Have always liked comedy (trying to appreciate all kinds too, while preferring some to others admittedly) and romance individually. There are many cases where they have gelled beautifully together and made for very good and even classic films. Alexander Hall is not one of my favourite directors but what has been said of his work, not enough, has been generally watchable. It is also hard to resist a cast as talented as the one we have here in 'They All Kissed the Bride'.
If one has more used to seeing Joan Crawford in melodrama, which in her prime she was wonderful at, and not seen enough of her comedy-romance work (which to me was a good deal more variable), they may worry as to whether Crawford would fit a role that sounds on paper better suited to Carole Lombard, who if she had not died so tragically would have played it perfectly. It is not just Crawford, we have the ever debonair Melvyn Douglas and the likes of Allan Jenkins, Roland Young and Billie Burke. 'They All Kissed the Bride' represents all of them well and deserves a lot more credit. Is it perfect? Absolutely not. Is it worth watching? Absolutely yes.
'They All Kissed the Bride' is on the long-winded side in the latter stages, with the too drawn out ending especially going on for a lot longer than it needed to and it was like the writers weren't sure how to end it. The material does lack freshness in spots, especially in the final quarter when the film does lose energy which was there in the first two thirds.
Also thought that 'They All Kissed the Bride' would have even better if Crawford's character was more likeable and less one dimensional and was developed more in terms of going more on a journey.
Put this more down to the writing actually than Crawford, who actually gives it absolutely everything without being over-the-top or unbalancing the film like she could do in her comedy endeavours dependent on her material. Douglas is typically suave and debonair with his usual witty comic timing. The supporting cast are even better, with sterling support from Jenkins (very funny, really sells it in the jitterbug sequence), Young (ditto with so much energy) and Burke (appreciated her restraint here). Hall's direction keeps things light on the feet and going at an energetic pace, without being entirely distinguished.
Writing is sophisticated and witty on the most part, although the momentum is not always consistent, with lines that makes one smile. The story is not perfect but is mostly bright and breezy with a good deal of charm and scenes that stick in the mind for a while. The jitterbug sequence is priceless. 'They All Kissed the Bride' is well made visually, with nice style and atmosphere.
Summing up, worth the look. 7/10
If one has more used to seeing Joan Crawford in melodrama, which in her prime she was wonderful at, and not seen enough of her comedy-romance work (which to me was a good deal more variable), they may worry as to whether Crawford would fit a role that sounds on paper better suited to Carole Lombard, who if she had not died so tragically would have played it perfectly. It is not just Crawford, we have the ever debonair Melvyn Douglas and the likes of Allan Jenkins, Roland Young and Billie Burke. 'They All Kissed the Bride' represents all of them well and deserves a lot more credit. Is it perfect? Absolutely not. Is it worth watching? Absolutely yes.
'They All Kissed the Bride' is on the long-winded side in the latter stages, with the too drawn out ending especially going on for a lot longer than it needed to and it was like the writers weren't sure how to end it. The material does lack freshness in spots, especially in the final quarter when the film does lose energy which was there in the first two thirds.
Also thought that 'They All Kissed the Bride' would have even better if Crawford's character was more likeable and less one dimensional and was developed more in terms of going more on a journey.
Put this more down to the writing actually than Crawford, who actually gives it absolutely everything without being over-the-top or unbalancing the film like she could do in her comedy endeavours dependent on her material. Douglas is typically suave and debonair with his usual witty comic timing. The supporting cast are even better, with sterling support from Jenkins (very funny, really sells it in the jitterbug sequence), Young (ditto with so much energy) and Burke (appreciated her restraint here). Hall's direction keeps things light on the feet and going at an energetic pace, without being entirely distinguished.
Writing is sophisticated and witty on the most part, although the momentum is not always consistent, with lines that makes one smile. The story is not perfect but is mostly bright and breezy with a good deal of charm and scenes that stick in the mind for a while. The jitterbug sequence is priceless. 'They All Kissed the Bride' is well made visually, with nice style and atmosphere.
Summing up, worth the look. 7/10