How to Commit Marriage
How to Commit Marriage is a 1969 American comedy film directed by Norman Panama, and starring Bob Hope, Jackie Gleason, Tina Louise, Irwin Corey, Leslie Nielsen, Tim Matheson and Jane Wyman in her final film role.[1] It was filmed in the current version of Cinerama. A rock band entitled The Comfortable Chair appears as a rock group, performing their song "A Child's Garden."
How to Commit Marriage | |
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Directed by | Norman Panama |
Written by | Michael Kanin Ben Starr |
Produced by | Bill Lawrence |
Starring | Bob Hope Jackie Gleason |
Cinematography | Charles Lang |
Edited by | Ronald Sinclair |
Music by | Joseph J. Lilley |
Production company | Naho Productions[1] |
Distributed by | Cinerama Releasing Corporation[2] |
Release date |
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Running time | 95 minutes |
Country | United States |
Language | English |
Plot
Music student Nancy, the 19-year-old daughter of Frank, real estate broker, and Elaine Benson, wants to marry fellow music student David, the 20-year-old son of Oliver Poe, record producer. What the bride does not know her parents will be divorced. Poe is opposed to marriage and forbids the children from planning their marriage. He exposes the Bensons' secret. Nancy and David decline this unnecessary marriage. They will live together, instead of traveling around the country with a rock band and heeding advice and wisdom of a Persian mystic called the Baba Zeba. Frank and Elaine see other people. He is involved with a divorce, Lois Grey, while she is developing an interest in Phil Fletcher, who is recently divorced. Poe meets LaVerne Baker, his live in girlfriend. One day, Nancy finds out she is pregnant. The Baba Zeba persuades her to put up the baby for adoption, paid off by Oliver. Frank and Elaine conspire behind their daughter's back to adopt their own grandchild. Complications arise, resulting in Frank trying to bribe the guru and disguising himself as one of the Baba Zeba's followers. The Bensons are reunited, David and Nancy have a baby, and Poe and LaVerne are married.
Cast
- Bob Hope as Frank Benson
- Jackie Gleason as Oliver Poe
- Jane Wyman as Elaine Benson
- Leslie Nielsen as Phil Fletcher
- Maureen Arthur as Lois Grey
- Tina Louise as LaVerne Baker
- Tim Matheson as David
- Paul Stewart as Willoughby
- Irwin Corey as the Baba Zeba
- Joanna Cameron as Nancy
See also
References
- How to Commit Marriage at the American Film Institute Catalog
- "50 Top-Grossing Films". Variety. June 25, 1969. p. 11.
External links