You won't be disappointed!

People are voting emotionally.

The performances transcend the film's tropes, grounding it in characters that feel more complete than this subgenre often produces.

As somebody who had not heard any of this before, it became a curious phenomenon to sit and watch a film and slowly have the realities begin to click into place.

I feel a 10/10 rating has to be carefully judged before awarding. Thus I am all too careful in awarding such a high score. However, I didn't really have to think about this... this movie easily deserves 10/10.In this day and age when so-called 'comedy' movies are simply full of just daft, witless, senseless, sometimes toilet, 'humour', film-makers would do well to look at the likes of Vincente Minelli's "Father Of The Bride" (1950) for inspiration on good quality film-making.The difference with the likes of this three-Oscar-nominated 'masterpiece' is that it is not comedy in the sense of daft circumstances, silly jokes etc... it reflects - basically - the comedy that we experience in everyday life. In fact, I'd go so far as to call this a 'light-hearted drama' if anything.Tracy is his brilliant self. His 'comedy acting' is actually an extension of the excellent script, his position as an unfortunate victim of circumstances (he conveys the weight of the world as being on his shoulders), the direction and a reflection on what we as objective viewers relate with our own lives. This is what 'comedy-drama' / comedy-acting' is all about... NOT playing for laughs as seems to be the common methodology these days.It is interesting that in a recent episode of the UK's fast-deteriorating soap "Coronation Street", the scriptwriter actually plagiarised some lines from the 1950 "Father Of The Bride". Reference was made (I paraphrase) to "I hope it's not the guy with the teeth"... and more. It was so badly misplaced and - to me - noticing it immediately, it was straight (and paraphrased) from the movie. I suppose that considering copying is the best form of flattery, it's perhaps a testament to Goodrich, Hackett and Streeter (the writers, the latter being the novelist).I won't waste my time going any farther than just mentioning the Steve Martin 'remake', which is nothing but the usual modern rubbish attempting to match a classic original but, I suppose, again 'mimicry is the best form of flattery'.Supporting roles are played excellently all round... particularly a young and very beautiful Elizabeth Taylor, the gorgeous Joan Bennett, Don Taylor ('the boy with the shoulders'), Billie Burke and more.The style is of the main protagonist (Tracy as lawyer Stanley T. Banks) narrating the story of the lead up to his only daughter ("I know a father's not supposed to have a favourite, but with Kay...") getting married. It's actually a very interesting insight to the turmoil that can befall a tight-knit middle-class family under such circumstances.I'd suggest also having a look at the sequel to the original: "Father's Little Dividend" (1951). Although not nearly as good, it's still very enjoyable and worth watching.

I will express my prejudices here. I've always felt that people who expect outrageously expensive wedding should pay for them themselves. Instead of seeing the comedy here, I felt sorry for Tracy's character, who gains nothing from this and practically loses everything. Still, it has witty exchanges by all participants, some good supporting characters, lots of action,and a frantic pace that made even me tired. I will put my prejudices aside because I recognize this as a fiction and we all enjoy a good disaster film. Elizabeth Taylor is really stunning as the bride, and that helps. Her dark beauty dominates the screen.

I'd prefer the remake any day. It was a lot more exciting since I am not at all much for Spencer Tracy. Most of his movies were boring and frothy. I would've preferred a lead like Jack Benny who was the original pick for the movie since he was in terms of movies given so little to do. And he would've drew much more fire and was more elegant of a comedian. Whereas Tracy, most of the time I've found rather lackluster. The exceptions being the serious movies as Dr.Jekyll/Mr.Hyde, and Judgement at Nuremberg to where there he gave a much more powerful and meaningful performance. Father of the Bride did have good casting and anything with Leo G. Carroll I always enjoy with his appearances. Worth seeing if only for an early role of legend Elizabeth Taylor. I'd enjoy the remake to the original but this is only my personal opinion.

TCM is showing this movie for Father's Day and they are so right. I wish I had the kind of father's love Spencer Tracy had for his daughter. Joan Bennett is so beautiful she could have been Elizabeth Taylor's real mother. This is about the very rich family Banks in the 1950's giving their daughter a wedding (the wedding the mother always wanted but never had). The love expressed by this family and the family of the groom is beautiful. The groom's mother the wonderful Billie Burke the Good Witch of OZ is great!! It's in Black and White and you know I think it is better this way because you see the people not the sets not the glamour of the places and costumes but the reality of their emotions. The funnest part is the dream Spencer has before the wedding, then his sweet little talk with Elizabeth before the big day. I have always thought "Father of Bride" should be co-billed with "A Catered Affair" with Bette Davis and Ernest Borgnine It's also about the daughter getting married (Debbie Reynolds as the girl) but this family are working class. Also great acting and a great story more true to real life of the 1950's. I submit Father of the Bride a 10 because when I come across this movie on TV either in the beginning or the middle or near the end I always stop and watch it. Every scene is a gem.