Father of the Bride, 1950

Director: Vincente Minnelli

Stars: Spencer Tracy, Elizabeth Taylor, Joan Bennett, Don Taylor

I grew up watching Father of the Bride- the 1991 version. I didn't know until probably a year ago that there was an older version, the original. If you've seen either of them, they are very similar. Extremely similar! But I did enjoy the remake better. Steve Martin is funnier than Tracy, and Martin Short is brilliant! The music is modern and more enjoyable, and I always cry no matter what, because the story is just lovely.

The story: Kay Banks (Taylor) surprises her parents Stanley (Tracy) and Ellie (Bennett) with news of her engagement to Buckley (Taylor). The journey from engagement to wedding day is the story, with the focus being on Stanley, the "father of the bride", as he deals with paying for the wedding, and more importantly, losing his only daughter to her husband.

I did like the remake better, but it was totally entertaining and enjoyable! 5 stars in my book

(5 stars for the great movies that are worth it---6 stars for the ones you must own and watch over and over again!)

NOTE: just so you know, Elizabeth Taylor and Don Taylor (who play the happy couple) just happen to have the same last name. They weren't married in real life!

With Six You Get Eggroll, 1968

Director: Howard Morris

Stars: Doris Day, Brian Keith

Abby (Day), a widow with three sons, begins to date Jake (Keith), who is an old friend of her late husband. Jake's a widower with a daughter, and soon it becomes tricky to blend the two families. That's basically it. Silly, but not bad.

I adore Brian Keith from The Parent Trap. He's so sweet!

Please Don't Eat the Daisies, 1960

Director: Charles Walters

Stars: Doris Day, David Niven, Richard Haydn

This was just like a classic Disney movie from the 50's and 60's! Except it wasn't Disney. And it wasn't about teenagers or kids. And I doubt it's a "classic", even if it does have Doris Day, because I had never heard of it til Netflix suggested it to me. But it did have a dog, AND a house to fix up....

This is a story of a marriage and how a new job for Larry (Niven) changes his relationship with his wife Kate (Day). Larry becomes a theater critic, and suddenly life is full of busy-ness for Kate and Larry and their 4 sons. Larry's job becomes a huge distraction as his whole character seems to change, and Kate suspects that he gives bad reviews just for the attention it will bring.

It wasn't bad, just not amazing. And it had nothing to do with eating daisies. It was a song in the movie, and one of the boys ate some daisies, but otherwise, no daisies. So the title is silly.

The Philadelphia Story, 1940

Director: George Cukor

Stars: Cary Grant, Katherine Hepburn, James Stewart

Tracey Lord (Hepburn), the former wife of C.K. Dexter Haven (Grant), is getting married again. But the editor of a tabloid magazine has some dirt on her father, and to protect her high society socialite family from embarrassment and scandal, she very reluctantly agrees to have reporter Mike (James Stewart) and a photographer stay at her home and do a story on her wedding. Dexter shows up, too, to make things interesting, and Mike starts to make her fiance George uncomfortable with his attentions towards her.

This is one of my favorites of all time! Just look at those leads! Cary Grant, Katherine, and Jimmy! They are absolutely wonderful!

FACT: When I write these "reviews", I utilize Imdb (Internet Movie Data Base) and Wikipedia to make things a little more interesting, and also to make sure I get the right information on the director. Usually I know who the stars are, but the director (unless he's Hitch) is often a forgotten name. All that to say, when I looked up George Cukor, the name sounded familiar. And no wonder! First, he also directed "Pat and Mike", which I just reviewed a couple weeks ago; and second, he was the director of "My Fair Lady"!

Woman of the Year, 1942

Director: George Stevens

Stars: Spencer Tracy and Katherine Hepburn

Yes, another one with these two legends!

Tess and Sam meet and fall in love. Not the end! After the wedding, Sam begins to resent his wife's busy lifestyle, and after she is named "woman of the year", his frustrations come to a head and he moves out. Tess, a fiercely independent workaholic, is crushed and at last decides that she loves her husband more than being woman of the year.

Sorry, I just sort of gave it away, but I would not have even thought of watching it if I didn't think it ended happily. And with these two, in a romance, you know it will! Watching this one was almost like intruding on their lives, not like watching a movie. Because it involves so much of their relationship and is not a comedy, it really felt personal. But I enjoyed it, too!

FACT: This was their first film together, and it started their on- screen relationship, and off-screen affair, which would last until Tracy's death in 1967.

FACT: There is a UCLA Spencer Tracy award, given to actors! Recipients have included: James Stewart, Michael Douglas, Tom Hanks, Jodie Foster, Harrison Ford, Kirk Douglas, and Jack Lemmon, just to name a few.

FACT: Spencer Tracy was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin! That practically makes us neighbors!