Happy Is the Bride *** (1958, Ian Carmichael, Janette Scott, Cecil Parker, Joyce Grenfell, Terry-Thomas, John le Mesurier, Eric Barker, Nicholas Parsons, Athene Seyler) – Classic Movie Review 8618

Director Roy Boulting’s 1957 British black and white comedy Happy Is the Bride is a whimsical, sweet but old-fashioned farce with interfering over-enthusiastic parents, family and friends rearranging the young couple David and Janet (Ian Carmichael and Janette Scott)’s wedding. The couple are arrested for a traffic offence on the wedding day, but the cops have pity on them.

Happy Is the Bride is lightweight but nicely played by the vintage British cast, and taken at the needed good pace by director Boulting.

Happy Is the Bride is a reworking of Esther McCracken’s 1940 stage success Quiet Wedding, with the redoubtable Athene Seyler as the sole survivor from the original cast, playing Aunt Harriet. It is a remake of Quiet Wedding (1941) and Quiet Weekend (1946).

Also in the cast are Cecil Parker as Janet’s father, Joyce Grenfell, Terry-Thomas, John le Mesurier, Eric Barker, Edith Sharpe, Athene Seyler, Nicholas Parsons, Irene Handl, Elvi Hale, Virginia Maskell, Sarah Drury, Miles Malleson, Cardew Robinson, Victor Maddern, Sam Kydd, Brian Outlon, Joan Hickson, Margaret Lacey and Peggy Ann Clifford.

It was shot at Shepperton Studios, Studios Road, Shepperton, Middlesex, England, with the church location at Bray, Berkshire, England, and the village green, pub and house location at Holyport, Berkshire.

Ian Carmichael. Janette Scott, Terry-Thomas and John Le Mesurier all re-assembled for Robert Hamer’s School for Scoundrels (1960).

Happy Is the Bride is directed by Roy Boulting, runs 84 minutes, is made by Panther and Paul Soskin Productions, is released by British Lion, is written by Jeffrey Dell and Roy Boulting, based on Esther McCracken’s 1940 play Quiet Wedding, is shot in black and white by Ted Scaife, is produced by Paul Soskin and is scored by Benjamin Frankel.

Nicholas Parsons (1923–2020).

RIP much loved broadcasting legend and icon Nicholas Parsons, who died on 28 January 2020, aged 96. His career spanned nine decades, and in 2014 he was awarded a CBE for charitable services.

© Derek Winnert 2019 Classic Movie Review 8618

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