Mariage sans histoires

"Quiet Wedding" is a hilarious British comedy, romance and family foibles film. The cast is superb with several leading roles and a huge array of supporting roles. This April 1941 comedy surely helped lift the wartime spirits of the United Kingdom. And it no doubt was welcome humor in late December in the U. S. A., after it entered the war earlier that month.

While few of the cast might be known or recognized by modern audiences - abroad, and even in the U. K., many of them were prominent actors of their day. All moviegoers of the mid-20th century in the U. K., and many in the U. S. and mainland Europe would have known and been entertained by Margaret Lockwood, Marjorie Fielding, Derek Farr, Athene Shepley, Alfred Matthews, David Tomlinson, Peggy Ashcroft, Margaret Rutherford and others.

The prolific Anthony Asquith directed this film which is based on a British play of the same title, by Esther McCracken. The film has a fantastic courtroom scene with a bobby hilariously repeating the accident discussions word for word. The story is peppered with hilarious situations and the dialog is loaded with very funny lines. Here are some favorites.

Janet's Brother Denys, "Here's another monstsro... I mean present." Janet's Mother, "A center piece. Lovely. Who sent it?" Denys, reading the card, "With love to dear, dear Janet, and may she have blessed happiness. From Auntie Polly and Uncle George. I wonder who gave it to them."

Flower Lisle, "Do you mind if I sit on the floor? I always sit on the floor."

Janet's Mother (Mildred), "This is John's Flower, eh heh, fiancé, I mean."

Flower Lisle, "I must be alone some part of the day. My mind gets so muddled if I'm never alone." Janet's Father, Arthur Royd, "I'm sure it does."

Flower, "Oh, that's perfectly all right. It's the mental attitude that counts. I should be comfortable in a pig sty." Janet's Mother, "Oh, heh, heh, then you should be quite all right in Marcia's room."

Flower Lisle, "You're very beautiful." Dallas Chaytor, "Who, me?" Flower, "Of course, you're a mess of complexes." Dallas, "Oh, am I?" Flower, "I could help you, you know." Dallas, "That's awfully nice of you, but, uh..." Flower, "You must tell me one of your dreams." Dallas, "You... uh, some other time, I think." Flower, "No, now."

Janet's Mother, "But I don't want to gain a daughter." Janet's Father (Arthur), "No?" Mother, "No! Two's quite enough."

Janet's Mother, "This is my husband, John's father, of course." Flower Lisle, "Why of course?" Janet's Father (Arthur), "Why, indeed. But I am, supposedly."

Vicar, "Repeat after me - I, Dallas..." Dallas Chaytor, "I, Dallas..." Vicar, "Take thee, Janet Erlingtrude..." Dallas, "Take thee, Janet, um..." Vicar, "To my wedded wife..." Dallas, "Is your second name Erlingtrude?" Janet Royd, "Yes - any objection?" Dallas, chuckling, "Erlingtrude!"

Aunt Mary, "Now, young man, listen to me. I know more about the workings of a female mind than you will ever know."

Aunt Mary, "Now, listen to me. Every day, twice a day, for the rest of your life, you've got to tell her these two things. A - that you love her. And, B - that she's beautiful. Run along and begin now. Don't let her talk until you've been making love to her for at least half an hour. Get her alone somewhere."

Aunt Mary, "You know, if you go on behaving like the correct English gentleman, there'll be no wedding. Abduct her!"

Aunt Mary, "Come on and apologize." Marcia's Husband (James), "But, I don't know what to apologize for." Aunt Mary, "Well, don't apologize for anything in particular, just apologize."

The Arm of the Law (the bobby), questioning Dallas after his road accident, with Janet as passenger, "I suppose this is your car?" Dallas, "Well, as a matter of fact, kind of funny you should ask that, because uh, well, it isn't. Well, not exactly." Bobby, "I take it you have the owner's permission?" Dallas, "Well, yes, in a manner of speaking, but, uh, I didn't exactly ask him. But I know he wouldn't mind, I mean, I wouldn't if it was my car and he had been me. Which, of course, I admit he isn't, but still uh, you know what I mean?" Bobby, as he continues writing what Dallas says in his notebook, ... "if you know what I mean."

The Arm of the Law (the bobby), "I now charge you with obstruction, driving without a license, driving in a manner dangerous to the public, being in possession of a car not your own property without the owner's permission, defacing a public sign to wit a notice board inscribed with the word 'Thank you', and attempting to obstruct a police officer in the execution of his duties by offering him a sum of money to wit a half a crown."

