Main Cast: Bing Crosby, Jane Wyman, Alexis Smith, Franchot Tone, James Barton
Release Year: 1951
Country: US
Run Time: 114 minutes
Plot
Here Comes the Groom was the second collaboration between director Frank Capra and star Bing Crosby. Though not as "socially relevant" as previous Capra productions, the film is a thoroughly likeable yarn about a happy-go-lucky newspaperman named Pete (Bing Crosby). In order to legally adopt a brace of war orphans, Pete must marry within a week. His plans to wed his longtime sweetheart Emmadel (Jane Wyman) come acropper when she, tired of waiting for him to pop the question, becomes engaged to wealthy Wilbur Stanley (Franchot Tone). Conspiring with Wilbur's cousin Winifred (Alexis Smith), Pete spends the balance of the film trying to win Emmadel back. From all accounts, the set of Here Comes the Groom was a happy one, the conviviality extending to Alexis Smith's willingness to be on the receiving end of several jokes concerning her height (she seems nearly a head taller than Crosby!). The film's best scene is the Bing Crosby-Jane Wyman duet "In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening," reportedly filmed in one take without post-dubbing. As a bonus, Here Comes the Groom introduces a bright new singing talent, Anna Maria Alberghetti, and is festooned with uncredited guest stars, ranging from Dorothy Lamour to Louis Armstrong. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
When one looks at the talent involved -- especially legendary director Frank Capra and leading man Bing Crosby -- Here Comes the Groom is inevitably disappointing. And the movie has more than its share of flaws, including a screenplay that too often wanders away from its otherwise well-structured plot to include some unnecessary diversionary numbers (such as "Misto Christofo Columbo" and an operatic showpiece for the lovely Anna Maria Alberghetti). These numbers aren't entertaining, with the former benefiting from cameos by the likes of Louis Armstrong and Phil Harris, and the latter from the exceptionally fine voice of Alberghetti, but they needlessly take us away from the story at hand. The story itself is handicapped with any number of scenes that are just a little too sentimental -- the famous "Capra-corn" touch, but without the magic that makes the sentiment ring true. And there's some inexplicably choppy editing and unforgivably poor stunt doubling, especially in the fight between Jane Wyman and Alexis Smith. Still, if one approaches the picture not expecting another It Happened One Night, one will find it reasonably enjoyable, and occasionally much more. The "In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening" sequence, for example, features not only an Academy Award-winning song, but delightful staging throughout an office building, as well as Crosby's customarily expert singing and Wyman's surprisingly effective way with a tune. Crosby, Wyman and Franchot Tone all turn in fine performances all around, and Alexis Smith does considerably more than that. Although Groom is nothing to write home about, it's pleasant and undemanding. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide
Newspaper reporter Pete (Bing Crosby) works in a Paris orphanage. His charming way with children and music enables him to find homes for even the most troubled kids. One afternoon, Mr. and Mrs. Godfrey (Alan Reed and Minna Gombell), an American couple, come to the orphanage to adopt Bobby, a boy they saw in one of the ads Pete ran in his newspaper. Bobby misbehaves, but when Pete discovers that Mr. Godfrey plays for the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra, he quickly produces a young blind opera wunderkind, Theresa (Anna Maria Alberghetti), who sings her way into the Godfreys' hearts.
Later that night, Pete dreams that the fiance he left behind in America has visited. Emmadel appears in a hologram atop his record player. She scolds him for leaving her at the altar and talks about the children they might have had. Filled with regret, Pete arranges to adopt both Bobby and his little sister Suzi and bring them to Boston, where he'll marry Emmadel. American authorities inform him that he must marry within five days or the adoption will be void.
Pete takes the children to Emmadel's house. While she bonds with Bobby and Suzi, Pete discovers that Emmadel is engaged. The kids stay with her loud parents (drunken father James Barton and disapproving mother Connie Gilchrist). Pete tries everything to win Emmadel back. She helps him secure a lease on a new house via her fiance's company. However, when Pete and the children arrive, they discover that another couple (the McGonigles) also have a lease for the property. Emmadel's fiance Wilbur Stanley shows up to settle the matter. Wilbur offers Pete a ride to another house - but Pete talks him into letting them stay at the Stanley family's gatehouse. They agree to a friendly competition for Emmadel's heart.
Pete and the children settle into the Stanley gatehouse. Emmadel meets Wilbur's amiable elderly relatives, who present her with $500,000 as a wedding gift. Her parents embarrass her by running screaming through the garden. Emma discovers Pete's presence and visits the gatehouse to have it out with him. While she pulls Suzi's loose tooth, Pete pretends to be in love with Winnifred, Wilbur's fourth cousin twice-removed, and laughs when Emmadel pratfalls on her huge party dress.
Pete reveals his plan to Winnifred Stanley. He discovers that she's in love with her cousin Wilbur, but feels too socially awkward to pursue him. In a bit of pygmalion, Pete teaches Winnifred to feel comfortable with herself. Winnifred's newfound confidence bubbles over at the wedding rehearsal. She and Emmadel erupt in a brawl on the front lawn. Winnifred concedes the fight, and Emmadel declares that she's proud to be a fisherman's daughter.
The wedding day arrives. News reporters line the outdoor chapel, proclaiming this the Cinderella story of the decade. As he escorts Emma down the aisle, Pa Jones tells her that Pete kidnapped the children and ran so they wouldn't be sent back to France. Emmadel begins to have second thoughts. Pete shows up at precisely the wrong moment, handcuffed to a policeman, with both crying kids in tow. Although Wilbur offers to marry Emma and adopt the children, Bobby and Suzi cling sobbing to Pete. On national television, Wilbur abandons his own wedding and forces a reluctant Emma and a protesting (but secretly thrilled!) Pete to marry. Pete, Emmadel, Bobby, Suzi, Ma and Pa Jones all ride off for their honeymoon together.
Cast
Bing Crosby as Pete Garvey, a musician and foreign correspondent
Jane Wyman as Emmadel Jones, Pete's ex-fiance who's engaged to Wil Stanley
James Barton as William Jones, Emmadel's funny alcoholic father
