''I Was a Mail Order Bride'' is a 1982 American

made-for-television A television film, alternatively known as a television movie, made-for-TV film/movie or TV film/movie, is a feature-length film that is produced and originally distributed by or to a television network, in contrast to theatrical films made fo ...

romantic comedy Romantic comedy (also known as romcom or rom-com) is a subgenre of comedy and slice of life fiction, focusing on lighthearted, humorous plot lines centered on romantic ideas, such as how true love is able to surmount most obstacles. In a typica ...

film directed by Marvin J. Chomsky and starring

Valerie Bertinelli Valerie Anne Bertinelli (born April 23, 1960) is an American actress. She first achieved recognition as a child actress, portraying Barbara Cooper Royer on the sitcom '' One Day at a Time'' (1975–1984) for which she won two Golden Globe Award ...

and

Ted Wass Edward Wass (born October 27, 1952) is an American television director and former actor. He is best known for his roles as Danny Dallas on the series ''Soap'' (1977–1981) and as Nick Russo on the NBC sitcom ''Blossom'' (1991–1995). After '' ...

Plot

Kate Tosconi is a journalist in her early 20s working in Chicago for a women's magazine called ''Contemporary Woman Magazine''. Having a special interest for trains, she is enthusiastic to do an article on rail transport. However, her boss Dottie Birmington only allows her to do the piece if she also does an article on mail-order brides. She reluctantly places an advertisement, which is responded by Robert Fitzgerald. Robert is a successful business man in L.A. who constantly competes with his business partner Joe Kimbel. For his latest bet, Robert is challenged to take in a mail-order bride and not have sex with her for two weeks. Soon, Kate packs her bags and travels to Los Angeles, where she takes an immediate interest in Robert. She notices that he is a nice guy and feels guilty about using him for an article. They eventually fall in love with each other and Kate cancels the article. While drunk one night, Robert is taken home by Kate. She attempts to seduce him, but he falls asleep. The next day, she jokes about having had sex with him. Robert, thinking he has lost the bet, admits to the whole truth. Kate is furious about having been a part of a bet and refuses to believe his claims that he has fallen in love with her in the meantime. She immediately returns home and writes an offensive article on Robert. When he reads the article, he is outraged and sues her for libel. In court, they are initially mad at each other, but they soon realize they still love each other. Robert wins the case, after which Kate has to give him a written apology. After doing this, she returns home. Robert, however, is encouraged by Kate's father to go after her and he is able to climb on the train. In the end, they kiss each other.

Cast

as Katarina "Kate" Tosconi *

as Robert Fitzgerald *Kenneth Kimmins as Joe Kimbel * Karen Morrow as Eve Whister *

Holland Taylor Holland Virginia Taylor (born January 14, 1943) is an American actress. She won the 1999 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series for her role as Judge Roberta Kittleson on ABC's ''The Practice'' (1998–2003). ...

as Dottie Birmington *

Sam Wanamaker Samuel Wanamaker, (born Wattenmacker; June 14, 1919 – December 18, 1993) was an American actor and director who moved to the United Kingdom after becoming fearful of being blacklisted in Hollywood due to his communist views. He is credited a ...

as Frank Tosconi * Jack Collins as Archibald Trucker *

Jason Bernard Jason Bernard (born Ronald Carl Johnson, May 17, 1938 – October 16, 1996) was an American actor. Life and career Bernard was born in Chicago, Illinois. His first starring role was in the pilot episode of the television series '' The White ...

as Judge * Judith Baldwin as Rita Kimbel

Reception

Reviewer Fred Rothenberg wrote that the film was "a standard television vehicle" and "totally implausable, halfway diverting"."Mediocrity batters 'Mail Order Bride'" by Fred Rothenberg. ''

Lawrence Journal-World The ''Lawrence Journal-World'' is a daily newspaper published in Lawrence, Kansas, United States, by Ogden Newspapers. History Though the ''Journal-World'' title came into existence in 1911, the paper dates itself to 1858, according to the v ...

'', December 14, 1982. p. 27 He furthermore complained about Wass and Bertinelli's character's "charade reminiscent in style, but not substance", and continued: "The premise is weak but has enough fluffy charm to sustain early attention. It's never an intelligent farce, though, opting for pie-in-the-face philosophy rather than cleverness. .One major problem of the film is that this unconventional farce too quickly forgets the building relationship for the dissolving one." Nevertheless, the movie was the ninth-most viewed prime time show in the United States for the week of its release.Holsopple, Barbara (22 December 1982)
IF CBS
''Pittsburgh Press''

References

External links

* {{Marvin J. Chomsky 1982 television films 1982 films 1982 romantic comedy films American romantic comedy films Films directed by Marvin J. Chomsky 1980s American films 1980s English-language films