Watch The Wedding Present

The Wedding Present is a romantic comedy movie from 1936 starring Joan Bennett, Cary Grant, and George Bancroft. The plot revolves around Charlie Mason (Cary Grant), a newspaper cartoonist and painter, who is in love with Rusty Fleming (Joan Bennett), a newspaper reporter. Despite his feelings, Charlie is too shy to confess his love to Rusty. However, this changes when he discovers that Rusty is engaged to his best friend, Duffy (Conrad Nagel).

Desperate to win Rusty's love, Charlie comes up with a plan to sabotage her relationship with Duffy. He employs the help of a gangster, Jammey (George Bancroft), to create a scandal involving Rusty and Duffy. However, things do not go according to plan, and Charlie ends up getting into trouble with the law. As a result, Rusty starts to see him in a different light and realizes that he might be the man she has been looking for all along.

The movie delivers a hilarious and engaging story filled with witty dialogue and excellent performances from the cast. Joan Bennett shines as Rusty Fleming, the independent and career-driven reporter, who is torn between two men. She portrays her character with a perfect blend of strength, vulnerability, and wit. Cary Grant, on the other hand, delivers a brilliant performance as Charlie Mason, the lovable but flawed artist who will stop at nothing to win Rusty's heart.

George Bancroft brings his usual gravitas to the role of Jammey, the gangster who helps Charlie with his plan. His presence onscreen brings a sense of danger and unpredictability to the movie, keeping the audience engaged throughout.

The movie boasts excellent pacing, thanks to the director, Richard Wallace, who keeps the story moving smoothly from one scene to the next. The screenplay also deserves special mention for its engaging dialogue and witty one-liners that land perfectly.

Another highlight of the movie is its visual style, with the cinematographer, Ted Tetzlaff, capturing the glamour and elegance of the 1930s with a touch of whimsy. The art direction and costume design are also noteworthy, with attention paid to even the smallest details.

Overall, The Wedding Present is a delightful movie that delivers on all fronts, thanks to its engaging story, witty dialogue, and excellent performances from the cast. It is a timeless classic that continues to charm audiences even today.

The Wedding Present is a 2012 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 25 minutes. It has received moderate reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.2.