pictures (UI)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

90 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

"Lux Radio Theater" broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie on April 4, 1949 with Claudette Colbert and Fred MacMurray reprising their film roles.

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Soundtracks

"HAPPY HOMECOMING TO YOU"
(uncredited)
Music by Milton Schwarzwald
Lyrics by Dane Lussier
Sung by cast (party guests)

User Reviews

A disappointing domestic comedy.

Let me just start by saying that Claudette Colbert and Fred MacMurray were two of the finest romantic comedy teams of the 30's and 40's. In more than half a dozen films, they proved themselves to be a perfect match on screen. They are best remembered for "The Egg and I" made by Universal right before this film. Although that film (which lead to the "Ma & Pa Kettle" series) had its flaws, it is a masterpiece compared to this. The story is this: Colbert, a widow with three young kids, is all set to marry MacMurray, but the kids (especially the baby daughter) are against it from the start. They nag and complain every change they get. When Colbert's mother breaks a leg during the ceremony, the newlyweds are forced to take the kids on their honeymoon since no one else wants to look after them. From there, the kids cause all kinds of trouble that threatens Colbert and MacMurray's happiness. What weakens this comedy is the fact that the kids are so bratty and the adults are too wimpy to put their feet down. Colbert and MacMurray are fine, and Hattie McDaniels, as the maid, gives a very funny performance as well. However, the children simply just aren't funny, no matter how "cute" their schemes try to be. They have absolutely no motivation for what they do: they are just simply brats. And of course, we have a scheming "other woman" as well thrown in for good measure. Missing the charm of "The Egg and I" (where at least the newlyweds had to battle nature), "Family Honeymoon" is a mediocre film that the talented stars can't even save.