June Bride

Linda too is sceptic: he will be bored and scoff at her...He tries to warm up their relationship - drinking cocktails in a penthouse, trying to kiss her in the dark, getting boxed on the ear...Another reviewer remarked appropriately that Bob Hope should have played this scene. As expected, he pokes fun at her position as editor ("Madame directrice", "Sir") and even offers her a cigar. But Linda is quick on the trigger: "Thank you, I'm going to smoke it after breakfast".She is about to prepare a special edition about the bride of the month, quite in advance, besides: It's for the june issue, and it's still winter. They fly to the province, Cresthill/Indiana, 30 cm of snow. Carey, who promised to be charming drops his good intentions...

From now on we're watching HOUSE INVADERS: The wallpaper is not to the taste of high-brow New Yorkers, the family even has to part form their Julius Ceasar bust - a much beloved wedding-present. The Brinkers are a storybook family: Pa "Call me Grandpa" who gives Carey a chummy look before offering his self-distilled brandy, Ma, who feels flattered at the thought of becoming famous, the bride with model-aspirations, "Boo", the younger sister, and the black sheep of the family - a democrat. Carey disentangles the mixed-up love-quartett, hereby depriving Linda of her June-bride. She fires him, he announces that he will take her back, but only if she crawls to him...

I have seen Katherine Hepburn ridiculed for her emancipation attempts in WOMAN OF THE YEAR and ADAM'S RIB. I have seen Rosalind Russell being forced to cry (!) in order to demonstrate her femininity in HIS GIRL FRIDAY. I did not expect a woman's lib film - woman who kept the economy going during the war were sent back to their cooking pots at the time. But I was not prepared to see Bette's complete and merciless humiliation. Not Bette! While Montgomery taunts her she implores him to permit her to give up her career, carry his suitcase, and follow him around the world: he gives her a cold look before stating his terms: Berlin (For a look at Berlin 1948 watch Billy Wilder's A FOREIGN AFFAIR), Afghanistan...

Poor Bette! At age 40 she was marked to be ousted from Warner Brothers. She made cheaper films in her life, but I can't remember one where she seemed more helpless: Looking haggard and intimidated, she recedes into the background while everybody around her is stealing her scenes: Dry-witted Fay Bainter, who gives matronly Ma a brutish massage, the elder sister who is a beauty, the younger sister (Betty Lynn), who is the film's saving grace. Her endearing performance puts new life into the old cliche of the tomboy who becomes a lady. A while ago I watched Montgomery in RAGE IN HEAVEN where he merely said his lines without acting, because he did not want to play the part. Here he definitely acts - his drunken scenes seem interminable, he even lands on manure heap and is kissed by a little pig - and it's a singularly unattractive performance. I can't say that those two films have endeared this actor to me.

They travel to Indiana with their entourage where they will do a story on a June bride, having picked a middle class, average, small town family upon which to focus. While there, they get involved in the family's affairs, with a few delightful, though predictable, twists and turns. While getting to know the family, they make some personal discoveries about their own lives. It seems that embers of their own long ago romance, have merely laid dormant. With the flames being fanned, it looks like there may be more than one June bride.

Bette Davis is very soignee as Ms. Gilman, and Robert Montgomery provides a light hearted touch as the cavalier Mr. Jackson. Both contribute some comedic deftness, as does the supporting cast, to make this an entertaining film. The only wrong note struck during the entire film is in the last scene. It was almost embarrassing. I thought about deducting one star because of it, but then decided against it, as it was just reflective of the era in which the film was made. Actually, the whole movie was reflective of the era in which it was made, but that last scene was just too sexist for words. When you see it, you will know what I mean.

Fans of Bette Davis will surely enjoy this movie, as will those who love classic films.

• Genres > Comedy > By Theme > Love & Romance
• Genres > Comedy
• Genres > Drama
• Genres > Drama > Love & Romance
• Genres > Classics

• Amazon.ca : June Bride