bkoganbing In her next to last film before leaving Warner Brothers, Bette Davis shucked all those heavy dramas, some of her most recent ones among her worst films, for a light comedy in June Bride. Bette was not the June Bride of the film, in fact just who does become the bride is part of the story.The part of career woman Linda Gilman who edits a women's magazine is the kind of part Rosalind Russell was making a career of playing. The film would have been a classic had Russell done this part. Still Bette is capable of breaking casting barriers and she gives it her best. I've a feeling she probably was glad for the change of pace.Her leading man is an old hand at these kind of films. Robert Montgomery who played many a dapper fellow in light comedies at MGM in the Thirties is teamed with Davis and while it's an odd mix, they do create a few sparks. Montgomery had started doing some more serious stuff before World War II. After World War II he did some heavy dramas like They Were Expendable, Lady In The Lake, and Ride The Pink Horse. This film was a return to his roots.Montgomery is a famous correspondent who's called home by the head of his publication conglomerate, Jerome Cowan whose portrayal seems to be modeled on Henry Luce. Cowan's got a sense of humor, he puts Montgomery to work for old flame Davis who's just been made editor of his woman's publication. Her assignment for Montgomery is to write the feature story of a typical mid west wedding in small town Indiana of a young couple randomly selected. The arrival of Davis, Montgomery and a host of magazine employees disrupts this poor family's life and rearranges things for everyone. Some of that is Montgomery's own deliberate doing as he's trying to rekindle a flame or two from his own past.Though the references in the past from McKinley to Truman date the film somewhat it could probably be remade today. The comedic situations about wedding jitters are certainly eternal and men like Montgomery still pursue women like Davis with zest and abandon.

FilmOtaku When one says that an actor is good in every film they are in, no film personifies this more than Bretaigne Windust's 1948 film "June Bride" in which Bette Davis and Robert Montgomery star as former lovers and boss/subordinate. Davis plays Linda Gilman, a no-nonsense editor of a Home and Life type magazine in New York. Robert Montgomery is Carey Jackson, her new writer and former lover. Three years ago the two were almost ready to get married when he got cold feet and walked out on her. Through zany mishaps he ends up working for her three years later, and the two have not lost their attraction to one another. Linda packs up her staff for Indiana to do a cover story for their June issue, covering a wedding in small-town Midwest, U.S.A. Once there, they have to completely transform the house and the people in it, because they do not meet the cosmopolitan standards of these New Yorkers. Along the way, Carey decides to mix things up a bit when he discovers that the bride is marrying the brother of her ex-fiancée, and her sister is actually in love with the groom-to-be. (Get all that?) Complicating things is the fact that Linda and Carey are falling all over each other, rekindling their romance, which is getting in the way of the task at hand."June Bride" is supposed to be a madcap comedy, but it's just a boring mess. As stated before, there are some actors that are good in every film, and Bette Davis is one of those actors. Her performance was excellent, but the film that she was forced to work in was just plain bad, and her persona in the film hints that she knows it. Robert Montgomery, who is all slapstick in the film without a hint of charm, has absolutely no chemistry with Davis, which leads to a very flat film. The story was dumb, and not charming in the least. Really, the only interesting thing about the film is the director's first name. There's actually not a lot more to say about the film, except that it's too bad that "June Bride" wasn't better, because it was rare for a couple of reasons: It was one of the few Bette Davis comedies and it was one of the few Bette Davis films I had not yet seen. Unfortunately it probably should have stayed that way. 4/10.--Shelly

trpdean As a Hoosier who has lived most of my life in New York, who enjoys both Bette Davis and Robert Montgomery, and was in the mood for a romantic comedy (my local theater had sold out on the Bullock-Grant comedy this evening), I thought this was good. There are a number of funny scenes (including the mistaken understanding regarding the "bust"). I do grow a little tired sometimes of the absurdity of everyone marrying within a few hours on seeing someone they like - very much a 1930s-1940s movie fiction (and never reality) - yet I kind of hoped it would happen here. In reference to the comment below about Robert Montgomery taking a 15 year old over his lap - she's actually supposed to be 18! And I therefore thought he had mixed feelings in doing it!The dialogue here is often very extraordinary - the writer goes on flights of fancy that will make you want to rewind! This is also not a movie whose ending will please the feminists - but that's life. All in all, a good movie with a good plot, fine performances, and enough quite funny scenes to make it enjoyable.

zeula I was looking forward to this movie..... Since, I heard all the praise on this site..... Needless to say, I was disappointed, and I think it was because I had expectation in Bette Davis's acting, and even though this is the first comedy, I've seen her in...... I thought, she could pull it off...... Throughout the movie, Bette acts as though she was in a drama, instead of a comedy..... She says her lines, in absolute witless, and charmless style...... Instead, in a serious, grouchy kind of manner...... (which is her usual style) Overall, Bette's acting was too serious, and her face was hardened most of the time...... She could've eased up a lot...... I have heard comments, that say neither Bette Davis, or Joan Crawford could do comedy...... Believe me, Joan Crawford apparently, has more comedic talent than Bette Davis...... Joan may not be the best comedy actress, but she does displays charm, and wittiness fairly well in her comedic roles....... Robert Montgomery did well, and provided most (all) of the charm, and humor in this movie, next to the stoned Bette Davis...... Their chemistry together was okay...... Though, I must admit, they appear rather odd as a couple...... I think, we'll all prefer that Bette sticks to her dramatic roots......