How to Commit Marriage is a 1969 comedy film directed by Norman Panama, featuring Bob Hope and Jackie Gleason in their only movie together. The film also stars Jane Wyman as Hope's wife, Tina Louise as record-producer Gleason's love interest, Leslie Nielsen as the straight man, and Irwin Corey as a guru. A highlight of the film is a golf game filmed at Lakeside Golf Club in Burbank, California.

Above-average Hope fare about a once model couple who, after nineteen years of apparent bliss, have decided to call it quits. The only trouble is that no one remembered to call their daughter. The fun begins when she arrives home with plans to marry Gleason's son, a wacky musician. The "mod" humor was outdated by the film's premiere, but viewers now have enough distance to understand and appreciate the intended angle.

Bob Hope and Oscar-winner Jane Wyman star as the perfect married couple with one minor exception: They are about to announce their divorce. However their daughter is getting married. And that's just the beginning. The young couple must deal with the trials and tribulations of the groom's father (Jackie Gleason) as he tries to stop the wedding. The film was quite fitting as Bob saw his own daughter Nora get married that same year. Taking the helm as director was longtime collaborator Norman Panama. Panama directed Hope in Road to Hong Kong (the final "Road" picture) wrote That Certain Feeling Monsieur Beaucaire Road to Utopia and supplied the story for My Favorite Blonde. He also directed Danny Kaye in The Court Jester and penned the classics White Christmas and Mr. Blandings Builds His Dream House. The film also stars Tina Louise (Ginger of Gilligan's Island) Tim Matthieson (National Lampoon's Animal House) and Leslie Nielsen (The Naked Gun)

Cast

Bob Hope as Frank Benson

Jackie Gleason as Oliver Poe

Jane Wyman as Elaine Benson

Leslie Nielsen as Phil Fletcher

Maureen Arthur as Lois Grey

Tina Louise as Laverne Baker

Tim Matheson as David Poe

Paul Stewart as Willoughby

Irwin Corey as The Baba Ziba

JoAnna Cameron as Nancy Benson

Glenn Corbett in Clip from Crimson Kimono (archive footage)

Victoria Shaw in Clip from Crimson Kimono (archive footage)

Don Brodie as Pevney

Alex Gerry as Reverend Dempster

Lauren Gilbert as Ralph, Benson's Lawyer

Kenner G. Kemp as Racetrack Extra

Anne Seymour as Molly, Baby's Nurse

Director/Crew
Directed by
Norman Panama

Writing credits
Michael Kanin and Ben Starr - screenwriter

Produced by
Bill Lawrence - producer

Original Music by
Joseph J. Lilley

Cinematography by
Charles Lang

Film Editing by
Ronald Sinclair

Art Direction by
Edward D. Engoron

Set Decoration by
John Lamphear

Costume Design by
Nolan Miller

Makeup Department
Mike Moschella - makeup artist
Fred Williams - makeup artist

Production Management
Austen Jewell - production manager

Special Effects by
Justus Gibbs - special effects

Editorial Department
Igo Kantor - editorial supervisor

Music Department
Joseph J. Lilley - musical director

Other crew
Jack Baker - choreographer
Wayne Fitzgerald - title designer