or Son of the Bride or How Louisa got her grove back. But certainly every little breeze-a whispers Louisa here as the lovely widow Spring Byington finds that as she sings her own September Song, she's certain to end up being a December Bride. At first, Louisa is the rather nagging intruder into the Ronald Reagan home, having moved in with her son several months before and pretty much taking over thanks to the consternation of his wife Ruth Hussey, daughter Piper Laurie and son Jimmy Hunt. After Reagan basically tells mom to "lighten up", she does just that, and ends up with the affections of two men: a widowed grocer (Edmund Gwenn) and Reagan's fun-loving boss (Charles Coburn). It is Gwenn who at first sweeps Byington off her feet and they are all but officially engaged when Coburn steps into the picture and sees Cupid's arrow from the first time he spots her. Gwenn and Coburn may not be dashing matinée idols, but they are determined in their efforts to outwit the other and win the lovely lady for them-self.
Both men are amusing in their comical efforts to play Don Juan, and when Coburn outwits Gwenn by taking Byington on a picnic near a flower-covered pond, you almost think he's got it made. But Gwenn has a few tricks up his sleeve, and even if Coburn and Byington can win a limbo contest (outdoing even the teen-aged lovers entered in this country club competition), Gwenn can always use sympathy as a way of winning his lady fair back. It is difficult to choose who Byington will end up with, but it is safe to say that the conclusion is believable and most satisfactory. Some witty lines are provided by that veteran maid character actress, Connie Gilchrist, and handsome Scotty Beckett is funny as Laurie's boyfriend who sincerely believes that he is smarter than all of the adults in his girlfriend's family. Future "Emergency!" star Martin Milner is instantly recognizable as Beckett's competition for Laurie's affections.
A step above the usual situation comedy style film, this is a perfect companion picture for the same year's "Father of the Bride", and Reagan, while no match for Spencer Tracy in the acting department, is appropriately confused and bewildered as he deals with the fact that his mother has a few surprises up her sleeve that he hadn't anticipated when bringing her into his home. Byington goes from nagging widow to love-starved romantic with easy grace and gives a performance that will make you look at your own widowed parents with wonder that they might still have more life than their children believed them to possess.
Both men are amusing in their comical efforts to play Don Juan, and when Coburn outwits Gwenn by taking Byington on a picnic near a flower-covered pond, you almost think he's got it made. But Gwenn has a few tricks up his sleeve, and even if Coburn and Byington can win a limbo contest (outdoing even the teen-aged lovers entered in this country club competition), Gwenn can always use sympathy as a way of winning his lady fair back. It is difficult to choose who Byington will end up with, but it is safe to say that the conclusion is believable and most satisfactory. Some witty lines are provided by that veteran maid character actress, Connie Gilchrist, and handsome Scotty Beckett is funny as Laurie's boyfriend who sincerely believes that he is smarter than all of the adults in his girlfriend's family. Future "Emergency!" star Martin Milner is instantly recognizable as Beckett's competition for Laurie's affections.
A step above the usual situation comedy style film, this is a perfect companion picture for the same year's "Father of the Bride", and Reagan, while no match for Spencer Tracy in the acting department, is appropriately confused and bewildered as he deals with the fact that his mother has a few surprises up her sleeve that he hadn't anticipated when bringing her into his home. Byington goes from nagging widow to love-starved romantic with easy grace and gives a performance that will make you look at your own widowed parents with wonder that they might still have more life than their children believed them to possess.