The Bride Goes Wild

The movie's more a collection of sometimes funny schtick than a satisfying whole. The premise of Johnson being a rather obnoxious author of children's books shows promise, especially when he tangles with prudish illustrator Martha (Allyson). In order to win Martha back Greg (Johnson) schemes with publisher Mc Grath (Cronyn) to adopt a kid (Jenkins) who turns out to be a little hellion. As they say, complications ensue. On the whole, the film's series of skits tends to crowd up without building comedic impact. For example, the climactic car ride appears more frantic than funny.

Johnson manages the madcap pretty well, while Allyson gets a straight-man role unfortunately subverting her usual sparkle. At the same time, that required restraint undercuts the pairing of its usual compelling chemistry. Of course, buck-toothed Jenkins steals the film with little boy antics for which he was so well suited. Still, his frustrated desire to be adopted does provide a poignant note. However, for me, seeing Cronyn in a slapstick role takes some getting used to since I identify him with the scary Nazi-like warden in the prison classic Brute Force (1947). He was quite an actor.

On the whole, the comedy's a decent time-passer with enough set-ups to generate a few laughs from most anyone. But a well-crafted, efficient slice of madcap, it's not.

A famous children's' story writer named Uncle Bumps (Van Johnson) needs someone to illustrate his latest book. A contest is held, and an artist is chosen, Miss Martha Terryton (June Allyson). Martha is an uptight, prudish woman with little tolerance for wasting time. Uncle Bumps is really Greg Rawlings, a young playboy with no work ethic and a penchant for young women. He attempts to work his magic on Martha, and after hard work and trickery, including telling her that he has a son (Butch Jenkins), it begins to work. That's when his married girlfriend (Arlene Dahl) comes into the picture and messes everything up.

This movie has the same sentiment that another Johnson and Allyson film does: Too Young to Kiss. There is the same love-hate relationship between the two with the obvious ending, but plenty of fun along the way. The two had a strong chemistry, which is why they made so many films together.

Another wonderful addition to this film is Jenkins, the same kid from The Human Comedy. He's a little older here, and such a lovable little boy, though he isn't traditionally cute, but he's lots of fun to watch.

The Bride Goes Wild (1948)

This is a common kind of entertainment film using a catching, breezy plot and high profile actors, but filmed with bright simplicity and without attempting too much more that the basics.

And all of these basic goals are met here—cheerfully, and rather enjoyably. That is, if you take it for what it is, this is a warm and well made romantic comedy. It excels most for the sweet and subtle acting by June Allyson, and by the surprise depth of the buck-toothed boy character in the movie, Jackie Jenkins. The leading man has never been a favorite of mine—Van Johnson, but he holds up his end well enough.

The plot is a clever set up, reminding me for some reason of the mixed-up plot of "Christmas in Connecticut," which has the same lighthearted feeling. People pretend to be one thing and get into a comical—and romantic trap—by trying to maintain the farce. Everyone is lying, in a way, even the innocent woman who at first is purely innocent. (She ends up pretending, or changing you might say, for different reasons, which the audience appreciates.)

This is no screwball comedy. It lacks the insanity, and the wit, and maybe even the inevitability (even though you know how it ends, more or less). It's a good romp with some excellent acting to shore up the feeble plot. There are lots of great moments, and even an oddly spectacular bit of nonsense near the end where a whole room full of character actors get truly nutty at the same time. Quite funny.

John McGrath (Hume Cronyn) is a publisher of children's books. Teetotaler Martha Terryton (June Allyson) wins a contest to illustrate a book. Problem is that drunken author Greg Rawlings (Van Johnson), under the name Uncle Bumps, hasn't started writing. He is taken with Martha. He recruits juvenile delinquent Danny to play his son.

The meet-cute is rather suggestive visually especially for the time. There is good potential. The story is a bit episodic. There's a whole section where the kids pretend to be Indians. I thought the book would be a good way to structure the story. Rawlings can write Danny into the book as the fake family has some adventure. The story slowly meanders and loses a little bit steam.

Martha Terryton (June Allyson) is a Vermont schoolteacher who wins a contest to illustrate the next book by popular children's author Greg Rawlings (Van Johnson). When she meets Rawlings, whose pen name is Uncle Bump, his moral turpitude conflicts with her moral rectitude. The publisher, John McGrath (Hume Cronyn), is caught in the middle, trying to get them to cooperate. He concocts a story that Rawlings is only acting out of frustration, because his son is a hellion. McGrath then recruits a prodigious troublemaker named Danny (Jackie "Butch" Jenkins) to pretend to be the son.

The film's title seems irrelevant to the story. Nevertheless, it is a funny film that might be described as broad comedy.

Jackie Jenkins shows more range than expected. And Hume Cronyn, as usual, does a fine job in his role. The two stars plays rather predictable roles, but keep things moving. I think designer Helen Rose, as the busiest woman in Hollywood, deserves credit for the designs that flatter the actresses of this and many other films.