The Member of the Wedding (1952)

Director:

Fred Zinnemann

Writers:

Carson McCullers (play) (novel)
Edna Anhalt ...
(more)

Release Date:

1954 (West Germany)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

She became a woman in the middle of a kiss!

Plot:

A film version of the Carson McCullers play. Frankie Addams, a very boyish articulate 12-year-old girl...

Plot Keywords:

Wedding | Tomboy | Bar | Loneliness | Drunkenness

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win

Cast

Ethel Waters	...	Berenice Sadie Brown
Julie Harris	...	Frances 'Frankie' Addams
Brandon De Wilde	...	John Henry
Arthur Franz	...	Jarvis Addams
Nancy Gates	...	Janice
William Hansen	...	Mr. Addams
James Edwards	...	Honey Camden Brown
Harry Bolden	...	T.T. Williams
Dickie Moore	...	Soldier (as Dick Moore)
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Hugh Beaumont	...	Minister (uncredited)
Margaret Bert	...	Townswoman (uncredited)
Jeanne Blackford	...	Townswoman (uncredited)
Gail Bonney	...	Townswoman (uncredited)
Ivan Browning	...	Porter (uncredited)
Ann Carter	...	Doris - Club Girl (uncredited)
Wheaton Chambers	...	Man Who Gives Bride Away (uncredited)
Mary Emery	...	Townswoman (uncredited)
Ella Ethridge	...	Townswoman (uncredited)
Al Ferguson	...	Townsman (uncredited)
Jack Gargan	...	Townsman (uncredited)
Charlcie Garrett	...	Aunt Pet (uncredited)
June Hedin	...	Helen - Club Girl (uncredited)
Alma Mansfield	...	Townswoman (uncredited)
Rhea Mitchell	...	Townswoman (uncredited)
Ralph Montgomery	...	Tractor Man (uncredited)
Danny Mummert	...	Barney McKean (uncredited)
Gil Perkins	...	Moving Man (uncredited)
Charles Perry	...	Townsman (uncredited)
Harry Richards	...	Organ Grinder (uncredited)
Helen St. Rayner	...	Organist (uncredited)
Henry Sylvester	...	Townsman (uncredited)

Directed by
Fred Zinnemann

Writing credits
Carson McCullers		(play) (novel)
Edna Anhalt		and
Edward Anhalt

Produced by
Edna Anhalt	....	associate producer
Edward Anhalt	....	associate producer
Stanley Kramer	....	producer

Original Music by
Alex North

Cinematography by
Hal Mohr

Film Editing by
William A. Lyon

Production Design by
Rudolph Sternad

Art Direction by
Cary Odell

Set Decoration by
Frank Tuttle

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

Production Management
Clem Beauchamp	....	production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Sam Nelson	....	assistant director
Willard M. Reineck	....	assistant director (uncredited)

Art Department
Jack Wrenn	....	props (uncredited)

Sound Department
Lambert E. Day	....	sound engineer

Editorial Department
Harry W. Gerstad	....	editorial supervisor

Music Department
Morris Stoloff	....	musical director
Maurice De Packh	....	orchestrator (uncredited)

Other crew
Jus Addiss	....	dialogue director (uncredited)
Eugene Busch	....	dialogue director (uncredited)
Hal Fisher	....	location manager (uncredited)
George Lait	....	director of publicity (uncredited)
Donna M. Norridge	....	script supervisor (uncredited)
Charlcie Pet	....	technical advisor (uncredited)

Production Companies

• Stanley Kramer Productions (as The Stanley Kramer Company)

Distributors

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

Also Known As:

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:TV-G

Filming Locations:

Colusa, California, USA

Company:

Stanley Kramer Productions

Trivia:

Julie Harris was 27, when she played 12 year-old Frankie Addams.

Quotes:

Frances 'Frankie' Addams:We'll just walk up to people and know them right away. We'll be walking down a dark road, and see a lighted house and knock on the door, and strangers will rush to meet us and say, "Come in! Come in!" We'll know decorated aviators and New York people and movie stars. And we'll have thousands and thousands of friends. We'll belong to so many clubs that we can't even keep track of them all. We'll be members of the WHOLE WORLD!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Good Times: Florida, the Matchmaker (#2.11)" (1974)

Soundtrack:

His Eye Is on the Sparrow

A True Masterpiece of American Cinema

Were I pressed to name just five films which I consider to be the greatest of all time, THE MEMBER OF THE WEDDING would have to be amongst them. It is American cinema at its most elevated and humane, and in a strange, oblique kind of way says more about the pain, (that was once so commonplace), of being black in the USA , than many other films that deal with this issue in a more direct way. The story is so universal, and through its many metaphors applies to so many of life's experiences; it is full of compassion, humane values, humour and irony; it both warms and breaks the heart.

Every single role is acted superbly by a fine ensemble of players, but the three main characters, Julie Harris, Ethel Waters and Brandon De Wilde, are quite simply perfection, and give performances that could not be bettered. The scene where the three sit together in the growing darkness of the kitchen and together sing `His Eye Is On The Sparrow' must surely rank as one of the most sublime and moving moments in world cinema. I have watched this film on countless occasions and never fail to marvel at its artistry, and too, how it reflects human values of worth and merit, and, whenever I have introduced the film to others who didn't know it, they have never failed to thank me profusely for doing so.

Fred Zinnemann once said in an interview that it was his personal favourite of all the films he made, and I agree with him, but I would qualify his statement further by stating it is amongst the finest films that anybody has ever made! All technical values are first rate, and yet again, Alex North came up with a brilliant musical score that added yet one more layer of sheer excellence.

A film every American should watch and be proud of; not in a negative nationalistic sort of way, but in a common, shared-humanity way! Non-Americans of course should also watch it, and see a positive side of American values, and, like me, be grateful to Columbia for bringing to fruition such a risky commercial proposition. It may not have broken box-office records, but it is a true treasure in the pantheon of American cinema. One of the truly great films of all time.