Cruel Desengano

Were I pressed to name just five films which I consider to be the greatest of all time, THE MEMBER OF THE WEDDING would have to be amongst them. It is American cinema at its most elevated and humane, and in a strange, oblique kind of way says more about the pain, (that was once so commonplace), of being black in the USA , than many other films that deal with this issue in a more direct way. The story is so universal, and through its many metaphors applies to so many of life's experiences; it is full of compassion, humane values, humour and irony; it both warms and breaks the heart.

Every single role is acted superbly by a fine ensemble of players, but the three main characters, Julie Harris, Ethel Waters and Brandon De Wilde, are quite simply perfection, and give performances that could not be bettered. The scene where the three sit together in the growing darkness of the kitchen and together sing `His Eye Is On The Sparrow' must surely rank as one of the most sublime and moving moments in world cinema. I have watched this film on countless occasions and never fail to marvel at its artistry, and too, how it reflects human values of worth and merit, and, whenever I have introduced the film to others who didn't know it, they have never failed to thank me profusely for doing so.

Fred Zinnemann once said in an interview that it was his personal favourite of all the films he made, and I agree with him, but I would qualify his statement further by stating it is amongst the finest films that anybody has ever made! All technical values are first rate, and yet again, Alex North came up with a brilliant musical score that added yet one more layer of sheer excellence.

A film every American should watch and be proud of; not in a negative nationalistic sort of way, but in a common, shared-humanity way! Non-Americans of course should also watch it, and see a positive side of American values, and, like me, be grateful to Columbia for bringing to fruition such a risky commercial proposition. It may not have broken box-office records, but it is a true treasure in the pantheon of American cinema. One of the truly great films of all time.

I wish I could give this film a higher score because of the lovely portrayals given by Ethel Waters & Brandon de Wilde. However, Julie Harris ruined this film for me. I've seen this movie before, a long time ago, and thought is was really good. However, I watched it again last night and had forgotten how truly over the top Harris' performance was. I've been 12 years old and I can't imagine that any 12 year old would get away with behaving like that in any circumstance. She was just a little too smart and a little too angry for my taste. Like someone else stated, it was the intensity that got to me (I don't really like Brando either--thank you Michael Bo.) The thing that saves the movie for me is Waters performance--probably the best she ever had in the movies. Too bad it was overshadowed by Harris' histrionics. I just don't think that most 12 year old girls would be that outwardly angry. Plus, it was a little creepy to me the obsession she had with her brother & sister in law. Was she in love with both of them or just in love with love, even though she commented, continuously, about not believing in love. Gah!!! It just bugged me to no end. However, I do give credit to the makers of the film for capturing a little bit of what the South was like in the 1950's.

I have always been a big fan of Mrs Harris: the neurotic woman in "the haunting"(1963),the romantic young girl in "east of Eden" (in "Kazan by Kazan,the director never stops singing her praises ,telling that he had never seen a face reflecting compassion as hers),the neurotic(again) wife in "reflections in a golden eye" (also a Carson Mc Cullers 'work which was not "cheapened " as it was always mooted;those who claimed this should read the novel before) In "members of the wedding",at 27,she portrays a 12 year-old girl and it works!Frankie looks like a tomboy,she is not feminine at all and all the lovely girls around don't want her to be part of their "club" ;she's been an outcast all her life and she wants to be part ,to be the member of something;when she sees her brother and his soon-to-be-wife ,she is fascinated by their happiness and her idee fixe is to become a part of them, to go with them on their honeymoon.

The only company she gets is her young cousin and the black servant;Brandon De Wilde was a wunderkind,one of the most brilliant child actors of all time,who,like his co-stars ,had played his part on stage before (like Patty Duke would do in "the miracle worker");De Wilde was also convincing in his parts of teenagers in "Hud" and "all fall down" ,but sadly was to die before his time;Ethel Waters shines too,in her part of the sweet tender servant:the scene when she tells the death of her husband is unforgettable;her singing is absolutely spellbinding.

This is not a happy story:the pain of growing up,when you are considered an ugly duckling,of being rejected when you need someone you can relate to,of losing the only persons who show you some affection,"member of the wedding" is all this and more.

Harry Cohn loathed this film -what greater recommendation could there be? In fact Columbia had no idea what to do with this masterpiece -just read the publicity department's tag-line (A Girl Becomes a Woman in the Middle of a Kiss !)and see their original poster with a mature woman with a Louise Brooks hair style fending off the drunken soldier who in the movie attempts to kiss 12 year old Frankie when she runs away. Stanley Kramer makes up for every lousy movie he directed (i.e. his complete oeuvre) by PRODUCING this masterpiece. It is director Fred Zinneman's favorites of all his films -and no wonder! It doesn't put a foot wrong. It has two of the most remarkable female performances put on celluloid; Julie Harris (in her late twenties as a twelve year old trying to understand and come to terms with her feelings of alienation "(she) was a member of nothing in the World.....and she was afraid") and Ethel Waters as Berenice, only too aware of the reasons for her sense of aloneness, settling her need to love on two white children and a black youth,all three of whom she loses. There are three main characters in this Kitchen Piece. It would be wrong to ignore the contribution of a child actor of genius: Brandon de Wilde as Frankie's grave little cousin John Henry West.It is impossible to imagine a more perfect cast to bring this most difficult of novels and play to the screen. It looks as if this movie is at last available on video( in the States at least ) I already have a copy taped from the Box. For me it is the ONE essential film to own -when a DVD is available I shall be first in the queue to buy it- surely a CD of Alex North's beautiful score cannot be far behind!

This film is the litmus by which I judge the taste of all new acquaintances -if they haven't watched it with a shock of recognition and don't connect with Carson McCuller's genius and profound humanity, then I don't want to be a member of any club they might belong to!!

Hampered at times by its staginess, The Member of the Wedding is a touching story of three unique, unforgettable characters that often taps into profound, universal feelings of otherness, loneliness, and longing to be part of someone's "we."

Although Harris's performance can occasionally be a bit much, it often serves as a remarkable expression of childhood frustration, greenness, anger, and sadness, however misguided or uninformed. Ethel Waters is the standout, and her performance is rich with humor, compassion, and experience. Brandon de Wilde is wonderful, although with the least fleshed out character. He makes his character captivating nonetheless.

The interactions between these three characters (and actors) really elevate this uneven, sometimes strange film into something more moving and substantial than it might have been.