In her next to last film before leaving Warner Brothers, Bette Davis shucked all those heavy dramas, some of her most recent ones among her worst films, for a light comedy in June Bride. Bette was not the June Bride of the film, in fact just who does become the bride is part of the story.
The part of career woman Linda Gilman who edits a women's magazine is the kind of part Rosalind Russell was making a career of playing. The film would have been a classic had Russell done this part. Still Bette is capable of breaking casting barriers and she gives it her best. I've a feeling she probably was glad for the change of pace.
Her leading man is an old hand at these kind of films. Robert Montgomery who played many a dapper fellow in light comedies at MGM in the Thirties is teamed with Davis and while it's an odd mix, they do create a few sparks. Montgomery had started doing some more serious stuff before World War II. After World War II he did some heavy dramas like They Were Expendable, Lady In The Lake, and Ride The Pink Horse. This film was a return to his roots.
Montgomery is a famous correspondent who's called home by the head of his publication conglomerate, Jerome Cowan whose portrayal seems to be modeled on Henry Luce. Cowan's got a sense of humor, he puts Montgomery to work for old flame Davis who's just been made editor of his woman's publication.
Her assignment for Montgomery is to write the feature story of a typical mid west wedding in small town Indiana of a young couple randomly selected. The arrival of Davis, Montgomery and a host of magazine employees disrupts this poor family's life and rearranges things for everyone. Some of that is Montgomery's own deliberate doing as he's trying to rekindle a flame or two from his own past.
Though the references in the past from McKinley to Truman date the film somewhat it could probably be remade today. The comedic situations about wedding jitters are certainly eternal and men like Montgomery still pursue women like Davis with zest and abandon.
The part of career woman Linda Gilman who edits a women's magazine is the kind of part Rosalind Russell was making a career of playing. The film would have been a classic had Russell done this part. Still Bette is capable of breaking casting barriers and she gives it her best. I've a feeling she probably was glad for the change of pace.
Her leading man is an old hand at these kind of films. Robert Montgomery who played many a dapper fellow in light comedies at MGM in the Thirties is teamed with Davis and while it's an odd mix, they do create a few sparks. Montgomery had started doing some more serious stuff before World War II. After World War II he did some heavy dramas like They Were Expendable, Lady In The Lake, and Ride The Pink Horse. This film was a return to his roots.
Montgomery is a famous correspondent who's called home by the head of his publication conglomerate, Jerome Cowan whose portrayal seems to be modeled on Henry Luce. Cowan's got a sense of humor, he puts Montgomery to work for old flame Davis who's just been made editor of his woman's publication.
Her assignment for Montgomery is to write the feature story of a typical mid west wedding in small town Indiana of a young couple randomly selected. The arrival of Davis, Montgomery and a host of magazine employees disrupts this poor family's life and rearranges things for everyone. Some of that is Montgomery's own deliberate doing as he's trying to rekindle a flame or two from his own past.
Though the references in the past from McKinley to Truman date the film somewhat it could probably be remade today. The comedic situations about wedding jitters are certainly eternal and men like Montgomery still pursue women like Davis with zest and abandon.