The Marrying Kind (1952)

Director:

George Cukor

Writers:

Ruth Gordon
Garson Kanin

Release Date:

February 1952 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

"Shaddup!"

Plot:

Florence and Chet Keefer have had a troublesome marriage. Whilst in the middle of a divorce hearing...

Plot Keywords:

Marriage | Judge | Beach | Manhattan New York City | Central Park Manhattan New York City

Awards:

Nominated for BAFTA Film Award. Another 1 nomination

Cast

Judy Holliday	...	'Florrie' Keefer
Aldo Ray	...	'Chet' Keefer
Madge Kennedy	...	Judge Anne B. Carroll
Sheila Bond	...	Joan Shipley
John Alexander	...	Howard Shipley
Rex Williams	...	George Bastian
Phyllis Povah	...	Mrs. Derringer
Mickey Shaughnessy	...	Pat Bundy
Griff Barnett	...	Charley
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Wallace Acton	...	Newhouse (uncredited)
Shirlee Allard	...	(uncredited)
George Auld	...	Spec (uncredited)
Larry J. Blake	...	Benny (uncredited)
Charles Brewer	...	Musician (uncredited)
Charles Bronson	...	Eddie (uncredited)
Vera Burnett	...	(uncredited)
Patrick Butler	...	Boy (uncredited)
Peggy Cass	...	Emily Bundy (uncredited)
Mary Chamberlin	...	Leona (uncredited)
Barry Curtis	...	Joey Keefer (age 6) (uncredited)
Alexis Davidoff	...	(uncredited)
Helen Dickson	...	Party Guest (uncredited)
Clint Dorrington	...	(uncredited)
John Elliott	...	Minister (uncredited)
Bob Evans	...	(uncredited)
Tommy Farrell	...	Cliff (uncredited)
Frank Ferguson	...	Mr. Quinn (uncredited)
Kathleen Field	...	(uncredited)
Dick Gordon	...	Lawyer (uncredited)
Susan Hallaran	...	Ellen Keefer (uncredited)
Sam Harris	...	Passerby in Nightmare (uncredited)
Robert Hartley	...	Musician (uncredited)
Thomas Browne Henry	...	Mr. Jenner (uncredited)
Elsie Holmes	...	Marian (uncredited)
Gordon Jones	...	Steve (uncredited)
Johnnie Kiado	...	Musician (uncredited)
Terry Kingston	...	(uncredited)
Tom Kingston	...	(uncredited)
Nancy Kulp	...	Edie (uncredited)
Ethan Laidlaw	...	Picnicker (uncredited)
Raymond Largay	...	Postmaster General (uncredited)
Carl M. Leviness	...	(uncredited)
James MacColl	...	Man in Subway (uncredited)
Don Mahin	...	Roy (uncredited)
Alan Marston	...	(uncredited)
Joe McGuinn	...	Bus Driver (uncredited)
Beverly Michaels	...	Blonde on Life Cover (uncredited)
Malan Mills	...	Charlotte (uncredited)
Charles Morton	...	(uncredited)
William H. O'Brien	...	Party Waiter (uncredited)
Frank O'Connor	...	Plant Worker (uncredited)
Christopher Olsen	...	Joey Keefer (age 4) (uncredited)
Allen Pinson	...	(uncredited)
Margaret Roberts	...	(uncredited)
Jeffrey Sayre	...	Party Guest / Man at Airport (uncredited)
Joan Shawlee	...	Tall Party Dancer / Woman at Airport (uncredited)
John Sheffield	...	(uncredited)
Ray Stricklyn	...	Extra (uncredited)
Ethel Sway	...	(uncredited)
Guy Teague	...	(uncredited)
Lucio Villegas	...	Butler / Party Waiter (uncredited)
Harry von Zell	...	Radio Quiz Show Host (voice) (uncredited)
Peggy Walker	...	Gloria (uncredited)
Jean Wardley	...	Peggy (uncredited)

Directed by
George Cukor

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Ruth Gordon
Garson Kanin

Produced by
Bert Granet	....	producer

Original Music by
Hugo Friedhofer

Cinematography by
Joseph Walker

Film Editing by
Charles Nelson

Art Direction by
John Meehan

Set Decoration by
William Kiernan

Costume Design by
Jean Louis

Makeup Department
Clay Campbell	....	makeup artist
Helen Hunt	....	hair stylist

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Earl Bellamy	....	assistant director
Larry Buchanan	....	assistant director
Harry Horner	....	second unit director

Sound Department
Jack A. Goodrich	....	sound

Stunts
Allen Pinson	....	stunts (uncredited)

Camera and Electrical Department
Emil Oster	....	camera operator

Music Department
Morris Stoloff	....	musical director
George Duning	....	composer: stock music (uncredited)
Arthur Morton	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Columbia Pictures Corporation

Distributors

• Columbia Pictures (1952) (USA) (theatrical)

Also Known As:

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Recording)

Certification:

Finland:S | Sweden:15

Filming Locations:

Central Park, Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Columbia Pictures Corporation

Trivia:

Debut of Peggy Cass.

Goofs:

Errors in geography: At one point, Mickey Shaughnessy's character refers to his address as being "20-11 35th Avenue, Jackson Heights." Actually, that address would be in Long Island City.

Quotes:

Mrs. Derringer:Oh, I didn't remember he had an 'F' in 'im.

Movie Connections:

Featured in 100 Years of Comedy (1997) (V)

Soundtrack:

Dolores

Drastic turns

Chet marries Florence and for a while all is swell. But due to personal tragedy and Chet's inability to hold on to a job, they find themselves in divorce court.

Time has completely forgotten this truly masterful piece of cinema art. 'Marrying Kind' starts out as a screwball comedy, evolves into gentle and then starker realism, takes a drastic turn towards tragedy, only to try and find its way back. Veteran director Cukor invited all sorts of trouble with this extremely challenging format, with a drama very obviously inspired by King Vidor's ground-breaking late silent 'The Crowd'.

It is a virtuosic and deeply, deeply affecting film, as written by Garson Kanin, directed with an almost uncanny ear for dialogue by the underrated Cukor, and acted by newcomer Aldo Ray and the ever-brilliant Judy Holliday. The ending to this film testifies to an unexpected emotional maturity in Hollywood in the early 50's, and the transfer is perfect.

I daresay nobody with an open mind is ever liable to forgot this film, and remember, before you start moaning about the mixing of genres, Life does its own mixing of tears and laughter every day to every single one of us. In that respect no film ever was more organic than this one!