But I Don't Want to Get Married!

Synopsis

But I Don't Want to Get Married! (1970) is a television comedy-drama built around Herschel Bernardi’s warm, character-driven lead performance. The film centers on a man navigating the social pressures and personal doubts surrounding marriage, balancing moments of humor with touches of poignancy as he confronts expectations from family, friends and society. Rather than broad slapstick, the picture leans on conversational scenes and character interactions, showcasing Bernardi’s ability to convey both exasperation and vulnerability. As a made-for-TV production of its era, the film offers a snapshot of late-1960s / early-1970s attitudes toward relationships and commitment, presenting situations that range from lightly farcical to quietly reflective. The story refrains from sensationalism, instead charting the small but telling choices that shape the protagonist’s outlook on love, independence and companionship. The result is an intimate, modestly scaled comedy that will appeal to viewers interested in performance-centered storytelling and period television fare.

Cast

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  Herschel Bernardi

  Walter Benjamin

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  Shirley Jones

  Evelyn Harris

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  Brandon Cruz

  Bernard

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  Nanette Fabray

  Mrs. Vale

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  June Lockhart

  Hope

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  Tina Louise

  Miss Spencer

Reviews

Critical coverage for But I Don't Want to Get Married! is limited compared with theatrical releases of the same era; contemporary newspaper and magazine reviews are sparse and many modern aggregator sites do not list wide critical consensus. On audience-driven platforms, the film registers modest appreciation: “IMDb: 6.5/10” (user rating). That IMDb score reflects a mixed-to-positive viewer reaction—audiences commonly praise Herschel Bernardi’s likability and comic timing, noting that his performance carries the film and provides its principal emotional anchor. Reviews and viewer comments typically highlight Bernardi’s warm, everyday presence and the script’s conversational, small-scale approach to romantic comedy.

Criticisms tend to focus on limitations typical of made-for-television movies from the period: constrained production values, a tendency toward lightweight plotting, and moments where pacing or tonal shifts feel telegraphed. Where the film succeeds is in character moments and its modest charm—viewers who appreciate period TV dramas often find it an agreeable, if not groundbreaking, example of the form. Because major aggregators such as Rotten Tomatoes and Metacritic do not offer a robust critic consensus or Tomatometer/Metascore for this title, assessments rely mainly on user reactions and the few contemporary listings available. In sum, the film is generally regarded as a pleasant, performance-driven TV movie with particular appeal to fans of Bernardi and vintage television comedy-drama, but it is not widely cited as a standout classic of the era.