- Published on
Two sisters fight for the same man.
Olive Borden in Exhibitors Herald World (Oct 19, 1929)
Date of Release: Dec 29, 1929
Studio: First National
Director: William Beaudine
Screenplay: Ray Harris
Music: Al Bryan, Eddie Ward
Leading Actors: H. B. Warner (Lewis Dike), Lois Wilson (Cornelia Quinn), Olive Borden (Eve Quinn), Hallam Cooley (Wilfred Meadows), James Ford (Tom Hazelton), Kathlyn Williams (Agatha), Aileen Manning (Esther Quinn)
The Engagement
Wedding Rings was based on the book The Dark Swan (1924) by Ernest Pascal. English-born Pascal was a prolific writer who penned novels, Broadway plays and Hollywood screenplays. The Shirley Temple films Wee Willie Winke (1937) and The Blue Bird (1940) are among his forty screenwriting credits.
The story of Wedding Rings followed two sisters, Eve Quinn (Olive Borden), a flapper, and Cornelia Quinn (Lois Wilson), a “good girl.” Eve is forever stealing men away from Cornelia and it’s all fun and games until they meet Lewis Dike (H.B. Warner), a wealthy man. Olive falls in love with Lewis, but Eve succeeds in marrying him. Tired of Eve’s manipulations, Olive plots to break the newlyweds apart. All ends happily.
Variety thought the story trite, though felt the sister plotting to take away her sibling’s husband was “the “daring” modern angle" that "could be exploited.”
The Big Day and Reception
Opening on December 29, 1929 in New York, Wedding Rings played to strong houses around the country. Not everyone was happy with the film, as Exhibitors Herald World (Jan 4, 1930) reported, the censor in Ohio had the film banned and stated that “The picture will have to have to be entirely remade if shown.” No reason was given for the ban.
The critics gave Wedding Rings mixed reviews. The Film Daily described it as “highly entertaining” while Motion Picture News claimed it was “very dull and entirely too talkative.” Variety noted that the film was “beautifully acted and splendidly staged,” but described it as “dull.” A modern day reviewer on IMDb called the surviving reels "dead boring."
The Wedding Party
Variety praised the visuals of the production, and some of the credit must go to costume designer Edward Stevenson. Archives held at ISU Special Collections Digital Projects provide tantalizing descriptions of Stevenson’s designs for the film.
Stevenson worked for Fox, Columbia, First National, and eventually RKO, and became famous for designing beautiful gowns. In addition to his screen work, Stevenson ran a clothing boutique that catered to Hollywood’s most fashionable starlets. His work appeared in over two hundred films and television shows including Citizen Kane (1941), It’s A Wonderful Life (1946), The Lucy Show (1962-1968), and The Facts of Life (1960), the latter for which he won an Oscar.
Director William Beaudine, who had also directed The Girl from Woolworths, received generally positive reviews. After starting out as a silent film actor, Beaudine went on to become one of the most prolific directors of his time. He directed over 300 films and films and television shows, working in the UK and America, and for most of the major studios. Although he gained a reputation for low-budget films, he was highly respected within the industry for his efficiency and economical style of directing.
Variety felt actor H.B. Warner was miscast in his role. The Film Daily, however, gave him high praise stating “H.B. Warner adds another floral token to his bounty of successful and dramatically engrossing performances.” Born in England, Warner started out as a stage actor and worked on Broadway for over twenty years. He began working in film during the silent era, and made a successful transition to talkies, appearing in over 130 films. His credits include Mr. Deeds Goes to Washington (1936), It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), and Sunset Boulevard (1950).
The two female leads Lois Wilson was a much loved and highly regarded actress of stage and screen whose work spanned over four decades. She appeared in over 150 films including The Show of Shows (1929), Bright Eyes (1934), The Girl from Jones Beach (1949) and Guiding Light (1952).
In 1925 Olive Borden was named a WAMPAS Baby Star and quickly became a celebrated leading lady of the silent screen. Known as the “The Joy Girl,” Borden did not make a happy transition to talkies, and retired in 1934.
The Music
Wedding Rings was slated to feature three songs however it appears only two made the final cut – "Love Will Last Forever," a ballad, and "That's My Business," an up-tempo jazz number. Lois Wilson sang the ballad, while Olive Borden sang the jazz number. Variety stated “That’s My Business” was “nicely handled” and “likely to get some circulation.”
Both songs were composed by Al Bryan and Eddie Ward, who had previously worked together on The Show of Shows. Al Bryan frequently collaborated with Fred Fisher, and some of his well-known songs include “Come Josephine in my Flying Machine,” the popular antiwar song “I Didn’t Raise My Boy to be a Soldier,” and “Oui, Oui, Marie.” He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970. His other credits from 1929 include The Wolf Song, Broadway Babies, The Girl from Woolworths, and Paris.
Eddie Ward was a prolific composer who worked extensively in Hollywood for over four decades. He was nominated seven times for an Academy Award for Best Music or Best Scoring. His film credits include The Show of Shows (1929), No, No, Nanette (1930), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (1935), The Women (1939), and Phantom of the Opera (1944).
It Didn't Last
Only 18 minutes worth of Wedding Rings survives, with the other reels deteriorating or missing altogether. Perhaps it's for the best this musical is no longer available...
