An odd choice of leading man, Clifton Webb nevertheless was a major star at 20th Century Fox, starting out in character roles in films such as Laura and The Razor's Edge and then elevated to leads in a number of films. Though he often was cast in the role of a stuffy, snobbish, sarcastic man, Webb was an excellent actor and played other types of roles, such as in Titanic, beautifully.
In 1951's Elopement, he's in a typical role: an industrial designer whose daughter (Anne Francis) is perfect, according to him, and can do no wrong. She's brilliant in academics and sports and is en route to Sweden to study with an expert in industrial design for three years. On the night she graduates from college, however, Jake, as her parents (Webb and Margalo Gilmore) call her, elopes with Matt Reagan (William Lundigan), to the dismay of her parents. -- and his (Charles Bickford and Evelyn Vardan).
Both families take off for Dearfield, MD, where the couple is headed, and they have a visiting friend of Jake's family (Reginald Gardner) in tow, as well as the Reagans' youngest son.
Meanwhile, Jake is having second thoughts.
Cute comedy if slight, with nice performances all around. Francis at 21 is young and pretty and played many starlet roles at Fox before settling into a TV career, and she and Lundigan make an attractive couple. The best scenes are between the parents as they get to know one another.
Enjoyable.
In 1951's Elopement, he's in a typical role: an industrial designer whose daughter (Anne Francis) is perfect, according to him, and can do no wrong. She's brilliant in academics and sports and is en route to Sweden to study with an expert in industrial design for three years. On the night she graduates from college, however, Jake, as her parents (Webb and Margalo Gilmore) call her, elopes with Matt Reagan (William Lundigan), to the dismay of her parents. -- and his (Charles Bickford and Evelyn Vardan).
Both families take off for Dearfield, MD, where the couple is headed, and they have a visiting friend of Jake's family (Reginald Gardner) in tow, as well as the Reagans' youngest son.
Meanwhile, Jake is having second thoughts.
Cute comedy if slight, with nice performances all around. Francis at 21 is young and pretty and played many starlet roles at Fox before settling into a TV career, and she and Lundigan make an attractive couple. The best scenes are between the parents as they get to know one another.
Enjoyable.