The Catered Affair is a 1956 American comedy drama film directed by Richard Brooks and produced by Sam Zimbalist from a screenplay by Gore Vidal, based on a 1955 television play by Paddy Chayefsky. The film stars Bette Davis, Ernest Borgnine, Debbie Reynolds, Barry Fitzgerald and Rod Taylor. The Catered Affair marked the first appearance of Bette Davis in a Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer picture. It was also Rod Taylor's first film for MGM after signing a long-term contract with the studio. The film score was by André Previn and the cinematographer was John Alton.