L'invitée à la noce

On my very first viewing of The Member of the Wedding, I was stunned by its beauty, overwhelmed by its simplicity, captivated by its charm. A seemingly simple story of a young girl's attempt at growing up, this film takes us on a tumultuous and painful journey through the mind of Frankie Addams, a journey so fraught with twists and turns of emotion, we are barely able to keep up! Frankie's journey through adolescence is not an ordinary one. Her disapproval bordering on hatred of herself is bringing her to the edge of her world, and at times we are left wondering whether she has gone too far to ever come back. Her rebellion toward her journey is fierce, and Julie Harris is brilliant in her interpretation of a confused, angry young girl at odds with her world. If I had to make a list of the twenty movies that had the greatest impact on me in my lifetime, The Member of the Wedding would have to make the list. Ethel Waters is as charming and heart rending as she was in Pinky in this never to be forgotten film. I would suggest that it be used in the classroom as required viewing for students between the ages of twelve and fifteen, if only to give them a heroine with whom to share the sometimes chaotic journey from child to young adulthood.

I will admit that viewing a 1952 film from a 2007 perspective might be clouding my opinion. Julie Harris' "Frankie" is overplayed and ruins the entire piece. I attempted to look past the fact that she is supposed to be only 12. C'mon, even in 1951/52 Julie could never pass for a 12-year-old, maybe 18. Directors often ask the audience to suspend their beliefs and imaginations - but this is too much to ask regarding Ms. Harris. Yes, the dialog is effective. It is interesting considering certain episodes within the film. For instance, 10-year-old John Henry's proclivities toward cross-dressing. Daring I must say for the time? Ms. Walter's presentation (considering she had to buffer the over-dramatic Harris) is excellent. Little Brandon also holds his own. Maybe as a stage presentation it worked - but as "one of the great films" in cinema history - forget it.

There are many reasons why I loved the film. It is not easy for a 27-year-old woman to play a 12-year-old tomboy convincingly. Ms Julie Harris showed that it could be done. She ought to have won the Oscar for her performance in this film for which she was nominated. Ms Ethel Waters, in the major role as the black housekeeper and cook was equally magnetic. Ms Waters proved that she is one of the finest and most endearing black actresses of all time. Director Zinnemann's best move was to use Harris and Waters in the roles they had perfected on stage. The next big contribution is the wonderful play by Carson McCullers (adapted from her own novel), on which the film is based and the gifted scriptwriting duo Edna and Edward Anhalt for their contribution to adapting the play for screen. The film, in many ways, is comparable to the film version of Harper Lee's "To Kill a Mockingbird."

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.

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.