Quiet Wedding (1941)
9/10
A great U.K. and spirit-lifting comedy during the war
1 June 2021
"Quiet Wedding" is a hilarious British comedy, romance and family foibles film. The cast is superb with several leading roles and a huge array of supporting roles. This April 1941 comedy surely helped lift the wartime spirits of the United Kingdom. And it no doubt was welcome humor in late December in the U. S. A., after it entered the war earlier that month.

While few of the cast might be known or recognized by modern audiences - abroad, and even in the U. K., many of them were prominent actors of their day. All moviegoers of the mid-20th century in the U. K., and many in the U. S. and mainland Europe would have known and been entertained by Margaret Lockwood, Marjorie Fielding, Derek Farr, Athene Shepley, Alfred Matthews, David Tomlinson, Peggy Ashcroft, Margaret Rutherford and others.

The prolific Anthony Asquith directed this film which is based on a British play of the same title, by Esther McCracken. The film has a fantastic courtroom scene with a bobby hilariously repeating the accident discussions word for word. The story is peppered with hilarious situations and the dialog is loaded with very funny lines. Here are some favorites.

Janet's Brother Denys, "Here's another monstsro... I mean present." Janet's Mother, "A center piece. Lovely. Who sent it?" Denys, reading the card, "With love to dear, dear Janet, and may she have blessed happiness. From Auntie Polly and Uncle George. I wonder who gave it to them."

Flower Lisle, "Do you mind if I sit on the floor? I always sit on the floor."

Janet's Mother (Mildred), "This is John's Flower, eh heh, fiancé, I mean."

Flower Lisle, "I must be alone some part of the day. My mind gets so muddled if I'm never alone." Janet's Father, Arthur Royd, "I'm sure it does."

Flower, "Oh, that's perfectly all right. It's the mental attitude that counts. I should be comfortable in a pig sty." Janet's Mother, "Oh, heh, heh, then you should be quite all right in Marcia's room."

Flower Lisle, "You're very beautiful." Dallas Chaytor, "Who, me?" Flower, "Of course, you're a mess of complexes." Dallas, "Oh, am I?" Flower, "I could help you, you know." Dallas, "That's awfully nice of you, but, uh..." Flower, "You must tell me one of your dreams." Dallas, "You... uh, some other time, I think." Flower, "No, now."

Janet's Mother, "But I don't want to gain a daughter." Janet's Father (Arthur), "No?" Mother, "No! Two's quite enough."

Janet's Mother, "This is my husband, John's father, of course." Flower Lisle, "Why of course?" Janet's Father (Arthur), "Why, indeed. But I am, supposedly."

Vicar, "Repeat after me - I, Dallas..." Dallas Chaytor, "I, Dallas..." Vicar, "Take thee, Janet Erlingtrude..." Dallas, "Take thee, Janet, um..." Vicar, "To my wedded wife..." Dallas, "Is your second name Erlingtrude?" Janet Royd, "Yes - any objection?" Dallas, chuckling, "Erlingtrude!"

Aunt Mary, "Now, young man, listen to me. I know more about the workings of a female mind than you will ever know."

Aunt Mary, "Now, listen to me. Every day, twice a day, for the rest of your life, you've got to tell her these two things. A - that you love her. And, B - that she's beautiful. Run along and begin now. Don't let her talk until you've been making love to her for at least half an hour. Get her alone somewhere."

Aunt Mary, "You know, if you go on behaving like the correct English gentleman, there'll be no wedding. Abduct her!"

Aunt Mary, "Come on and apologize." Marcia's Husband (James), "But, I don't know what to apologize for." Aunt Mary, "Well, don't apologize for anything in particular, just apologize."

The Arm of the Law (the bobby), questioning Dallas after his road accident, with Janet as passenger, "I suppose this is your car?" Dallas, "Well, as a matter of fact, kind of funny you should ask that, because uh, well, it isn't. Well, not exactly." Bobby, "I take it you have the owner's permission?" Dallas, "Well, yes, in a manner of speaking, but, uh, I didn't exactly ask him. But I know he wouldn't mind, I mean, I wouldn't if it was my car and he had been me. Which, of course, I admit he isn't, but still uh, you know what I mean?" Bobby, as he continues writing what Dallas says in his notebook, ... "if you know what I mean."

The Arm of the Law (the bobby), "I now charge you with obstruction, driving without a license, driving in a manner dangerous to the public, being in possession of a car not your own property without the owner's permission, defacing a public sign to wit a notice board inscribed with the word 'Thank you', and attempting to obstruct a police officer in the execution of his duties by offering him a sum of money to wit a half a crown."

The Arm of the Law (the bobby), "If you're referring to the magistrates, the bench convenes at ten o'clock, and I shall now add the charge of using obscene language". Dallas, grabbing the bobby's arm, "Now, look here." Bobby, "And furthermore, assaulting and battering a police officer in the execution of his duty."

Boofy Ponsonby, one of two wedding ushers, "I wonder where they keep the plates." Janet's Brother Denys, "We're ushers, old boy. We don't need a plate." Ponsonby, "Oh, I don't know - we might make a little."

Boofy Ponsonby, ushering at the wedding, "Bride or bridegroom?" Magistrate, "What's that?" Janet's Brother Denys, also ushering at the wedding, "Bride or bridegroom?" Magistrate, "Well,, what about them?" Boofy, "No, no - who's friend are you?" Magistrate, "I'm nobody's friend. I'm Sir Robert McFarland." Boofy, to Denys, "Sir Robert McFarland, and nobody's friend."
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