# The Marrying Kind > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/The_Marrying_Kind > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/The_Marrying_Kind.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Marrying_Kind > Source revision: 1339379600 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) 1952 film by George Cukor The Marrying Kind Theatrical release poster Directed by George Cukor Written by Garson Kanin Ruth Gordon Produced by Bert Granet Starring Judy Holliday Aldo Ray Madge Kennedy Cinematography Joseph Walker Edited by Charles Nelson Music by Hugo Friedhofer Production company Columbia Pictures Distributed by Columbia Pictures Release date March 13, 1952 (1952-03-13) Running time 92 minutes Country United States Language English Box office $1.7 million (US rentals)[1] ***The Marrying Kind*** is a 1952 American [comedy drama film](/source/Comedy_drama_film) directed by [George Cukor](/source/George_Cukor) and starring [Judy Holliday](/source/Judy_Holliday) and [Aldo Ray](/source/Aldo_Ray). Other cast members include [John Alexander](/source/John_Alexander_(actor)), [Charles Bronson](/source/Charles_Bronson), [Peggy Cass](/source/Peggy_Cass), [Barry Curtis](/source/Barry_Curtis_(actor)), [Tom Farrell](/source/Tommy_Farrell), [Frank Ferguson](/source/Frank_Ferguson), [Ruth Gordon](/source/Ruth_Gordon) (who co-wrote the screenplay with [Garson Kanin](/source/Garson_Kanin)), [Gordon Jones](/source/Gordon_Jones_(actor)), [Madge Kennedy](/source/Madge_Kennedy), [Nancy Kulp](/source/Nancy_Kulp), [Mickey Shaughnessy](/source/Mickey_Shaughnessy), and [Joan Shawlee](/source/Joan_Shawlee).[2] ## Plot summary The ups and downs of marriage and commitment are realized as Florence and Chet Keefer recount their marriage to the divorce judge. As the judge attempts to decipher whether or not their love for one another is gone, key moments of their lives together are recalled. Florence and Chet came close to making it big at various times, and suffered when those opportunities were lost. But the biggest stressor on their marriage occurred when their son drowned in a lake. They recover from his death as well as they can, and Florrie returns to work while Chet is recuperating from an injury. When Florrie's former boss leaves her a lot of money in his will, Chet is concerned about what the context might have been. They fight over the money, and though their daughter tries to stop their arguments, things boil to a head. When they go to their family for advice, it seems divorce makes the most sense. After talking it all through with the judge, they realize that they never really wanted to get divorced in the first place. After the judge leaves, Florrie and Chet resolve to try again and not blame each other when things go wrong. ## Cast - [Judy Holliday](/source/Judy_Holliday) as Florence "Florrie" Keefer - [Aldo Ray](/source/Aldo_Ray) as Chet Keefer - [Madge Kennedy](/source/Madge_Kennedy) as Judge Anne B. Carroll - [Sheila Bond](/source/Sheila_Bond) as Joan Shipley - [John Alexander](/source/John_Alexander_(actor)) as Howard Shipley - Rex Williams as George Bastian - [Phyllis Povah](/source/Phyllis_Povah) as Mrs. Derringer - [Mickey Shaughnessy](/source/Mickey_Shaughnessy) as Pat Bundy - [Griff Barnett](/source/Griff_Barnett) as Charley - [Peggy Cass](/source/Peggy_Cass) as Emily Bundy - [Nancy Kulp](/source/Nancy_Kulp) as Edie ## Shooting locations Several exteriors were shot on location in [New York City](/source/New_York_City), including in [Central Park](/source/Central_Park) and in [Stuyvesant Town-Peter Cooper Village](/source/Stuyvesant_Town-Peter_Cooper_Village). ## Narration The main way the action in this film happens is by narration, as Florence or Chet describe for the Judge different situations. However, as the viewer sees those scenes portrayed in the film, what they are seeing is different from what the narrator is describing. In the case of the story of how they met, what Chet describes is completely different from what is shown happening. '"It so happens I remember it different", Miss Holliday primly says.'