The Groom Wore Spurs

Western star Wild Ben Castle isn't half the man he portrays in his films - he can't sing, doesn't like horses, and worst of all is a womanizing scoundrel and hopeless gambler. When he loses $60,000 in a game of dice with Vegas mogul Harry Callan, he retains the services of attorney Abigail Jane Fernival to get him off the hook. Fernival is a gifted negotiator, but Wild Ben chose her for a different reason - her father was an old friend of Callan's. Callan forgives the debt when Castle charms Abigail into a whirlwind marriage just 12 hours after they first meet. The newlyweds return home, and Abigail realizes she's been a dupe and seeks to annul the marriage. But when Callan is murdered and Castle named as the only suspect, the couple are pulled back together and the fight for Wild Ben's life forces them both to realize their true feelings for each other.

A hilarious send up of Hollywood excess, The Groom Wore Spurs combines slapstick humor, parody, and an exciting murder mystery. Ginger Rogers is as graceful and flawless as always, and Jack Carson (Mildred Pierce, A Star is Born) puts forth an excellent performance as well.

• comedy