The Courtship of Eddie's Father (1963)

Director:

Vincente Minnelli

Writers:

Mark Toby (novel)
John Gay (writer)

Release Date:

27 March 1963 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Drama

Tagline:

Every boy needs a mother...even if Dad has to marry her!

Plot:

Eddie thinks it is time for his father to remarry. However, in his opinion his father's taste in women leaves much to be desired...

Plot Keywords:

Courtship | Parenthood | Friendship | Widow | Affection

Awards:

3 nominations

Cast

Glenn Ford	...	Tom Corbett
Shirley Jones	...	Elizabeth Marten
Stella Stevens	...	Dollye Daly
Dina Merrill	...	Rita Behrens
Roberta Sherwood	...	Mrs. Livingston
Ron Howard	...	Eddie (as Ronny Howard)
Jerry Van Dyke	...	Norman Jones

Runtime:

118 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Metrocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Westrex Recording System)

Certification:

USA:Approved (PCA #20387) | Finland:S | Germany:6 | Sweden:11 | Argentina:Atp

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

The movie Tom watches briefly and somewhat wistfully on TV before Eddie comes in to say he feels "real terrible" is Mogambo (1953), starring Clark Gable and Grace Kelly.

Quotes:

[first lines]
Norman Jones: Wake up Manhattan. Come out of that warm, rosy dream, open those big, luscious eyes and meet a new, exciting day. I'm talking to you ravishing, delicious, madcap girls still in that warm, cozy bed. Now what you need is a nice, hot cup of coffee, Bentley Coffee of course. That rich, intoxicating aroma, that tantalizing blend that makes the senses reel and the pulses tingle.
[shouts]
Norman Jones: Look out! Don't burn those delicate, sensuous fingers. Why if anything should happen to those wild, impetuous hands, Jones would be heartbroken, Aw, did she hurt herself? Don't cry. Old Norm here will fix it.
[...]

Movie Connections:

References Ride the High Country (1962)

Soundtrack:

The Rose And The Butterfly

Pretty predictable but sweet and engaging

First I need to point out that this movie isn't much like the later TV series. It stars Glenn Ford as a widower raising a young child, played by Ron Howard. While their relationship is loving and sweet, they are both looking for a new wife/mother. And Ron Howard is a little devil trying to set up Dad! I like the kid's taste, though, as he sets his sights first on Stella Stevens and then on Shirley Jones--that kid had great taste! Even though you can easily predict where the movie will end up, the acting and writing and direction are so good that you don't really mind at all. That's because it is sentimental but avoids schmaltzy, gooey over-sentimentalism that could have easily ruined this film--thanks in part to a decent use of comedy.