The Catered Affair

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The Catered Affair

Original film poster
Directed by Richard Brooks
Produced by Sam Zimbalist
Written by Paddy Chayefsky
Gore Vidal
Starring Bette Davis
Ernest Borgnine
Debbie Reynolds
Barry Fitzgerald
Rod Taylor
Music by André Previn
Cinematography John Alton
Editing by Gene Ruggiero
Frank Santillo
Distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Release date(s) Flag of the United States 14 June 1956
Country U.S.
Language English
IMDb profile

The Catered Affair (1956), also known as Wedding Party, is a family drama film made by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer. It was directed by Richard Brooks and produced by Sam Zimbalist from a screenplay by Gore Vidal, based on a television play by Paddy Chayefsky. The film score was by André Previn and the cinematography by John Alton.

The film stars Bette Davis, Ernest Borgnine, Debbie Reynolds, Barry Fitzgerald and Rod Taylor.

Contents

[edit] Plot

Mother (Davis) is a frowsy and disillusioned housewife, married to Bronx cabdriver, Tom Hurley (Borgnine). She wants something better for her daughter, Jane (Reynolds). When Jane announces her engagement to Ralph Halloran (Taylor), Mother sees this as an opportunity to have an elaborate wedding, with caterers and all the trimmings, despite the fact that the family cannot afford it and the daughter does not want it. The film deals with the ensuing conflicts within the family, which also involve Uncle Jack Conlon (Fitzgerald) and most of the neighborhood. It is not until the end of the film that the vain mother realises what a fool she has been in forcing her own fantasy onto her family.

[edit] Television play

The television play A Catered Affair, written by Paddy Chayefsky, was first shown on television as part of the Philco Television Playhouse. It was broadcast on May 22, 1955. The cast included Pat Henning, Thelma Ritter, and J. Pat O'Malley. [1]

[edit] Stage musical

The play has been adapted to a stage musical called A Catered Affair, with book by Harvey Fierstein and lyrics and music by John Bucchino. It premiered at the Old Globe Theatre and is now playing on Broadway at the Walter Kerr Theatre.

[edit] References

  1. ^ http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0886035/ Internet Movie database

[edit] External links

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Films directed by Richard Brooks