The Member of the Wedding (1952)

User Rating:

7.3/10   

Director:

Fred Zinnemann

Writers:

Carson McCullers (play) (novel)
Edna Anhalt (writer) ...

Release Date:

1954 (West Germany)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

She became a woman in the middle of a kiss!

Plot:

A film version of the Carson McCullers play. Frankie Addams, a very boyish articulate 12-year-old girl...

Plot Keywords:

Girl | Tomboy | Boy | Wedding | Bar

Awards:

Nominated for Oscar. Another 1 win

Cast

Ethel Waters	...	Berenice Sadie Brown
Julie Harris	...	Frances 'Frankie' Addams
Brandon De Wilde	...	John Henry
Arthur Franz	...	Jarvis Addams
Nancy Gates	...	Janice
William Hansen	...	Mr. Addams
James Edwards	...	Honey Camden Brown
Harry Bolden	...	T.T. Williams
Dickie Moore	...	Soldier

Runtime:

93 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono

Certification:

USA:TV-G

Filming Locations:

Colusa, California, USA

Company:

Stanley Kramer Productions

Trivia:

Julie Harris, Ethel Waters, and Brandon De Wilde all repeated their roles from the original Broadway production.

Quotes:

Berenice Sadie Brown: I told you about chopping your hair off like a convict, now you can't do anything with it.
Frances 'Frankie' Addams: I'm going to wash it tonight and try to stretch it out.

Movie Connections:

Version of The Member of the Wedding (1997) (TV)

Soundtrack:

His Eye Is on the Sparrow

Waters, Harris And De Wilde Make A Wonderful Trio

Although it is unhealthily talky, "The Member of the Wedding" feels alive because of its wonderful cast. Julie Harris makes her film debut as a 12-year-old Southern girl named Frankie. She 'falls apart' when her older brother announces plans to marry his sweetheart. Ethel Waters plays Frankie's cook (and mother figure) Bernice and little Brandon De Wilde is Frankie's cousin John Henry (who seems to be a little too obsessed with cross-dressing) – all three actors reprise their original Broadway roles. It sounds incredible but 27-year-old Harris is convincing as a little girl (not even Mary Pickford could pull that off so effortless). It is basically a filmed play but Fred Zinnemann is such a wonderful director that he does manage to give the material the sort of energy that overcomes the fusty quality of theater material making the transition to the big screen. Fans of good acting and strong content will enjoy this lovely little film.