When Jane Wyman announces her engagement to Franchot Tone, Bing Crosby gets jealous that she finally got tired of waiting around for him. After all, she waited for five years and could have had children by now! So, in a ridiculous scheme to get her back, Bing adopts two orphans-the law states he has to get married within a week in order to legally adopt the kids-and descends on Jane before her wedding. What woman in her right mind would ever think that's romantic? After wasting her childbearing years on a scoundrel, he shows up with two adopted kids and expects her to swoon? As if!
Sorry, Bing, but I'm not rooting for you in this movie. He's ridiculous. In a hilarious scene where he confronts his competition, Franchot Tone says, "Well, I'm a little taller than you, probably a little younger, and definitely a little richer. What do you have that can outset forty million dollars?" Bing says he has the kids, and Franchot quickly quips, "We plan to have triplets within a year." They make a friendly wager on who can win the girl before Saturday, and to set the bargain, they both light their lighters. Bing's lighter doesn't light, and Franchot smirks as his flame immediately ignites. Really, Jane, is there a choice?
I'm retracting my previous statement. Bing isn't the ridiculous one; Jane is. The fact that she even considers leaving Franchot for Bing makes her ridiculous. She gets a nostalgia kick from Bing singing "In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the evening" when, as Franchot so eloquently put, her fiancé is taller, younger, and richer. And he can give her her own children! But, since this is a silly comedy, you can expect tons of silly situations that would never happen in real life, screwball style pratfalls, and a man more perfect than anyone could be in real life who, for no reason, isn't irresistible to the heroine. Come now, ladies, isn't Franchot Tone just a doll? He's charming, handsome, poised, patient, and his four different types of smirks speak volumes. Here's a good rule of recommendations: If you liked High Society, or the original The Philadelphia Story, you'll love Here Comes the Groom. Me, I only sat through it so I could drool over Franchot.
Sorry, Bing, but I'm not rooting for you in this movie. He's ridiculous. In a hilarious scene where he confronts his competition, Franchot Tone says, "Well, I'm a little taller than you, probably a little younger, and definitely a little richer. What do you have that can outset forty million dollars?" Bing says he has the kids, and Franchot quickly quips, "We plan to have triplets within a year." They make a friendly wager on who can win the girl before Saturday, and to set the bargain, they both light their lighters. Bing's lighter doesn't light, and Franchot smirks as his flame immediately ignites. Really, Jane, is there a choice?
I'm retracting my previous statement. Bing isn't the ridiculous one; Jane is. The fact that she even considers leaving Franchot for Bing makes her ridiculous. She gets a nostalgia kick from Bing singing "In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the evening" when, as Franchot so eloquently put, her fiancé is taller, younger, and richer. And he can give her her own children! But, since this is a silly comedy, you can expect tons of silly situations that would never happen in real life, screwball style pratfalls, and a man more perfect than anyone could be in real life who, for no reason, isn't irresistible to the heroine. Come now, ladies, isn't Franchot Tone just a doll? He's charming, handsome, poised, patient, and his four different types of smirks speak volumes. Here's a good rule of recommendations: If you liked High Society, or the original The Philadelphia Story, you'll love Here Comes the Groom. Me, I only sat through it so I could drool over Franchot.