mark.waltz
Long before the original generic product wrapper came tons of formula plots in comedies like this. Some of them were amusing, some of them were obnoxiously forced, but most of them were sadly unfunny. This B grade comedy with an A grade leading lady is sadly one of the later, one of those misfires which makes you wonder how its star got involved in it. In this case, it is Ginger Rogers and the titled groom is Jack Carson, recently free from Warner Brothers. Ms. Rogers was far from a has-been, but her presence in this has signs of desperation.At first, this is a tale of two egos, she an attorney hired by him for legal advice, he a ham western movie star in trouble over gambling debts. They quickly fall in love and marry, but faster than you can say Merman and Borgnine, they realize what a mistake it was. But she isn't willing to let it go so soon and shows up just in time to prevent his bottle breakfast. An effeminate Asian houseboy and a butch housekeeper add to the complications as does the predictable murder of his bookie.The waste of the extremely funny Joan Davis is the film's biggest crime. She has no real purpose here but to add a few wisecracks here and there, mostly towards herself. Charlie Chan's number two son, Victor Sen Young, has an amusing moment when he minces to a record on too high a speed. A finale threatening to rip off the hysterical Fuller Brush Girl never goes there, giving an ending that just lays there.
writers_reign
The most cursory glance at the CVs of the two leads will reveal sound projects both before and after this turkey - Rogers had just shot Storm Warning at Warners and would go on to Monkey Business with Cary Grant at Fox whilst Carson would land a plum supporting role in the best (Judy Garland) version of A Star Is Born three years later. So one can only guess at the desperation/insecurity both must have felt to get involved in this drek. Inconsistencies? Let me count the ways. We're asked to believe that Carson, a major cowboy star who has his own plane, complete with pilot, can't come up with sixty K to get a gangster off his back, that Ginger Rogers, a successful attorney, shares a small apartment with Joan Davis, that savvy, street-smart attorney Rogers would fall for and marry Carson on the strength of one 'business' meeting at his home and one evening together in Vegas. In fact Rogers and Carson made five films together at RKO and this one, at Universal, is the only time he ever wound up with her. This is definitely one to avoid.
wes-connors
Beautiful blonde lawyer Ginger Rogers (as Abigail "AJ" Furnival) arrives to help chubby cowboy star Jack Carson (as Ben Castle) get rid of a Las Vegas gambling debt. Obviously a fan of her client, Ms. Rogers falls in love at first sight, despite Mr. Carson admittedly being "a little slow on the draw." In fact, Carson hates horses... This slow-moving star vehicle didn't advance or sustain anyone's career. Rogers and Carson are appealing but unlikely lovers. More sparks are generated between Rogers and Carson's handsome pilot James Brown (as Steve Hall). But "The Groom Wore Spurs" has moments, especially when hilarious maid Mira McKinney (as Mrs. Forbes) makes the scene. The nicely assembled cast includes future producer Ross Hunter (as Austin Tindale), a bank clerk being seduced by Joan Davis (as Alice Dean), and director Richard Whorf.***** The Groom Wore Spurs (3/14/51) Richard Whorf ~ Ginger Rogers, Jack Carson, Joan Davis, Mira McKinney
annevejb
I am writing this only because there are no IMDb user comments at January 2008. * I got this and A Shriek In The Night 1933 because they are Ginger Rogers, no other reason. Shriek has several detailed comments from people who know that era and they tend to rate it as okay entertainment as well as a useful example of the final days of one particular low budget production company. Also, a glimpse of Ginger before her RKO roles with Fred. The only problem, for me, with Shriek is the sound quality. It gets in the way. * Groom as a bit more mature, and also with okay sound and vision. Still only 4x3 black and white, but it is still a carrier for Ginger. This IMDb page does have a need for some reasonably well informed user comments.
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