Studio: First National
Director: William Beaudine
Screenplay: Ray Harris
Music: Al Bryan, Eddie Ward
Leading Actors: H. B. Warner (Lewis Dike), Lois Wilson (Cornelia Quinn), Olive Borden (Eve Quinn), Hallam Cooley (Wilfred Meadows), James Ford (Tom Hazelton), Kathlyn Williams (Agatha), Aileen Manning (Esther Quinn)
The Engagement
Wedding Rings was based on the book The Dark Swan (1924) by Ernest Pascal. English-born Pascal was a prolific writer who penned novels, Broadway plays and Hollywood screenplays. The Shirley Temple films Wee Willie Winke (1937) and The Blue Bird (1940) are among his forty screenwriting credits.
The story of Wedding Rings followed two sisters, Eve Quinn (Olive Borden), a flapper, and Cornelia Quinn (Lois Wilson), a “good girl.” Eve is forever stealing men away from Cornelia and it’s all fun and games until they meet Lewis Dike (H.B. Warner), a wealthy man. Olive falls in love with Lewis, but Eve succeeds in marrying him. Tired of Eve’s manipulations, Olive plots to break the newlyweds apart. All ends happily.
Variety thought the story trite, though felt the sister plotting to take away her sibling’s husband was “the “daring” modern angle" that "could be exploited.”
The Big Day and Reception
Opening on December 29, 1929 in New York, Wedding Rings played to strong houses around the country. Not everyone was happy with the film, as Exhibitors Herald World (Jan 4, 1930) reported, the censor in Ohio had the film banned and stated that “The picture will have to have to be entirely remade if shown.” No reason was given for the ban.
The critics gave Wedding Rings mixed reviews. The Film Daily described it as “highly entertaining” while Motion Picture News claimed it was “very dull and entirely too talkative.” Variety noted that the film was “beautifully acted and splendidly staged,” but described it as “dull.” A modern day reviewer on IMDb called the surviving reels "dead boring."
The Wedding Party
Variety praised the visuals of the production, and some of the credit must go to costume designer Edward Stevenson. Archives held at ISU Special Collections Digital Projects provide tantalizing descriptions of Stevenson’s designs for the film.
Stevenson worked for Fox, Columbia, First National, and eventually RKO, and became famous for designing beautiful gowns. In addition to his screen work, Stevenson ran a clothing boutique that catered to Hollywood’s most fashionable starlets. His work appeared in over two hundred films and television shows including Citizen Kane (1941), It’s A Wonderful Life (1946), The Lucy Show (1962-1968), and The Facts of Life (1960), the latter for which he won an Oscar.
Director William Beaudine, who had also directed The Girl from Woolworths, received generally positive reviews. After starting out as a silent film actor, Beaudine went on to become one of the most prolific directors of his time. He directed over 300 films and films and television shows, working in the UK and America, and for most of the major studios. Although he gained a reputation for low-budget films, he was highly respected within the industry for his efficiency and economical style of directing.
Variety felt actor H.B. Warner was miscast in his role. The Film Daily, however, gave him high praise stating “H.B. Warner adds another floral token to his bounty of successful and dramatically engrossing performances.” Born in England, Warner started out as a stage actor and worked on Broadway for over twenty years. He began working in film during the silent era, and made a successful transition to talkies, appearing in over 130 films. His credits include Mr. Deeds Goes to Washington (1936), It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), and Sunset Boulevard (1950).
The two female leads Lois Wilson was a much loved and highly regarded actress of stage and screen whose work spanned over four decades. She appeared in over 150 films including The Show of Shows (1929), Bright Eyes (1934), The Girl from Jones Beach (1949) and Guiding Light (1952).
In 1925 Olive Borden was named a WAMPAS Baby Star and quickly became a celebrated leading lady of the silent screen. Known as the “The Joy Girl,” Borden did not make a happy transition to talkies, and retired in 1934.
The Music
Wedding Rings was slated to feature three songs however it appears only two made the final cut – "Love Will Last Forever," a ballad, and "That's My Business," an up-tempo jazz number. Lois Wilson sang the ballad, while Olive Borden sang the jazz number. Variety stated “That’s My Business” was “nicely handled” and “likely to get some circulation.”
Both songs were composed by Al Bryan and Eddie Ward, who had previously worked together on The Show of Shows. Al Bryan frequently collaborated with Fred Fisher, and some of his well-known songs include “Come Josephine in my Flying Machine,” the popular antiwar song “I Didn’t Raise My Boy to be a Soldier,” and “Oui, Oui, Marie.” He was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1970. His other credits from 1929 include The Wolf Song, Broadway Babies, The Girl from Woolworths, and Paris.
Eddie Ward was a prolific composer who worked extensively in Hollywood for over four decades. He was nominated seven times for an Academy Award for Best Music or Best Scoring. His film credits include The Show of Shows (1929), No, No, Nanette (1930), The Mystery of Edwin Drood (1935), The Women (1939), and Phantom of the Opera (1944).
It Didn't Last
Only 18 minutes worth of Wedding Rings survives, with the other reels deteriorating or missing altogether. Perhaps it's for the best this musical is no longer available...
0 Comments