{{Short description|1955 British film by Henry Cass}} {{for|the 1866 oil painting|The Reluctant Bride}} {{Use dmy dates|date=March 2016}} {{Use British English|date=March 2016}} {{Infobox film | name = The Reluctant Bride | caption = Theatrical release poster | image = Reluctant_Bride_film_Theatrical_release_poster_(1955).png | director = Henry Cass | producer = {{ubl|Robert S. Baker|Monty Berman}} | writer = Frederick Stephani | starring = {{ubl|John Carroll|Virginia Bruce|Brian Oulton|Kay Callard|Arthur Lowe}} | music = Stanley Black | cinematography = Monty Berman | editing = Maurice Rootes | distributor = Eros Films | released = {{Film date|1955|08}} | runtime = 75 minutes | country = United Kingdom | language = English | budget = }}
'''''The Reluctant Bride''''' (U.S. title: '''''Two Grooms for a Bride''''') is a 1955 British comedy film directed by Henry Cass and starring John Carroll and Virginia Bruce.<ref name="BFIsearch">{{Cite web |title=Reluctant Bride |url=https://collections-search.bfi.org.uk/web/Details/ChoiceFilmWorks/150048226 |access-date=31 January 2024 |website=British Film Institute Collections Search}}</ref> It was written by Frederick Stephani.
==Plot summary== Jeff Longstreet and Laura Weeks are paired together to take care of a group of wild children whose parents are lost on an African safari. The children make attempts to press Jeff and Laura into a romantic relationship while breaking them away from their fiancees.
==Partial cast== *John Carroll as Jeff Longstreet *Virginia Bruce as Laura Weeks *Brian Oulton as Professor Baker *Kay Callard as Lola Sinclair *Donald Stewart as Cadwell *Arthur Lowe as Mr. Fogarty *Michael Caridia as Tony *Barbara Brown as Ra *Kit Terrington as Big
==Critical reception== ''The Monthly Film Bulletin'' wrote: "Although the material of this comedy is familiar enough, the treatment is moderately lively, with some bright dialogue capably put over by Virginia Bruce and John Carroll. Minor characters, such as the vicar and the neighbours, are out of stock, but the film on the whole makes quite good-humoured entertainment."<ref>{{Cite journal |date=1 January 1955 |title=Reluctant Bride |url=https://www.proquest.com/docview/1305821082 |journal=The Monthly Film Bulletin |volume=22 |issue=252 |pages=155 |id={{ProQuest|1305821082}} }}</ref>
''The Daily Film Renter'' wrote: "Hnsry Cass's direction, with its truth of observation and its flair for making the ordinary appear amusing, keeps this modest-budget comedy entertaining all the time. Family audiences in particular should revel in its innocent fun and games. It is well acted and its script contains plenty of amusing lines even if its outcome is fairly apparent from the outset."<ref>{{Cite journal |date=22 August 1955 |title=Reluctant Bride |volume= |issue=6939 |pages=3-4 |id={{ProQuest|2600880236}} |magazine=The Daily Film Renter}}</ref>
''Kine Weekly'' wrote: "The picture has the earmarks of a stage play, but resourceful team work and direction irons them out, John Carroll makes a breezy, likeable Jeff, Virginia Bruce is a delightful Laura, Brian Oulton scores as the asinine Theodore, and Michael Caridia, Barbara Brown and Kit Terrington never let up as the mischievous Tony, Ra and Big. The settings are appropriate and the timing of salient situations perfect."<ref>{{Cite journal |date=25 August 1955 |title=Reluctant Bride |volume=461 |issue=2513 |pages=19 |id={{ProQuest|2738581465}} |magazine=Kine Weekly}}</ref>
The ''Radio Times'' called it a "Far-fetched comedy" and rated it two out of five stars.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.radiotimes.com/film/dvhw7z/the-reluctant-bride/|title=The Reluctant Bride – review - cast and crew, movie star rating and where to watch film on TV and online|website=Radio Times}}</ref>
In ''British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959'' David Quinlan rated the film as "average", writing: "Two Hollywood stars polish up some familiar comedy material."<ref>{{Cite book |last=Quinlan |first=David |title=British Sound Films: The Studio Years 1928–1959 |publisher=B.T. Batsford Ltd. |year=1984 |isbn=0-7134-1874-5 |location=London |pages=365}}</ref>
''Sky Cinema'' wrote "Hollywood stars Virginia Bruce and John Carroll help to give a top coating of sophistication to this feather-light British comedy."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.sky.com/tv/movie/the-reluctant-bride-1955|title=The Reluctant Bride|publisher=}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb title|0048549}}
Category:1955 films Category:1955 comedy films Category:British comedy films Category:Films directed by Henry Cass Category:1955 English-language films Category:1955 British films Category:British black-and-white films Category:Films scored by Stanley Black Category:English-language comedy films