Life with Father (1947)

Director:

Michael Curtiz

Writers:

Clarence Day (memoir)
Howard Lindsay (play) ...

Release Date:

13 September 1947 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

Here for all!! All the happiness of the play that ran longer, the laughs that were louder than any known before!

Plot:

A financier from New York rules his numerous family, consisting of his wife and his four sons, with the meticulousity of a bookkeeper.

Plot Keywords:

Father Son Relationship | Husband Wife Relationship | Businessman | Maid | Redhead

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 2 wins

Cast

William Powell	...	Clarence Day, Sr.
Irene Dunne	...	Vinnie Day
Elizabeth Taylor	...	Mary Skinner
Edmund Gwenn	...	Rev. Dr. Lloyd
Zasu Pitts	...	Cousin Cora Cartwright
Jimmy Lydon	...	Clarence Day, Jr.
Emma Dunn	...	Margaret - the cook
Moroni Olsen	...	Dr. Humphries
Elisabeth Risdon	...	Mrs. Whitehead - introduces Morley
Derek Scott	...	Harlan Day
Johnny Calkins	...	Whitney Day
Martin Milner	...	John Day
Heather Wilde	...	Annie - 1st maid
Monte Blue	...	The Policeman
Mary Field	...	Nora - 2d maid

Runtime:

118 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Australia:G | Argentina:Atp | Finland:S | USA:Approved (PCA #11667, General Audience) | Sweden:Btl

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Mary Pickford made several tests for the role of Vinnie, but the studio worried about her box office popularity after a 13-year absence from the screen. In the end, director Michael Curtiz vetoed her, as he preferred Irene Dunne.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The movie opens "NEW YORK 1883". Later, Father rails at Mayor "Honest" Hugh Grant. Grant was NYC mayor from 1889-1892. Franklin Edson was mayor in 1883.

Quotes:

Rev. Dr. Lloyd: After considerable thought, we voted that out supporting members should each contribute a sum equal to the cost of their pew.
Father: I paid $5,000 for that pew.
Vinnie: Yes, Clare, that makes out contribution $5,000.
Father: That's robbery. Do you know what that pew is worth today? $3,000. That's what the last one sold for. I've taken a dead loss on that pew of $2,000 already. Frank Bags sold me that pew when the market was at its peak. He knew when to get out. And I'm warning you, Vinnie. If the market ever goes up, I'm going to unload that pew!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "M*A*S*H: Life with Father (#3.8)" (1974)

Soundtrack:

Sweet Genevieve

Definitely Worth Watching!

I was a bit skeptical about this film at first. In general, Hollywood period pieces from the 40's and 50's can be a bit too cornball for my tastes (not that that's a BAD thing, it just depends on what kind of mood you're in). But I gave this film a shot and I was pleasantly surprised. There are some genuinely hysterical moments here. And while the introductory storyline tends to drag just a bit, the true comedy soon emerges from the intermingled sub-plots. I think that the reviewers who have panned the film may have missed the point of it entirely. The character portrayals of the parents are cartoonish for a reason. Did you notice how the children are drawn in a slightly more three-dimensional light? It's because this film is, essentially, a satire. The reason the "folks" are so nutty is because the story is being told from the perspective of Clarence Day Jr. (at least, that's how it was originally written). What this movie attempts to do, and accomplishes in spades, is to poke a bit of fun at the uptight, button-down aristocracy of 19th century America. We have the excitable, self-absorbed, and completely delusional patriarch, and the neurotic, long-suffering, and religiously impressionable mother. This film rips the facade right from its hinges, and shows us what people were really like. The firm and omnipotent father is actually a stubborn but hen-pecked hypocrite. And his wife is no better! She schemes, plots, and manipulates to constantly gain control of her heel of a husband. And, quite admittedly, she usually succeeds. The kids are the only *normal* ones (except for an EXTREMELY annoying Liz Taylor, who plays her role like she's in a High School production of Guys & Dolls). Overall, a very funny film. Some of the dialogue is sparkling and hysterically clever, a model that modern-day Hollywood would do well to study and live up to. There were several laugh-out-loud moments here, and I wasn't even in a good mood! If you like the old obscure Hollywood gems, check this one out! Just make sure you're looking at this film family through the right size lens. If it could make a believer out of me, it will hook anyone!