[3] ## Creative process [Garson Kanin](/source/Garson_Kanin) told the *[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)* that he and [Ruth Gordon](/source/Ruth_Gordon) had a different writing process for *The Marrying Kind* than usual - they worked on it little by little over a period of months. They'd sketch out this or that scene to make a certain point. Then on a train ride they started compiling all their ideas, and found out they had 'far too much' material. '"Sometimes we rewrite each other's stuff," Miss Gordon said, expressionlessly. "Every time I put in what I thought was a great joke, he cut it out." "It wasn't that funny," Kanin said.' [4] Bosley Crowther of *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)* notes that Miss Gordon and Mr. Kanin successfully convey their moral - 'that the natural and ever-hopeful chase after glittering, material ambition is a wistful and endless dream'.[3] ## Critical response *The Marrying Kind* received mainly positive reviews. Mae Tinee of the *[Chicago Tribune](/source/Chicago_Tribune)* described the film as having "a great many funny situations and some expert dialog," while also capturing perfectly "the frictions and frustrations which affect a middle class couple in what is aptly described as 'a nervous world.'"[5] The [Deseret News](/source/Deseret_News) notes the film as "a heartwarming story of a young couple in love."[6] Marjory Adams of *[The Boston Globe](/source/The_Boston_Globe)* positively noted the humor of certain scenes, but stated in conclusion that "you would never wish to include Miss Holliday and Mr. Ray in your list of acquaintances. They would be too exhausting."[7] Bosley Crowther of *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)* remarked on the successful hilarities, and the contrast between moments and the "bittersweet comprehension of the thorniness of the way that stretches out for two young people after they have taken marriage vows."[3] The [Brooklyn Eagle](/source/Brooklyn_Eagle) was strongly positive: [Aldo Ray] and Miss Holliday make a balanced team, each pulling their own weight, neither one mere background for the other. It is this combination of strong personalities, I think, that makes 'The Marrying Kind' a 'real' picture about 'real' people....In addition to the performances of the stars, the support of an excellent cast, and Cukor's slick direction, the thing that puts 'The Marrying Kind' into the sparkling comedy class is the script by Ruth Gordon and Garson Kanin. It's down-to-earth stuff, language that anybody recognizes as the talk of common usage."[8] ## References 1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** "Top Box-Office Hits of 1952", *Variety*, January 7, 1953 1. **[^](#cite_ref-The_Marrying_Kind_2-0)** ["The Marrying Kind"](https://web.archive.org/web/20121023124906/http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/27658/The-Marrying-Kind/#credits). *[Turner Classic Movies](/source/Turner_Classic_Movies)*. [Atlanta](/source/Atlanta): [Turner Broadcasting System](/source/Turner_Broadcasting_System) ([Time Warner](/source/Time_Warner)). Archived from [the original](https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/27658/the-marrying-kind#credits) on October 23, 2012. Retrieved September 6, 2016. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Bosley_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Bosley_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Bosley_3-2) [Crowther, Bosley](/source/Bosley_Crowther) (March 14, 1952). ["The Screen: Two New Films On Local Scene; 'The Marrying Kind', with Judy Holliday and Aldo Ray, Has Premiere at Victoria British Film, 'Marry Me,' Comes to Art Theatre – Patrick Holt and Susan Shaw in Cast"](https://www.nytimes.com/1952/03/14/archives/the-screen-two-new-films-on-local-scene-the-marrying-kind-with-judy.html). *[The New York Times](/source/The_New_York_Times)*. Retrieved July 27, 2020. