Product: Father of the Bride [VHS] (1950)
Rating: 5.0
Good heart, good laughs, good fun
The more I see of Spencer Tracy, the more underrated I think he was as an actor. And this is the kind of film where he excelled, the everyman comedy with sentimental touches of drama and romance. "Father Of the Bride" is not a cutting edge social commentary, just a humorous slice of life regarding a middle class Joe whose daughter is the apple of his eye, and the man in her life is suddenly someone else. The inherent tension and humor in this situation and all that follows makes for a sweet film with no sour spots except that its B&W nature makes it impossible to fully appreciate young Liz Taylor's remarkable eyes. The Steve Martin remake is OK, but there was only one Spencer Tracy, and if only for that difference this original version is much preferred. A classic for the ages, and one that all ages can enjoy.