The Wedding Night (1935)

Gary Cooper does it again

The Wedding Night

Another great movie from the legendary actor Gary Cooper, can this guy make a bad movie? A really pleasant way to pass the afternoon or evening. August 15, 2008

What a gift

I got this for my niece for her wedding shower. She loves old movies and I thought what a perfect gift for her for her wedding shower gift. She really got a kick out of my sense of humor it being so creative in part of my gift to her and her new husband. July 29, 2008

touching, bittersweet romantic drama

Gary Cooper delivers one of his most gentle, understated performances in THE WEDDING NIGHT (directed in 1935 by King Vidor, and based on a story by Edwin H. Knopf). He's perfectly paired with Anna Sten, the lovely Russian actress who never quite fulfilled her potential in Hollywood.

Struggling New York writer Tony Barrett (Gary Cooper) moves back to his family home in Connecticut. There, he becomes friends with a group of Polish emigrees, in particular Manya (Anna Sten). Quite soon, the friendship of Tony and Manya blossoms into a forbidden romance, until the re-appearance of Tony's wife (Helen Vinson) and the wedding plans set by Manya's tradition-bound family threaten to tear them apart...

For fans of Gary Cooper, THE WEDDING NIGHT will provide another side of the versatile actor, who managed to effortlessly shift between drama, comedy and western roles in his early career. Anna Sten is heartbreaking as Manya, a character which might well have become too sweet or sentimental in the hands of a lesser actress.

Russian-born Anna Sten was brought to Hollywood by producer Samuel Goldwyn, who attempted to groom her as a leading lady to rival the likes of Greta Garbo and Marlene Dietrich. She made her American debut in 1934's "Nana"; THE WEDDING NIGHT is arguably the best film Sten appeared in during her relatively-brief Hollywood career. Precious few of her movies have surfaced on DVD (We Live Again and Exile Express are the only ones that I know of apart from THE WEDDING NIGHT).

It's wonderful having this superb movie on DVD. It's been released as part of the MGM Movie Legends series along with three more Gary Cooper favourites (The Adventures of Marco Polo, Ball of Fire, and Casanova Brown). March 19, 2008

Excellent performances!

A surprising performance by all. This Movie ages well unlike a lot of other films of this era. December 26, 2007

ANNA STEN - A REVELATION

I concur with what has already been said about this tender 'sleeper', and can only add that Anna Sten has a few moments that remain breathtakingly fresh more than 75 yrs later. Cooper is of course his wonderful self. Helen Vinson is much too one-note, in a thankless role. It is Sten who really knocks your socks off - and Vidor's direction, too, is splendid. July 23, 2007

More reviews at Amazon.com ...