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-System_4-0)** Scheuer, Philip K. (June 29, 1952). "'We've No System', say hit writers Kanin and Gordon". *[Los Angeles Times](/source/Los_Angeles_Times)*. p. IV-1. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Movietime_5-0)** Tinee, Mae (June 8, 1952). "Variety Marks List of May's Better Films: "The Marrying Kind"". *[Chicago Tribune](/source/Chicago_Tribune)*. p. 3. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Utah_6-0)** "Judy Holliday Shifts Type in New Movie". *[Deseret News](/source/Deseret_News)*. April 17, 1952. p. F3. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Amusements_7-0)** Adams, Marjory (May 9, 1952). "NEW FILMS: "The Marrying Kind" at State, Orpheum". *[The Boston Globe](/source/Boston_Globe)*. p. 26. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-8)** Corby, Jane. "At the Movies." Brooklyn Eagle, 14 March 1952, 8. ## External links - [*The Marrying Kind*](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0044888/) at [IMDb](/source/IMDb_(identifier)) - [*The Marrying Kind* at AllMovie](https://www.allmovie.com/movie/the-marrying-kind-am138274) - [*The Marrying Kind*](https://web.archive.org/web/1/https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/27658/enwp) at the [TCM Movie Database](/source/Turner_Classic_Movies#TCMdb) (archived) - [*The Marrying Kind*](https://catalog.afi.com/Catalog/moviedetails/50568) at the *[AFI Catalog of Feature Films](/source/AFI_Catalog_of_Feature_Films)* v t e Films directed by George Cukor Grumpy (1930) The Virtuous Sin (1930) The Royal Family of Broadway (1930) Tarnished Lady (1931) Girls About Town (1931) What Price Hollywood? (1932) A Bill of Divorcement (1932) Rockabye (1932) Our Betters (1933) Dinner at Eight (1933) Little Women (1933) David Copperfield (1935) Sylvia Scarlett (1935) Romeo and Juliet (1936) Camille (1936) Holiday (1938) Zaza (1939) The Women (1939) Susan and God (1940) The Philadelphia Story (1940) A Woman's Face (1941) Two-Faced Woman (1941) Her Cardboard Lover (1942) Keeper of the Flame (1943) Gaslight (1944) Winged Victory (1944) A Double Life (1947) Desire Me (1947, uncredited) Edward, My Son (1949) Adam's Rib (1949) A Life of Her Own (1950) Born Yesterday (1950) The Model and the Marriage Broker (1951) The Marrying Kind (1952) Pat and Mike (1952) The Actress (1953) It Should Happen to You (1954) A Star Is Born (1954) Bhowani Junction (1956) Les Girls (1957) Wild Is the Wind (1957) Heller in Pink Tights (1960) Let's Make Love (1960) Something's Got to Give (1962, unfinished) The Chapman Report (1962) My Fair Lady (1964) Justine (1969) Travels with My Aunt (1972) Love Among the Ruins (1975) The Blue Bird (1976) The Corn is Green (1979) Rich and Famous (1981) v t e Works by Garson Kanin Films directed A Man to Remember (1938) Next Time I Marry (1938) The Great Man Votes (1939) Bachelor Mother (1939) They Knew What They Wanted (1940) My Favorite Wife (1940) Tom, Dick and Harry (1941) The True Glory (1945) Some Kind of a Nut (1968) Where It's At (1969) Films written The More the Merrier (1942) From This Day Forward (1946) A Double Life (1947) Adam's Rib (1949) Born Yesterday (1950) Pat and Mike (1952) The Marrying Kind (1952) It Should Happen to You (1954) The Girl Can't Help It (1956) High Time (1960) The Rat Race (1960) Some Kind of a Nut (1968) Where It's At (1969) Plays written Born Yesterday (1946) The Rat Race (1949) The Live Wire (1950) Do Re Mi (1960-62) Novels Moviola (1979) Smash (1980) TV written Born Yesterday (1956) Mr. Broadway (1964) Hardhat and Legs (1980) --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [The Marrying Kind](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Marrying_Kind) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Marrying_Kind?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.