QUICK LET'S GET MARRIED

US, 1966, 96 minutes, Colour.
Ginger Rogers, Ray Milland, Elliot Gould, Barbara Eden.
Directed by William Diertele.

Quick Let's Get Married is a mid 60s comedy that sat on the shelf for many years. It was directed by veteran William Diertele (The biographies of Emile Zola, Louis Pasteur, Juarez).

The film is odder in so far as it has an Italian setting with actors like Ray Milland and Ginger Rogers meant to be Italians. However, the tone is farcical, plays on Italian religion - and love for miracles. It also has Gospel overtones with the reformed prostitute as well as the reformed money dealer.

Ray Milland and Ginger Rogers are veterans at this kind of thing (a quarter of a century after The Major and the Minor and Lady in the Dark). Barbara Eden and her husband Michael Ansara appear at the beginning of their careers (soon to be so successful in television). The film also introduces Elliot Gould as a mute.

1. Entertaining comedy? Farce? Americans impersonating Italians?

2. Italian locations? the village? The churches and statues? The sense of realism with the American cast counterbalancing it? (And the film sitting on the shelves for many years?)

3. The title, the focus on Pia and her condition? The relationship between Mario and Madame Rinaldi? The prostitutes and their suitors?

4. The basic situation: Mario, petty criminal, his self-importance, the contact with the news about the treasure, the deals, his decision to go? Arriving in the town, setting up base, relationship with Madame Rinaldi, attractions, clashes, her bedroom, the affair? The digging in the church? The discovery of the coins? Hearing Pia and her prayer - and his compulsion to be the voice of St Joseph? The consequences? Telling Madame Rinaldi? The Mayor going - and their listening to him speaking to him? The banker and the toppling of the statue? The confusion in the town, Mario and his concern for Pia? His relationship with Madame Rinaldi and their deciding to take, the coins as well as the treasure? Driving out of town, the car, going over the cliff and loosing everything? The nonchalant ending? Ray Milland and this kind of comedy?

5. Ginger Rogers as Madame Rinaldi, the brothel, her role as the Madame, tough, heart of gold, treatment of the girls. visitors? Her harshness with Pia and her pregnancy? Suspicions of Mario? Welcoming him, listening to the whole story, the religious and non-religious touches? Confronting the Mayor? The treasure, listening to the prayers Going off with the treasure? Losing it all?

6. Pia, the innocent prostitute, pregnant by her boyfriend? Not wanting to be a prostitute, praying to St Joseph, sleeping in the open, being heard by Mario, prayers being answered, hearing the voice, getting the coins? Taking them to Madame Rinaldi? Her conversion, the transformation of the town? Trying to persuade her boyfriend not to go to America? Her influencing others, the realization of the hoax, explanations? The happy marriage and the boyfriends' change of heart? The boyfriend, man about town, his friendship with the mute, wanting to go to America, ticket, the money, changing his mind? Elliot Gould as the mute friend?

7. The Mayor, his wife, the committees, their wanting to get rid of Pia? The money deals? The Mayor and his change of heart, praying at the statue, the speech and giving all his money back? Peace of mind? The deals with the banker, the banker and his shrewdness, his wanting peace of mind, his prayer and the collapse of the statue? The irony of the discovery of the cross?

8. The presentation of the girls at work in the brothel, in the Italian town? The psychiatrist coming in to examine Pia - and his being ambushed by the girls? The farmer suitor and his proposal to Gina, the marriage?

9. The Bishop, his not being too bright, his advisor, the discussions about the coins, the treasure, the visions? Going in procession - and the discovery of the cross?

10. Light hearted caper - satisfying or not?