The Catered Affair (1956)
- Starring:
- Bette Davis, Ernest Borgnine, (more)
- Director(s):
- Richard Brooks
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- NR
My RatingRent DVD by Mail
Synopsis of The Catered Affair
Bette Davis goes the "kitchen sink drama" route in The Catered Affair. As the frowsy wife of Bronx cabdriver Ernest Borgnine, Davis insists that her daughter Debbie Reynolds have a high-class wedding--caterers and all. Reynolds and future hubby Rod Taylor want a simple ceremony, but Davis' mind is made up. The wedding snowballs into an unwieldy affair as Davis and Borgnine find that they must invite everyone they know or risk incurring the wrath of their neighborhood. When the cost of the affair exceeds the family's bank account, Davis rails at Borgnine for failing to be a good provider. It takes her till the very end of the film to realize what a fool she's been. Gore Vidal, of all people, adapted The Catered Affair from a TV drama written by Paddy Chayefsky; the original telecast had starred Thelma Ritter. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Complete Cast of The Catered Affair
- Bette Davis - Mrs. Tom Hurley
- Debbie Reynolds - Jane Hurley
- Rod Taylor - Ralph Halloran
- Madge Kennedy - Mrs. Halloran
- Carol Veazie - Mrs. Casey
- Ray Stricklyn - Eddie Hurley
- Dan Tobin - Caterer
- Augusta Merighi - Mrs. Musso
- Jack Kenny
- Jimmy Fox - Tailor
- Bob Stephenson
- Ernest Borgnine - Tom Hurley
- Barry Fitzgerald - Uncle Jack Conlon
- Robert Simon - Mr. Halloran
- Dorothy Stickney - Mrs. Rafferty
- Joan Camden - Alice
- Jay Adler - Sam Leiter
- Paul Denton - Bill
- Mae Clarke - Saleswoman
- Don Devlin - Taxi driver
- Sammy Shack - Cabbie
- Director(s):
- Richard Brooks
- Writer(s):
- Paddy Chayefsky, Gore Vidal
- Producer(s):
- Sam Zimbalist
- Theatrical MPAA Rating:
- NR(Suitable for Children)
- 1956 - National Board of Review - Best Supporting Actress
- Looking for special editions of The Catered Affair?
- See All Versions
- Subtitles:
- Check All Versions
- Closed Captioning:
- Check All Versions






