Father of the Bride

Father of the Bride (1950) (1950)

  • 93% of critics liked it
    (27 reviews)

  • 67% of users liked it
    (13,643 ratings)

Spencer Tracy received an Oscar nomination for his performance in this classic comedy. Stanley T. Banks (Tracy) is a securely middle-class lawyer whose daughter Kay (Elizabeth Taylor) announces that she's going to marry her beau Buckley Dunstan (Don Taylor). From that point on, everything in… More

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G,
Directed By
Written By
Frances Goodrich, Albert Hackett
Genres
Drama, Classics, Comedy
In Theaters
Jan 1, 1950 Wide
MGM

Critic Reviews

  • , TIME Magazine

    Under Vincente Minelli's crisp direction, the fun rarely lets up.

  • Dave Kehr, Chicago Reader

    This ostensibly lighthearted film about Spencer Tracy's Kafkaesque attempts to bring off his daughter's wedding is one of the bleakest films of a bleak decade.

  • Variety Staff, Variety

    On the critical side: Minnelli could have timed many of the scenes so that laughs would not have stepped on dialog tag lines.

  • Geoff Andrew, Time Out

    Thoroughly enchanting comedy about the trials and tribulations a middle-aged family man faces when the daughter he dotes on decides to get married.

  • Bosley Crowther, New York Times

    A honey of a picture of American family life.

Read all 10 critic reviews

See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes

Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)

Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)

Featured Audience Ratings

  • Daniel P


    Spencer Tracy, as the grumpy, titular father, puts this film on his back and carries it. Incredibly dated, but still a loveable film, and one that features a very young Elizabeth Taylor. Interestingly skewers wedding conventions and the wedding industry in a way that I wish more films… More

  • AJ V


    Yes, this movie has a theme which remains relevant to us today, and it has it's funny scenes, but I found it mostly boring. Not bad, not good, but it's okay. You'd like it more if you could relate to the characters.

  • Jennifer X


    It's not terrible, but sometimes Spencer Tracy is such a HAM. Maybe it's because I watched it first, but I thought Steve Martin's character was much more convincing! Liz Taylor is radiant as always, but frankly I was BORED. Drunkenness is passe.

  • Sunil J


    It's okay but I think it works better as a comedy. The remake was a lot more fun.

  • Sarah P


    A very funny and relatable film, even today!

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