Movie spotlight
When We Are Married
Three married couples discover that, through a legal technicality, they are, in fact, not actually married in the eyes of the law. This was the third version broadcast by the BBC of this J.B. Priestley play. It was aired live but as the BBC very rarely recorded live transmissions prior to 1953, this programme is lost.
Insights
Plot Summary
In a small English town, four couples who have been married for 20 years discover their marriages are invalid due to a clerical error. They must decide whether to go through with the wedding ceremony again, leading to a series of comedic complications and reflections on their long-standing unions.
Critical Reception
The 1951 film adaptation of J.B. Priestley's play received a generally mild reception, appreciated for its lighthearted comedic premise and performances, though some critics found it to be a rather stagey and predictable affair. It served as a modest entertainment piece for its time.
What Reviewers Say
The film's humor is derived from the premise of rediscovered romance and the awkwardness of repeating a wedding.
Performances, particularly from the ensemble cast, are noted as a strong point.
Some found the pacing and direction to be a bit too conventional, adhering closely to its theatrical origins.
Google audience: Audience reception data for this specific film from 1951 is not readily available on Google platforms.
Fun Fact
The play 'When We Are Married' by J.B. Priestley, on which this film is based, is set in the fictional Yorkshire town of Kettlewell.
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