The Arm of the Law (the bobby), "If you're referring to the magistrates, the bench convenes at ten o'clock, and I shall now add the charge of using obscene language". Dallas, grabbing the bobby's arm, "Now, look here." Bobby, "And furthermore, assaulting and battering a police officer in the execution of his duty."

Boofy Ponsonby, one of two wedding ushers, "I wonder where they keep the plates." Janet's Brother Denys, "We're ushers, old boy. We don't need a plate." Ponsonby, "Oh, I don't know - we might make a little."

Boofy Ponsonby, ushering at the wedding, "Bride or bridegroom?" Magistrate, "What's that?" Janet's Brother Denys, also ushering at the wedding, "Bride or bridegroom?" Magistrate, "Well,, what about them?" Boofy, "No, no - who's friend are you?" Magistrate, "I'm nobody's friend. I'm Sir Robert McFarland." Boofy, to Denys, "Sir Robert McFarland, and nobody's friend."

Margaret Lockwood is to be married to Derek Farr. The stresses of planning and getting to the blessed event threaten their hopes of a quiet wedding.

Director Anthony Asquith directs from a script by Anatole de Grunwald and Terrence Rattigan. The ins and outs and stresses are not new to the dedicated film watcher, but it is a charming movie, with a very able cast. If you check down the list of players, you'll see small roles for Margaret Rutherford, Bernard Miles and even Terry-Thomas as an extra. Although it is based on a stage play by Esther McCracken, it has been transferred ably to the screen with a couple of nicely offered montages.

Although the story of a wedding almost destroyed by the stresses of a big wedding are not new, this is a fine addition to the pleasant assortment of films on the subject.

QUIET WEDDING is a pleasant comedy that borders on the screwball. Margaret Lockwood and Derek Farr want a simple wedding, but the family blows it up into an event which causes friction between the loving couple. As the parade of intrusive and daffy relatives seems endless, the lovers run off to be alone but get into a slight car accident and then run afoul of the law ... and almost miss their own wedding.

Lockwood was a megastar of British cinema (she made a few Hollywood films) and is quite appealing here as the harried bride. Farr is also good as the clueless groom. The large cast includes some very familiar faces. The bride's parents are played by Marjorie Fielding and A.E. Mathews. David Tomlinson is the goofy son who brings home a daffy girlfriend (Peggy Ashcroft). There's the family friend (Athene Seyler) who helps the bride get away, and an obliging cook (Muriel George) who helps out. Bernard Miles is a hoot as the by-the-book copper. Martita Hunt plays the imperious dressmaker and Frank Cellier is the groom's businessman daddy. Others have smaller roles, with Margaret Rutherford playing a magistrate, Muriel Pavlow the teenage sister, Jean Cadell and Margaret Halstan as aunts, Margaretta Scott as the runaway sister, Roland Culver as Boofy, O.B. Clarence as the dense magistrate, Viola Lyel as the secretary, and Hay Petrie as the contrary train porter. Somewhere among the extras are Terry-Thomas and Esma Cannon.

In 1941, this film must have been a welcome respite from the war and war films.

The style of acting throughout this filmed stage play by Esther McCracken, is British 1930s "anyone for tennis" type comedy/ farce.Margaret looks absolutely gorgeous and is ably assisted in her route to the altar by her familiar company of actors who appeared with her in some other films.

The ones I spotted immediately were: A.E. Mathews (The Man in Grey 1943 & Love Story 1944), Margaretta Scott (Girl in the News 1940), Roland Culver (Give us the Moon 1944), Roddy Hughes (A Girl Must Live 1939), Wally Patch (Bank Holiday (1938) Martita Hunt (A Girl Must Live 1939 & The Man in Grey 1943) and the actor who played Derek Farr's father - Mr Chator played in (Give us the Moon 1944).Thus all the company overact disgracefully!!

There is not much of a plot apart from seeing Margaret and Derek's wedding nerves and watching everyone dashing about and misunderstanding people and things in true farce style.Bernard Miles plays a dim constable, Margaret Rutherford and "inspired casting" cockney Wally Patch, play magistrates but of course its all played for laughs.I smiled when during one of their premarital spats Derek slapped Margaret on the face and the audible reaction from her is exactly the same as she would later perform when Patricia Roc slapped her in "The Wicked Lady" (1945).In the opening cricket scene, if I had been captain, I would never have put on the pathetic looking bowler.His style of delivery had no pace and he seemed to come to a halt at the crease after his run-up before delivering the ball with an incorrect bowling line.So consequently he was hit for two successive sixes by Derek Farr!

I rated this film 7/10.