The Member of the Wedding

1952
TV-G
1h 33m

IMDb RATING

YOUR RATING

Brandon De Wilde, Arthur Franz, Nancy Gates, Julie Harris, and Ethel Waters in The Member of the Wedding (1952)

Her older brother's wedding forces preteen tomboy Frankie to face her own immaturity.Her older brother's wedding forces preteen tomboy Frankie to face her own immaturity.Her older brother's wedding forces preteen tomboy Frankie to face her own immaturity.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

6.8/10

1.6K

YOUR RATING

See production info at IMDbPro

Nominated for 1 Oscar
- 1 win & 1 nomination total

Photos17

+ 11

Top cast32

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Ethel Waters

Berenice Sadie Brown

Julie Harris

Frankie Addams

Brandon De Wilde

John Henry
(as Brandon de Wilde)

Arthur Franz

Jarvis Addams

Nancy Gates

Janice

William Hansen

Mr. Addams

James Edwards

Honey Camden Brown

Harry Bolden

T.T. Williams

Dickie Moore

Soldier
(as Dick Moore)

Leon Alton

Townsman
(uncredited)

Hugh Beaumont

Minister
(uncredited)

Margaret Bert

Townswoman
(uncredited)

Jeanne Blackford

Townswoman
(uncredited)

Gail Bonney

Townswoman
(uncredited)

Ivan Browning

Porter
(uncredited)

Ann Carter

Doris - Club Girl
(uncredited)

Wheaton Chambers

Man Who Gives Bride Away
(uncredited)

Mary Emery

Townswoman
(uncredited)

Storyline

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Did you know

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Trivia
Julie Harris was 27 when she played 12-year-old Frankie Addams.

Goofs
When Berenice talks about her former husbands, references are made to the thumb of one and the coat of another. These are not explained. In the novel there is an earlier speech that explains their significance. Since the movie was cut, the earlier speech was most likely deleted, leaving the latter references unexplained and puzzling.

Quotes
Frances 'Frankie' Addams: We'll just walk up to people and know them right away. We'll be walking down a dark road, and see a lighted house and knock on the door, and strangers will rush to meet us and say, "Come in! Come in!" We'll know decorated aviators and New York people and movie stars. And we'll have thousands and thousands of friends. We'll belong to so many clubs that we can't even keep track of them all. We'll be members of the WHOLE WORLD!

Alternate versions
About 20 minutes of footage featuring Ethel Walters were originally cut by the studio after the original premiere; the missing scenes were then reinstated in later reissues in the '70s.

Connections
Referenced in Good Times: Florida, the Matchmaker (1974)

Soundtracks
His Eye Is on the Sparrow
(uncredited)
Written by Charles Gabriel and Civilla Martin
Performed by Ethel Waters with Brandon De Wilde & Julie Harris

User reviews34

Review

Featured review

4/10

Over rated Harris performance

I will admit that viewing a 1952 film from a 2007 perspective might be clouding my opinion. Julie Harris' "Frankie" is overplayed and ruins the entire piece. I attempted to look past the fact that she is supposed to be only 12. C'mon, even in 1951/52 Julie could never pass for a 12-year-old, maybe 18. Directors often ask the audience to suspend their beliefs and imaginations - but this is too much to ask regarding Ms. Harris. Yes, the dialog is effective. It is interesting considering certain episodes within the film. For instance, 10-year-old John Henry's proclivities toward cross-dressing. Daring I must say for the time? Ms. Walter's presentation (considering she had to buffer the over-dramatic Harris) is excellent. Little Brandon also holds his own. Maybe as a stage presentation it worked - but as "one of the great films" in cinema history - forget it.