Here Comes the Groom (1951)

When one looks at the talent involved -- especially legendary director Frank Capra and leading man Bing Crosby -- Here Comes the Groom is inevitably disappointing. And the movie has more than its share of flaws, including a screenplay that too often wanders away from its otherwise well-structured plot to include some unnecessary diversionary numbers (such as "Misto Christofo Columbo" and an operatic showpiece for the lovely Anna Maria Alberghetti). These numbers aren't entertaining, with the former benefiting from cameos by the likes of Louis Armstrong and Phil Harris, and the latter from the exceptionally fine voice of Alberghetti, but they needlessly take us away from the story at hand. The story itself is handicapped with any number of scenes that are just a little too sentimental -- the famous "Capra-corn" touch, but without the magic that makes the sentiment ring true. And there's some inexplicably choppy editing and unforgivably poor stunt doubling, especially in the fight between Jane Wyman and Alexis Smith. Still, if one approaches the picture not expecting another It Happened One Night, one will find it reasonably enjoyable, and occasionally much more. The "In the Cool, Cool, Cool of the Evening" sequence, for example, features not only an Academy Award-winning song, but delightful staging throughout an office building, as well as Crosby's customarily expert singing and Wyman's surprisingly effective way with a tune. Crosby, Wyman and Franchot Tone all turn in fine performances all around, and Alexis Smith does considerably more than that. Although Groom is nothing to write home about, it's pleasant and undemanding. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide