What to know

critics consensus

With a terrific script, great performances from Spencer Tracy and Elizabeth Taylor, and assured direction from Vincent Minnelli, Father of the Bride endures as a sparkling comedy of its era. Read critic reviews

You might also like

Where to watch

Show all services

Rate And Review

User image

Verified

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Rate this movie

    Oof, that was Rotten.

    Meh, it passed the time.

    It’s good – I’d recommend it.

    Awesome!

    So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

    What did you think of the movie? (optional)

  • You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Step 2 of 2

    How did you buy your ticket?

    Let's get your review verified.

    • Fandango

    • AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

    • Cinemark Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Regal Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Theater box office or somewhere else

    By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.

    You're almost there! Just confirm how you got your ticket.

  • User image

    Super Reviewer

    Rate this movie

    Oof, that was Rotten.

    Meh, it passed the time.

    It’s good – I’d recommend it.

    Awesome!

    So Fresh: Absolute Must See!

    What did you think of the movie? (optional)

  • How did you buy your ticket?

    • Fandango

    • AMCTheatres.com or AMC AppNew

    • Cinemark Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Regal Coming Soon

      We won’t be able to verify your ticket today, but it’s great to know for the future.

    • Theater box office or somewhere else

    By opting to have your ticket verified for this movie, you are allowing us to check the email address associated with your Rotten Tomatoes account against an email address associated with a Fandango ticket purchase for the same movie.

Father of the Bride Photos

View All Photos (11)

Movie Info

When beautiful Kay Banks (Elizabeth Taylor) announces her engagement to Buckley Dunstan (Don Taylor), her doting middle-class father, Stan (Spencer Tracy), must contend with a variety of problems, ranging from money issues to wedding planning difficulties. As things get hectic, Stan's wife, Ellie (Joan Bennett), tries to be the calm in the center of the storm. At the heart of the comedy, though, is Stan's emotional tie to his little girl, and his realization that she has indeed grown up.

Cast & Crew

Spencer Tracy
Stanley T. Banks
Elizabeth Taylor
Katherine "Kay" Banks
Joan Bennett
Ellie Banks
Don Taylor
Buckley Dunstan
Billie Burke
Doris Dunstan
Leo G. Carroll
Mr. Massoula
Moroni Olsen
Herbert Dunstan
Melville Cooper
Mr. Tringle
Taylor Holmes
Warner
Paul Harvey
Rev. A.I. Galsworthy
Frank Orth
Joe
Russ Tamblyn
Tommy Banks
Tom Irish
Ben Banks
Marietta Canty
Delilah
Willard Waterman
Vincent Dixon
Nancy Valentine
Fliss
Mary Jane Smith
Effie
Vincente Minnelli
Director
Pandro S. Berman
Producer
Frances Goodrich
Writer
Albert Hackett
Writer
Helen Rose
Costume Designer
Jack Dawn
Makeup
Cedric Gibbons
Art Director
Show all Cast & Crew

Critic Reviews for Father of the Bride

All Critics (31) | Top Critics (6) | Fresh (28) | Rotten (3)

View All Critic Reviews (31)

Audience Reviews for Father of the Bride

  • Jul 29, 2015
    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.
    Alice S Super Reviewer
  • Aug 19, 2013
    A middle-class attorney has difficulty affording his daughter's wedding. Comparing this film to the Steve Martin remake yields some interesting conclusions. In the Martin version, everybody else, led by the Martin Short character, is nuts or at least a bit unreasonable. In the Tracy version, the father's penuriousness is put on the fore, and while his daughter makes demands, in today's context, nothing seems unreasonable. This adjustment puts the onus on Tracy's performance, He must somehow continue to garner the audience's sympathy without appearing to be too miserly to love his daughter. The only time when Tracy falters is when he's made to attempt to bribe his daughter into elopement. For the rest of the time, we'd follow Tracy anywhere. Overall, this is a strong version of a common story, propelled by the fine work of Spencer Tracy.
    Jim H Super Reviewer
  • Aug 19, 2013
    I never saw the Steve Martin version but I hear that the remake is no different than the original in showing a benign and sometimes funny family. This results in "fun for the whole family". I'm sure your six your old will find the humour leading edge.
    John B Super Reviewer
  • Feb 18, 2012
    Spencer Tracy, as the grumpy, titular father, puts this film on his back and carries it. Incredibly dated, but still a loveable film, and one that features a very young Elizabeth Taylor. Interestingly skewers wedding conventions and the wedding industry in a way that I wish more films did. Sure, all can't help but work out in the end, but the journey is blackly funny and enjoyable.
    Daniel P Super Reviewer
See all Audience reviews

Father of the Bride Quotes

There are no approved quotes yet for this movie.

Movie & TV guides