Royal Wedding [Wedding Bells] ***½ (1950, Fred Astaire, Jane Powell, Sarah Churchill, Peter Lawford, Keenan Wynn) – Classic Movie Review 3380

Director Stanley Donen’s tasty 1950 movie finds the MGM studios in the mood for cashing in the worldwide publicity and frenzy surrounding Queen Elizabeth’s wedding to Prince Philip with a cute musical with Fred Astaire and Jane Powell.

They play American siblings, Tom and Ellen Bowen, who take their vaudeville dance act to London at the time of the celebrations after their show closes in New York. Tom (Fred) falls for English dancer Anne Ashmond (Sarah Churchill), Ellen (Jane) for Lord John Brindale (Peter Lawford), whom she meets on the boat on the way over.

Deliciously, Astaire dances on the walls and ceiling, and uses as coat-stand as if it is his regular partner Ginger Rogers; Powell sings the pretty number ‘Too Late Now’; and the couple duet in the comic ‘How Could You Believe Me’.

Keenan Wynn is amusing in a double role as the stars’ English representative and his American twin brother – Irving and Edgar Klinger. The charming Sarah Churchill (Sir Winston’s daughter) stars pleasingly in sadly her only Hollywood film.

The book and lyrics are by Alan Jay Lerner and the music is by Burton Lane. It is Donen’s first movie as solo director. It was planned for Judy Garland: alas, her absences ended her MGM career.

Also in the cast are Albert Sharpe, Viola Roache, Henri Letondal, James Finlayson, Alex Frazer, Wilson Benge, Margaret Bert, Francis Bethencourt, William Cabanne, Andre Charisee, Mae Clarke, Jack Daley, Jimmy Fairfax, Bess Flowers, Jack Gargan, John Hedloe, James Horne, Richard Lupino, Stanley Mann, Leonard Mudie, Kerry O’Day, Albert Pollet, Helen Winston, Wilson Wood, David Thursby, Pat Williams and Eric Wilton.

© Derek Winnert 2016 Classic Movie Review 3380

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