A Wedding (1978)

88% of critics liked it
(8 reviews)
74% of users liked it
(1,054 ratings)

Robert Altman's over-frenetic satire on American marriage rituals and hypocrisy concerns the upper-crust marriage between Dino Corelli (Desi Arnaz Jr.) and Muffin Brenner (Amy Stryker). As the film begins, a senile bishop forgets the lines to the wedding ceremony and Nettie Sloan (the groom's… More Robert Altman's over-frenetic satire on American marriage rituals and hypocrisy concerns the upper-crust marriage between Dino Corelli (Desi Arnaz Jr.) and Muffin Brenner (Amy Stryker). As the film begins, a senile bishop forgets the lines to the wedding ceremony and Nettie Sloan (the groom's grandmother) drops dead in an upstairs bedroom. Nettie's death is not disclosed to the two families who converge at the wedding reception. As the two sets of in-laws slam into each other, the bride and groom disappear in the ensuing whirlwind of chaos as both extended families vie for sexual favors and try to keep hidden never-discussed family secrets. Regina Corelli (Nina Van Pallandt) is revealed to be a drug addict, while Luigi, is endeavoring unsuccessfully to keep his Mafia connections under wraps. Meanwhile, the bride's family, although more down to earth, are revealed to be no better. Tulip Brenner (Carol Burnett) begins to flirt with one of the wedding guests, Mackenzie Goddard (Pat McCormick), while Snooks Brenner (Paul Dooley) acts like a lout and drinks heavily. And flying around the edges of the action like Tinkerbell is Buffy Brenner, the Brenners' youngest daughter, who is pregnant by the groom. As other characters bang into each other -- sexual degenerates, hard-nosed radicals, raw-boned emotional wrecks -- the wedding reception heads for its inevitable nuclear explosion. ~ Paul Brenner, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: PG, 2 hr. 5 min.
Directed By: Robert Altman
Written By: Robert Altman, Allan F. Nicholls
Genres: Drama, Comedy

In Theaters: Aug 29, 1978 Wide
On DVD: Apr 25, 2006

Critic Reviews

Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times
This is the sort of material that easily lends itself to farce, and, when it does, Altman cheerfully follows. But he leads in other directions, as well.
Jonathan Rosenbaum, Chicago Reader
Watchable enough, but considerably less than the sum of its parts.
Steve Crum, Video-Reviewmaster.com
Very good Altman ensemble piece, fun to watch.
Rich Cline, Shadows on the Wall
bizarre and messy but fascinating
Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
One of Altman's most accomplished and quirky films.
Frederic and Mary Ann Brussat, Spirituality and Practice
A Wedding depicts the strange way that this ritual has been taken away from families and put into the hands of professionals.

Read all 6 critic reviews

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Featured Audience Ratings

Steven C

Robert Altman's "A Wedding" is a terrifically witty film. Like most of Altman's ensemble pieces, "A Wedding" is brimming with life, characters, unexpected turns and an uncommonly accurate social commentary. Full of memorable characters and situations as… More
Robert Altman's "A Wedding" is a terrifically witty film. Like most of Altman's ensemble pieces, "A Wedding" is brimming with life, characters, unexpected turns and an uncommonly accurate social commentary. Full of memorable characters and situations as well as some extremely sharp dialogue, "A Wedding" is one of Altman's lesser seen films that deserves to find an audience because its jabs still ring true today. This film is nothing but inspired fun. Carol Burnett is also memorably funny here.
Walter M

[font=Century Gothic]"A Wedding" is a typical Robert Altman hodgepodge that is centered around the day of the nouveau riche wedding of Dino Corelli(Desi Arnaz, Jr.) and Muffin Brenner(Amy Stryker). A huge cast(It is strange having Lillian Gish and Carol Burnett in the same… More
[font=Century Gothic]"A Wedding" is a typical Robert Altman hodgepodge that is centered around the day of the nouveau riche wedding of Dino Corelli(Desi Arnaz, Jr.) and Muffin Brenner(Amy Stryker). A huge cast(It is strange having Lillian Gish and Carol Burnett in the same universe, much less the same movie.) allows Altman to do an accurate rendering of the nuptials down to the smallest detail but I had the feeling, like with "The Company", what he really wanted to make was a documentary. He is certainly not interested in individual performances, but that is where the movie shines, especially with Lillian Gish, Mia Farrow and the closing monologue.[/font] [font=Century Gothic]It is worth noting how the gay and lesbian characters are kept to the margins in "A Wedding." That serves as a reminder how far gay rights have come in the last thirty years to the point where gay marriage is rightfully becoming a reality. [/font]
Grifty G

I'm not sure why this film doesn't get mentioned much when Altman is discussed. Maybe I had lower expectations, but I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the film. It has all the hallmarks of Altman's most popular films: the large ensemble cast, quirky… More
I'm not sure why this film doesn't get mentioned much when Altman is discussed. Maybe I had lower expectations, but I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the film. It has all the hallmarks of Altman's most popular films: the large ensemble cast, quirky characters, multiple story lines. It most reminded me of Godsford Park, in that both film take place in large country mansions with many people coming to stay for a short period of time. *currently (8-23-11) on Netflix streaming.

Cast

            Carol Burnett as Tulip Brenner

            Mia Farrow as Buffy Brenner

            Paul Dooley as Snooks Brenner

            Lillian Gish as Nettie Sloan

            Amy Stryker as Muffin Brenner

            Howard Duff as Dr. Jules Meecham

            Geraldine Chaplin as Rita Billingsley

            Dennis Christopher as Hughie Brenner

            Lauren Hutton as Florence Farmer

            Gerald Busby as David Ruteledge

            Peggy Ann Garner as Candice Ruteledge

            Vittorio Gassman as Luigi Corelli

            Desi Arnaz Jr. as Dino Corelli

            Dina Merrill as Antoinette Sloan Goddard

            Pat McCormick as Mackenzie Goddard

            John Cromwell as Bishop Martin

            John Considine as Jeff Kuykendall

            Viveca Lindfors as Ingrid Hellstrom

            Robert Fortier as Jim Habor

            Bert Remsen as William Williamson

            Ellie Albers as Gypsy Violinist

            Mona Abboud as Melba Lear

            Margery Bond as Lombardo

            Pam Dawber as Tracy Farrell

            Mark R. Deming as Matthew Ruteledge

            Dennis Franz as Koons

            Marta Heflin as Shelby Munker

            Jeffrey Jones as Ruteledge Child

            Margaret Ladd as Ruby Spar

            Tony Llorens as Piano Player

            Belita Moreno as Daphne Corelli

            Craig Richard Nelson as Capt. Reedley Roots

            Ruth Nelson as Beatrice Sloan Cory

            Susan Kendall Newman as Chris Clinton

            Allan F. Nicholls as Jake Jacobs

            Gavan O'Herlihy as Wilson Briggs

            Jeff Perry as Bunky Lemay

            Luigi Proietti as Dino Corelli I

            Beverly Ross as Nurse Janet Schulman

            Ann Ryerson as Victoria Cory

            Cedric Scott as Randolph

            Mary Seibel as Aunt Marge Spar

            Maureen Steindler as Libby Clinton

            Tim Thomerson as Russell Bean

            Nina Van Pallandt as Regina Corelli

            Virginia Vestoff as Clarice Sloan

            Patricia Resnick as Redford

            Maisie Hoy as Casey
See full cast

A Wedding (1978)

Critic Reviews

Featured Audience Ratings

Steven C

Walter M

Grifty G

Cast