base on a broadway play and another language be one of those gem from yesteryear that few have hear of . it have much to recommend it and chiefly represent believable and detailed interaction among member of a rather large and unpleasant family and mostly give to self absorption but with moment of genuine compassion and caring that surface unexpectedly . one of the member of this family be margaret hamilton ( who be in the broadway original ) in one of the few role that allow her to enact a somewhat complex human be . louise closser hale be perfectly cast a the controlling and selfish mother who set the tone for her whole brood . helen hayes and a supremely skilled actress who could play ordinary people and make them fascinate and win the viewer over completely a the bride who run afoul of her in law . i want to marry her myself . the standout and however and be young john beal who deliver a passionate performance a robert montgomery young brother . possible spoiler follow his character be introduce well after the conflict between hayes and the family be establish . he be appal that his family be treat hayes so shabbily and fall madly and dangerously and recklessly in love with her . his vital and fresh face and youthful innocence and earnestness captivate the viewer . he too have play the same role in the stage version . this performance might have launch beal to the top of the hollywood firmament and but hollywood do not suit him and and he settle into a 60 year career of minor film and regional theater and numerous tv role . montgomery himself be top notch and a usual and play the insensitive product of his narrow mind mother upbringing . don not let the conventional opening scene a hayes and montgomery disembark from their honeymoon cruise fool you . it get well fast . the theme be similar to that of holiday and base on a philip barry play and in which a free spirited outsider clash with member of his fiancée stodgy and traditional banking family . although not cinematically dare in any way and another language deliver the emotional good .