There Goes the Bride

"There goes the Bride" is essentially and simply a farce (albeit one set -- for no very clear reason -- in France). As such, the plot makes about as much sense as in any other of the many films in which the heroine proves herself irresistible by making the leading man's life a complete misery; and it contrives to be considerably less irritating than most of them.

As the pert and wilful Annette, Jessie Matthews is all big eyes and eloquent reaction; it is interesting to note that she has already established the character without any real dialogue to speak of until after the first few scenes. In fact, for an early sound film this shows a notable willingness to tell its story through visuals in addition to the laughs obtained by an often genuinely funny script; there were moments when the audience were literally shouting with laughter.

It has to be said that Miss Matthews, in her first leading screen role, sometimes overacts. If she were not already in possession of top billing one might assume that she is doing her best here to steal the show! However, it is hard to say where the actress's cinematic inexperience begins and the impudent Annette's 'putting on an act' ends; certainly her charm is more than enough to excuse any exaggeration. Conversely, Owen Nares has been criticised for lack of charisma, although I couldn't see it -- I did notice one or two flat line readings on his part that sounded as if they should have gone for a retake.

All in all I found this surprisingly good entertainment: undemanding fluff in a polished production that manages to be witty without being annoying, ridiculous without stupidity, and sneaks in a good deal of conscious naughtiness into the bargain. I'm frankly amazed that this apparently rated a 'U' rather than an 'A' ('Adult') certificate on release, as I'd have thought parts of it were quite risqué!

The perky and thoroughly charming Jessie Matthews is being sold off in marriage by her parents to Basil Radford, so the sensible French girl runs off to Paris, where everyone speaks like stage English people. Her purse is stolen and she winds up in the hands of a suspicious Owen Nares, who has a suspicious fiancée, for whom Miss Matthews is naturally mistaken by his gullible and mostly drunken friends.

Miss Matthews sings two songs, dances almost not at all. Like many of Miss Matthews' leading men, Mr. Nares seems frightened of women. David Niven is credited as an extra in what is supposed to be his first appearance onscreen, but I didn't spot him. Henry Koster is co-credited with the script in which the idiot plotting is barely justified and then ignored. I enjoyed it.

Another enjoyable Jessie Matthews' movie!

I didn't know she was in it till I started to watch it.

I don't share the view she was over-acting.

She's just got an impish effervescence about her contributions in light-hearted musicals & comic situations of farce & misunderstandings, near-misses & genuine harmless fun that she excelled herself in!

I simply don't understand why she was not a more famous & more sought after talent! Probably it's because her movies were made in the 1930s & in black & white. This doesn't detract from quality cinema!

All of her movies I've seen are enjoyable. This is no exception!

Jessie Matthews has a couple of nice songs to sing and she dances briefly, but There Goes The Bride can hardly be considered one of her better films.

Jessie is cast as a young bride who runs away on the eve of her wedding, a wedding that she's being hammerlocked into by her father because she's marrying some guy her dad does business with. More of a merger than a marriage.

She runs off to the continent, but has her bag and money stolen and worse is accused of being a thief herself. Her accuser is Owen Nares and with that old Matthews charm worms her way into his house. That part gets rather silly and unreal. Topping it all off everybody thinks she's Nares intended and Carol Goodner who is the intended isn't at all pleased with that.

It all gets sillier and sillier. I wish they had given Jessie Matthews a few more songs and dances, that might have made the film better.

David Niven is supposed to be in this film, more than likely in the party scene. Tried to spot him and thought I might have.

There Goes The Bride isn't a horrible film, but Jessie Matthews had much better to come.

This is Jessie Matthews second sound film.Whilst she exhibits much gusto and enthusiasm she rather overacts at time and her technique is lacking.I was fortunate enough to see her give a lecture with Michael Balcon at the NFT some 40 years ago.She explained that it was Victor Saville who had helped to give her the confidence to appear in front of the cameras.Anyway having said that she is rather oddly matched with a rather stuffy Owen Nares who was 17 years her senior at the time.Nares was a popular leading man of the 20s and 30s and who was by this time heading into the twilight of his screen career.There are some enjoyable,if unmemorable musical numbers.There is only one brief dance from Jessie.This film was issued as part of the "British Classics Collection" some years ago,and is still to be purchased second hand.If you are a fan of Jessie Matthews or of 30s films it is worth seeing,if only to observe a talent in embryo