The Marrying Kind

The Marrying Kind is a 1952 comedy-drama film directed by George Cukor, starring Aldo Ray and Judy Holliday. Other cast members include John Alexander, Charles Bronson, Peggy Cass, Barry Curtis, Tom Farrell, Frank Ferguson, Ruth Gordon (who co-wrote the screenplay with Garson Kanin), Gordon Jones, Madge Kennedy, Nancy Kulp, Mickey Shaughnessy, and Joan Shawlee.[2]

The Marrying Kind
Theatrical release poster
Directed byGeorge Cukor
Produced byBert Granet
Written byGarson Kanin
Ruth Gordon
StarringJudy Holliday
Aldo Ray
Madge Kennedy
Music byHugo Friedhofer
CinematographyJoseph Walker
Edited byCharles Nelson
Distributed byColumbia Pictures
Release date
  • February 1952 (1952-02)
Running time
92 min.
LanguageEnglish
Box office$1.7 million (US rentals)[1]

Plot summary

The ups and downs of marriage and commitment are realized as Florence and Chet Keefer recount their marriage to the divorce judge. As the judge attempts to decipher whether or not their love for one another is gone, key moments of their lives together are recalled.

Florence and Chet came close to making it big at various times, and suffered when those opportunities were lost. But worst of all was when they lost their oldest child through a freak accident. They deal with all the various frictions and pressures as well as they can, ending up with Florrie returning to work while Chet is recuperating from an injury. When Florrie's prior boss leaves her a lot of money in his will, Chet is concerned about what the context might have been. Their daughter makes them sing the Good Morning song while they're fighting, without any resolution. Things boil to a head, and suddenly everyone they know is weighing in on their relationship, and it seems divorce makes the most sense.

After talking it all through with the Judge, they realize some issues have already been resolved. After the judge leaves, Florrie and Chet resolve to try again.

Cast

Shooting locations

Several exteriors were shot on location in New York City, including in Central Park and in Stuyvesant Town-Peter Cooper Village.

Narration

The main way the action in this film happens is by narration, as Florence or Chet describe for the Judge different situations. However as the viewer sees those scenes portrayed in the film, what they are seeing is different from what the narrator is describing. In the case of the story of how they met, what Chet describes is completely different from what is shown happening. '"It so happens I remember it different", Miss Holliday primly says.'[3]


Creative Process

Garson Kanin told the Los Angeles Times that he and Ruth Gordon had a different writing process for The Marrying Kind than usual - they worked on it little by little over a period of months. They'd sketch out this or that scene to make a certain point. Then on a train ride they started compiling all their ideas, and found out they had 'far too much' material. '"Sometimes we rewrite each other's stuff," Miss Gordon said, expressionlessly. "Every time I put in what I thought was a great joke, he cut it out." "It wasn't that funny," Kanin said.' [4] Bosley Crowther of The New York Times notes that Miss Gordon and Mr. Kanin successfully convey their moral - 'that the natural and ever-hopeful chase after glittering, material ambition is a wistful and endless dream'. [3]


Critical response

The Marrying Kind received mainly positive reviews. Mae Tinee of the Chicago Tribune described the film as having 'a great many funny situations and some expert dialog', while also capturing perfectly 'the frictions and frustrations which affect a middle class couple in what is aptly described as "a nervous world."'[5] The Deseret News notes the film as 'a heartwarming story of a young couple in love'.[6] Marjory Adams of The Boston Globe positively noted the humor of certain scenes, but stated in conclusion that 'you would never wish to include Miss Holliday and Mr. Ray in your list of acquaintances. They would be too exhausting.'[7] Bosley Crowther of The New York Times remarked on the successful hilarities, and the contrast between moments and the 'bittersweet comprehension of the thorniness of the way that stretches out for two young people after they have taken marriage vows.' [3]

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References
  1. "Top Box-Office Hits of 1952", Variety, January 7, 1953
  2. "The Marrying Kind". Turner Classic Movies. Atlanta: Turner Broadcasting System (Time Warner). Retrieved September 6, 2016.
  3. Crowther, Bosley (March 14, 1952). "The Screen: Two New Films On Local Scene; 'The Marrying Kind', with Judy Holliday and Aldo Ray, Has Premiere at Victoria British Film, 'Marry Me,' Comes to Art Theatre – Patrick Holt and Susan Shaw in Cast". The New York Times. Retrieved July 27, 2020.
  4. Scheuer, Philip K. (June 29, 1952). "'We've No System', say hit writers Kanin and Gordon". Los Angeles Times. p. IV-1.
  5. Tinee, Mae (June 8, 1952). "Variety Marks List of May's Better Films: "The Marrying Kind"". Chicago Tribune. p. 3.
  6. "Judy Holliday Shifts Type in New Movie". Deseret News. April 17, 1952. p. F3.
  7. Adams, Marjory (May 9, 1952). "NEW FILMS: "The Marrying Kind" at State, Orpheum". The Boston Globe. p. 26.
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