Bridal Suite

Neil McGill (Robert Young) is a very spoiled son of a rich man. For the second time, he's missed his wedding with Abbie. Although he claims to love the woman, it's certainly not apparent. But his dippy mother (Billie Burke) wants to try to salvage the relationship and insists on taking Neil to Europe to get a note from a famous psychiatrist that says Neil was suffering from amnesia! However, some unexpected things happen...such as his falling in love with a poor lady (Annabella) as well as wanting to finally make something of himself.

This is a modestly interesting story. However, it's also a bit of a hard sell because through so much of the story Neil is unlikable and a bit of a spoiled jerk. Had be been less dislikable the story would have worked a bit better.

I started watching Bridal Suite and thought, this looks like a vehicle that Robert Montgomery could have made a meal of. Then read Trivia, and it was intended for Robert Montgomery originally. Robert Young makes this character very unappealing. He behaves like a thoughtless lech, and speaks harshly in an attempt to be "light." His singing is awful. Annabella versus Luise Ranier is more of a puzzle.

The supporting cast redeems it, as was often the case with a clinker of this vintage: The darling Billie Burke; Walter Connolly, Gene Lockhart, Felix Bressart, and, very briefly, Arthur Treacher. Worth watching for their collective professionalism and craftsmanship alone. Produced by the accomplished and unjustly obscure Edgar Selwyn, for MGM.

Really cute little movie with a simple story line but effective. i keep a list of my 25 favorite actors and 25 actresses. robert young was number 12 but seeing this film i climbed him way up to number 4. pushing away gary cooper and cary grant. he was very funny in bridal suite and his acting especially facial expressions are flawless. i would certainly have not loved the movie so much with lead robert montgomery. not a masterpiece but a fun film

Before the paternalism and the pipe, Robert Young played charming, rich wastrels and heavy-drinking womanizers, all charming and sympathetic. MGM put him in quality B+ productions of which this is one, a light romantic comedy that borders on screwball with Young the screwy one. He is in top form, as is the entire excellent cast. MGM's typical blitheful avoidance of little old WWII, alluded to twice in jest, as the setting shifts from wartime England to Switzerland to transatlantic liner is a big downer. That and supposed-to-be-funny-but-never-is Arthur Treacher in a small role. Oh, and the whole lame and overworked premise that honest work will cure Young of his scalawag ways, though it provides Annabella material for her one and only laugh in the finale. It's big enough to keep you happily laughing as the end credits appear.

Incidentally, how many movie feature musical numbers with zithers. The Third Man, of course, and Sunnyside Up with Janet Gaynor (an extremely great movie musical moment) and this movie (not so memorable).

In London, idly rich Robert Young (as Neil McGill) sobers up with a shower and rubdown. He remembers it's his wedding day, but arrives too late for the ceremony. It's just as well, because Mr. Young goes to Switzerland and meets attractive blonde Annabella (as Luise Anzengruber). For the first time Young thinks he's really in love. He wants to end his selfish playboy ways and marry Annabella, but Young's family expects him to wed his London fiancée. After this film, bride the French actress Annabella took a break from movie-making and spent some time with new real-life groom Tyrone Power. "Bridal Suite" succumbs to the limited appeal of Young and Annabella as a romantic couple.

**** Bridal Suite (1939-05-26) William Thiele ~ Robert Young, Annabella, Walter Connolly, Billie Burke