The Catered Affair (1956)

When Jane tells her parents that she is getting married to Ralph Halloran, her mother Agnes, starts planning an elaborate wedding, even though Jane does not wish it.

Director:

Richard Brooks

Writers:

Gore Vidal (screenplay), Paddy Chayefsky (play)

Stars:

Bette Davis, Ernest Borgnine, Debbie Reynolds

2 wins.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Bette Davis	...	Aggie 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, because Jane's parents are poor and Jane and Ralph can borrow a car for their honeymoon. But at dinner that night, all Ralph's parents talk about are the big weddings they gave their daughters, and everything escalates. Suddenly it's 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 that money is going towards a wedding that neither he nor Jane nor Ralph really want.

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Plot Keywords:

wedding | new york city | based on tv movie | money | lingerie slip | 

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Taglines:

The story of a girl who wanted to lead her own life.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | Romance

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Certificate:

Approved

Did You Know?

Trivia

Craggy-faced Ernest Borgnine was 39 when this film came out, only 15 years older than his film daughter Debbie Reynolds, who was 24. His wife in the film, Bette Davis, was 48.

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Goofs

The days and dates mentioned in the film only work if the year is 1951 or 1956. The license plates of the taxis all show a year of 1955.

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Quotes

[first lines]
Bridge Attendant: Morning, 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!

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Alternate Versions

Also shown in a computer colorized version.

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Connections

Featured in TCM Guest Programmer: 20 Fan Programmers (2014)

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Soundtracks

Cailín Deas Crúite na mBó (A Pretty Girl Milking Her Cow)
Traditional 18th-century Irish ballad

User Reviews

Bette Davis' personal favorite -- One of her very best!

Bette Davis plays loyal wife to hard-working NYC cabby Ernest Borgnine. Borgnine is very close to realizing his dream to actually own his own taxi cab, complete with special licence, at last being his own boss.

All would be well, if not their young daughter Debbie Reynolds had announced her sudden plans to marry blue-blood Rod Taylor. Davis, unphased by the limited financial means, is determined to "give" their daughter a big wedding. The figures to foot the bill reach astronomical proportions, making everyone but Davis nervous.

The not entirely predictable outcome is one of the most satisfying Hollywood movie endings ever. -- This film was Bette Davis' personal favorite; she called her performance "my proudest effort". As a fan of all 4 stars, I agree that "A Catered Affair" is one of the very best films Bette Davis has ever starred in. "Cinema Candy" all the way through!

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

22 June 1956 (USA)

Also Known As:

The Catered Affair

Filming Locations:

1183 Franklin Avenue, 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:

94 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1