The Catered Affair (1956)

At breakfast, Jane announces that she and Ralph are getting married the next week. All Jane and Ralph want is a small wedding with the immediate family and no reception. This is because ... See full summary »

Director:

Richard Brooks

Writers:

Paddy Chayefsky (teleplay), Gore Vidal (screenplay)

Stars:

Bette Davis, Ernest Borgnine, Debbie Reynolds

2 wins.

Cast

Complete credited 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. Joe Halloran (as Robert Simon)
Madge Kennedy	...	Mrs. Joe 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 Scanlon
Augusta Merighi	...	Mrs. Musso

Storyline

At breakfast, Jane announces that she and Ralph are getting married the next week. All Jane and Ralph want is a small wedding with the immediate family and no reception. This is because Janes parents are poor and Jane and Ralph can borrow a car for their honeymoon. However, at dinner that night all Ralph's parents talk about are the big weddings they gave their daughters and everything escalates. All of a sudden, it is a big wedding breakfast with hundreds of guests. The problem is that for 12 years, Tom has been saving money to buy his own cab and license, but now that he can, all of his money is going towards a wedding neither he, or Jane or Ralph really want.

---

Plot Keywords:

wedding | money | mother son relationship | wedding dress | card playing | 

---

Taglines:

When you're in love, nothing else matters

---

Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

---

Certificate:

Approved

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

14 June 1956 (USA)

Also Known As:

A Festa de Casamento

Filming Locations:

Bronx, New York City, New York, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$1,008,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

92 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Goofs

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.

---

Connections

Referenced in Three's Company: The Catered Affair (1979)

User Reviews

I'd RSVP

"The Catered Affair" is a great little movie filled with real life heartache and genuine emotion. Bette gives a strong performance as the matriarch of the family determined to give her only daughter a proper wedding even though the family can't afford to do so. Ernest B. is perfectly cast as the slovenly, hard working taxi cab driver. In fact everyone is up to par in this film, but it's the real life situations that tug at your heart strings. Agnes' brother who sleeps on the couch in the living room, preparing a dinner to impress the future in-laws, Agnes' realization that one day it will be only her and Tom living in the apartment. An especially touching scene takes place in the bedroom as Agnes brushes her hair as Tom gives her many reasons why they can't afford the cost of the wedding, both financially and emotionally.