Movie is amusing, and at times, poignant. Tracy and the radiant Elizabeth Taylor are the whole show. Their charisma makes this movie. A lot of the jokes and comedic situations are tame, or fall flat, but the overall feel good vibe, and genuine emotion, and heartbreak of a father realizing he'll be missing his daughter, make this worthwhile viewing.

Elizabeth Taylor announces to her parents that she's engaged, and before leaving that same seat admits that she doesn't know what her fiancé does for a living, just that he says "it's good to get married young". There are a few red flags there. This classic comedy basically has two jokes - "wow, that's expensive" and "wow, I'm so busy" - but Spencer Tracy gives a true star performance that shows a bit of sarcastic humor as a shield to cover up a mix of emotions hitting him, a bit of heartbreak at losing his only daughter and joy at seeing her happy. There isn't much in the way of character development or big narrative swings (even a brief squabble that threatens to derail the wedding is resolved in about two minutes), though one scene really breaks up the coasting tone - a supernatural nightmare scenario that sees Tracy sink into the aisle while others look on with giant phantom eyes. It looks like Orson Welles directed it, and as a representation of his nervousness and anxiety it's quite a spooky turn for the script. Apart from that, not many surprises especially if you're familiar with the Steve Martin remake, but an enjoyable classic that makes up for its more dated pieces with some real heart in its protagonist. Funny how Taylor is the bride-to-be in this one when she was notorious for her many marriages. Her fake film dad probably drew the line at financing that eighth marriage at Neverland Ranch. (3/5)

Spencer Tracy's slow burn is wonderful.

While I do prefer the 1991 version of Father of the Bride, the 1950 version also has a lot to offer. Spencer Tracy's character is a little gruffer than Steve Martin, which makes him a little less likeable, yet I was still able to see his side of things, as I'm a dad with daughters, as well. Wedding customs have changed, styles have changed, family dynamics have changed, but there's still something timeless about this story.

This movie reminds me why I hate comedies. They end up not being funny. Tracy tries to make it work and somehow the movie doesn't fall into boredom. But I just feel if they went with a different route this would end up being more interesting.

I was more than engaged, I was captivated--mainly because of the performance from Spencer Tracer. Elizabeth Taylor was very, very young and I see why she was so treasured in Hollywood. She glowed and waa so endearing and precious. The film was humorous, heart warming and very authentic to me. A fantastic movie dor that time period tbat resonates today still for so many reasons.

Really cute film that still works today.

Fantastic !! What a great and humorous move . Spencer Tracy is great ! And Elizabeth Taylor

Awesome movie. Spencer tracy is stunning as a concerned father. One of my fav golden classics

I'm something of a Vincente Minnelli agnostic as I have an affection for his two 1958 offerings, Some Came Running (1958) and Gigi (1958), but his bigger, splashier musicals such as An American in Paris (1951) have failed to hold my interest. It's not that I don't appreciate his technical abilities as the man knows how to capture a big song and dance number but I think he can encourage the worst tendencies in his actors and tends to go for broad characterizations instead of smaller developments. Here he went for a light family comedy and pulled together an impressive cast to carry it out but despite the positive critical and commercial reception at the time I struggle to see the appeal. Family man Stanley T. Banks, Spencer Tracy, becomes concerned when his favorite child, daughter Kay, Elizabeth Taylor, mentions her romance with Buckley Dunstan, Don Taylor. They announce that they are engaged shortly after and he stresses over her future and the possible demise that will be brought about by her committing herself to this unknown man. Further problems arise when Banks' pushy wife Ellie, Joan Bennett, asks him to provide Kay with the lavish wedding that she had wanted but never received. This creates financial problems as he spends exorbitant amounts on an orchestra at the reception and catering from a snooty businessman. He continues to have doubts as Kay and Dunstan break up and reconcile shortly before the wedding and everybody around him fails to appreciate his efforts. He realizes that his real worries are about letting go of his daughter, who he still imagines as a little girl and not an individual, and finally comes to terms with his feelings. He is secure in his position as a father when his daughter calls him after her wedding to affirm her love for him. My biggest issue with the film was that I loathed every character in it as they all seemed to be driven by financial concerns and the false platitudes they throw out at the end of the film did nothing to allay these fears. Bennett, an actress I usually love, is lumped with a thankless role as a wife who only has material concerns and is never shown being a loving wife or having concerns that don't sound utterly frivolous. This made it difficult for me to care about her relationship with Tracy as the two of them seemed less like husband and wife and more like two partners in a lopsided business deal. The daughter also seems like a selfish, spoilt brat and even the inclusion of her proposing that she elopes to alleviate the financial burden of the wedding did not turn me around on her. Banks himself is also unlikable as although we should all be able to rally around a father who cares about his daughter he seems overly controlling and with Tracy's portrayal his feelings for his daughter don't feel fatherly. Taylor and Tracy don't convince as a father and daughter which left the emotional center of the film feeling hollow. The film is also billed as a comedy but I never laughed as although I could sense at certain points that the screenwriter intended me to giggle I didn't even manage a half smile. I felt mere annoyance at Tracy's paranoid voice over and Ellie wasn't deliciously over top enough to move from hated villain to enjoyably vicious but caring wife in my mind. Where the film could have found some real humor is in exploring the strange relationship between Banks and the parents of Dunstan as we could have used more than just him falling sleep after becoming a little too drunk. Tracy also displays that he needs Katharine Hepburn to spar with in order to be a compelling comedic lead as on his own he flails and doesn't have the wit or timing to elicit laughs from the audience. The fact that the film earned a Best Picture nomination strikes me as odd as while the Academy were obviously receptive to Minnelli as he won Best Director the following year this is hardly the comedy to reward with so many others getting overlooked in the 1950s. This falls away when up against classics like All About Eve (1950) and Sunset Boulevard (1950) and on it's own merits it is not worth watching.

The best comedy movie ever made!

Father of the Bride is an excellent film. It is about the father of a young woman deals with the emotional pain of her getting married. Spencer Tracy and Elizabeth Taylor give amazing performances. The screenplay is well written. Vincente Minnelli did a great job directing this movie. I enjoyed watching this motion picture because of the humor and romance. Father of the Bride is a must see.

Much darker than the Steve Martin version. Spencer Tracy is great, really feels almost like a domestic noir of sorts. But of course very funny too.

Elizabeth Taylor is classy as the original Kay Banks, though the 1950s twenty-something-who-lives-at-home-before-she-gets-hitched can't afford to be as multi-faceted a woman as the '90s redux. The black and white classic is an endearing production to be sure, but the film is a bit stuffy with no transition music or familial humor.

Tracy is fantastic in a really solid comedy

Feels dated and complicated, it's a nice comedy to enjoy when there are some laughs and really good performances following a nice script that features related thoughts to connect from the heart for those in the titular position. (B+) (Full review coming soon - with better wording probably)

UNA LINDA PELICULA DE RELACIONES FAMILIARES

I am a sucker for Spencer Tracy and can't help but to enjoy everything he is in. He is definitely the anchor in this film and what takes this picture from good to great.

Occasionally had some good jokes, but overall, not particularly memorable.

An easy, breezy watch.