The Catered Affair (1956)

Director:

Richard Brooks

Writers:

Paddy Chayefsky (play)
Gore Vidal (screenplay)

Release Date:

14 June 1956 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

When you're in love, nothing else matters

Plot:

At breakfast, Jane announces that she and Ralph are getting married the next week. All Jane and Ralph...

Plot Keywords:

Wedding | Poor | Personal Finance | Based On TV Movie | Father Daughter Relationship

Awards:

1 win

Cast

Bette Davis	...	Mrs. Agnes Hurley
Ernest Borgnine	...	Tom Hurley
Debbie Reynolds	...	Jane Hurley
Barry Fitzgerald	...	Uncle Jack Conlon
Rod Taylor	...	Ralph Halloran
Robert F. Simon	...	Mr. Halloran (as Robert Simon)
Madge Kennedy	...	Mrs. Halloran
Dorothy Stickney	...	Mrs. Rafferty
Carol Veazie	...	Mrs. Casey
Joan Camden	...	Alice Scanlon
Ray Stricklyn	...	Eddie Hurley
Jay Adler	...	Sam Leiter
Dan Tobin	...	Hotel Caterer
Paul Denton	...	Bill
Augusta Merighi	...	Mrs. Musso

Also Known As:

Wedding Breakfast (UK)

Runtime:

92 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #17915)

Filming Locations:

Bronx, New York City, New York, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Goofs:

Factual errors: Real-life radio soap opera "The Romance of Helen Trent" is heard on radio while members of Hurley family are waking up, eating breakfast and preparing to go off to work; in reality, radio soaps weren't broadcast until late mornings/ afternoons and/or evenings.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Bridge Attendant: Boy, Tom how's the taxi business?
Tom Hurley: How's the bridge business?
Bridge Attendant: One more day like this, I'll own the bridge.

Movie Connections:

Featured in Stardust: The Bette Davis Story (2006) (TV)

a beautiful film of lost dreams and illusions

I have loved this film for years and it gets so rarely shown. No need to explain what it is about as others have done it so much better than I could. The performances are all superb (especially the supporting players) and it stands today as much as a social document as it does a piece of film. I used to love DAVIS years back and then went off her somewhat as I kept thinking she was all too exaggerated, too theatrical, too mannered. In this film I would disagree with someone who said it is LA DAVIS as usual. I would say it is not. She is miles away from MARGO CHANNING and CHARLOTTE VALE in this. I don't know the background of the characters for "real" but she sounds "real", no effort in glamorizing the character either The one bit that gets to me every time last about 10 seconds and is right at the end. It is the look of a new proprietor (wont tell why so as not to spoil it) on a face of a woman who never had anything, and whose dreams have all but disappeared. She looks around and the pride and gladness felt by her character AGGIE is all in there.No words. Just a glance, a look. As I write this I get goose pimples just thinking about it. This should be shown to kids today as part of "living history", a history not so far gone. If you like your movies with action and pretty blondes by pass this. If you like to know about people and the human condition don't miss it..It is all in there.Beautifully and heartfeltingly done.