The Catered Affair

1956

1h 34m

IMDb RATING

7.1/10

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13 Images

Drama

Comedy

Romance

An Irish cabby in the Bronx watches his wife go overboard planning their daughter's wedding.

Directors

Richard Brooks

Writers

Gore Vidal(screenplay by)

Paddy Chayefsky(teleplay by)

Stars

Bette Davis

Ernest Borgnine

Debbie Reynolds

See production, box office & company info

Top cast

Mrs. Agnes Hurley

Tom Hurley

Jane Hurley

Uncle Jack Conlon

Ralph Halloran

Mr. Joe Halloran

Mrs. Joe Halloran

Mrs. Rafferty

Mrs. Casey

Alice Scanlon

Eddie Hurley

Sam Leiter

Hotel Caterer

Bill Scanlon

Mrs. Musso

Saleswoman (uncredited)

Don Devlin

Taxi Driver (uncredited)

Joan Bradshaw

Girl on Phone (uncredited)

Directors

Richard Brooks

Writers

Gore Vidal(screenplay by)

Paddy Chayefsky(teleplay by)

All cast & crew

Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

Bette Davis and Ernest Borgnine are cracking in this really rather agonising drama of a couple who must reconcile their own (differing) aspirations for their daughter's forthcoming wedding with their reputations and their pocket books - and the peer pressures of neighbours and their soon-to-be in-laws alike. Initially, the young couple "Jane" (Debbie Reynolds) and "Ralph" (Rod Taylor) just want a simple ceremony to save everyone fuss, hassle and money. When his father offers them an apartment, and her neighbours start to wonder about the "haste" of it all, Davis ("Aggie") convinces thrifty husband "Tom" (Borgnine) that they must go all out on the wedding of the century. At times funny, with plenty of pathos and some super character parts from Barry Fitzgerald as "Uncle Jack" and cutie brother Ray Stricklyn as army-bound brother "Eddie" the story moves along at one hell of a pace. The star looks every inch the dreary housewife, Borgnine is super as the beleaguered cabbie husband who has saved all his life so as he can go into business on his own - and the kids all combine to convey the frustrations and expectations of this "big day" in a way that must make any impending nuptials scare the heck out of anyone. Great entertainment.

Geronimo196708 Jan, 2023