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IMDbPro

45 Fathers

  • 19371937
  • PassedPassed
  • 1h 10m
IMDb RATING
5.5/10
23
YOUR RATING
Thomas Beck, Romaine Callender, Richard Carle, Sammy Cohen, Charles Croker-King, Frank Dawson, George Givot, Andrew Tombes, and Jane Withers in 45 Fathers (1937)
Comedy
An orphan girl becomes adopted by a group of old men and is placed in the home of one of them. She sings and dances and helps out where she can.An orphan girl becomes adopted by a group of old men and is placed in the home of one of them. She sings and dances and helps out where she can.An orphan girl becomes adopted by a group of old men and is placed in the home of one of them. She sings and dances and helps out where she can.
IMDb RATING
5.5/10
23
YOUR RATING
    • James Tinling
  • Writers
    • Mary Bickell(story)
    • Frances Hyland
    • Albert Ray
  • Stars
    • Jane Withers
    • Thomas Beck
    • Louise Henry
    • James Tinling
  • Writers
    • Mary Bickell(story)
    • Frances Hyland
    • Albert Ray
  • Stars
    • Jane Withers
    • Thomas Beck
    • Louise Henry
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 1User review
  • See production, box office & company info
  • See more at IMDbPro
  • Photos6

    Thomas Beck, Richard Carle, Sammy Cohen, Nella Walker, and Jane Withers in 45 Fathers (1937)
    Richard Carle, Louise Henry, and Jane Withers in 45 Fathers (1937)
    Sammy Cohen, Louise Henry, and Jane Withers in 45 Fathers (1937)
    Thomas Beck, Richard Carle, and Andrew Tombes in 45 Fathers (1937)
    Thomas Beck, Louise Henry, and Jane Withers in 45 Fathers (1937)

    Top cast

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    Jane Withers
    Jane Withers
    • Judith Frazier
    Thomas Beck
    Thomas Beck
    • Roger Farragut
    Louise Henry
    Louise Henry
    • Elizabeth Carter
    Richard Carle
    Richard Carle
    • Bunny Carothers
    Nella Walker
    Nella Walker
    • Mrs. Carter
    Andrew Tombes
    Andrew Tombes
    • Judge
    Leon Ames
    Leon Ames
    • Vincent
    Sammy Cohen
    • Prof. Ziska
    George Givot
    George Givot
    • Prof. Bellini
    Ruth Warren
    • Sarah
    Hattie McDaniel
    Hattie McDaniel
    • Beulah
    Romaine Callender
    Romaine Callender
    • Hastings
    Lynn Bari
    Lynn Bari
    • Telephone Operator
    • (uncredited)
    James Blaine
    James Blaine
    • Policeman
    • (uncredited)
    Georgia Caine
    Georgia Caine
    • Mrs. Bigelow
    • (uncredited)
    Davison Clark
    • Sheriff
    • (uncredited)
    Chester Clute
    Chester Clute
    • Timid Juror
    • (uncredited)
    Georgie Cooper
        • James Tinling
      • Writers
        • Mary Bickell(story)
        • Frances Hyland
        • Albert Ray
      • All cast & crew
      • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

      Storyline

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      User reviews1

      Review
      Review
      Featured review
      3/10
      Shirley Temple's evil twin
      Jane Withers's film career had the bad luck to occur at the same time as Shirley Temple's, and under contract at the same studio (Fox). Both of these child actresses were very similar in their talents and appeal. But Shirley was much prettier than Jane, and just that bit more talented as an actress, singer, dancer and impressionist. When they appeared together in 'Bright Eyes', it made perfect sense to cast Shirley as the good-girl orphan and Jane Withers as the spoilt brat.

      In adulthood, Jane Withers had some minor fame as a character actress (most notably in 'Giant') and she had steady employment for many years in a long-running series of commercials as the dungrareed Josephine, a 'lady plumber' who encourages her clients to use Comet cleansing powder. (Were any little girls ever inspired by Josephine to become plumbers?)

      Another problem with Jane Withers's child-actress career is that she had second choice of Fox's songwriters, scriptwriters and directors, with Shirley always getting first pick. '45 Fathers' is typical of Jane's star vehicles ... meaning it's very sub-Shirley. In this one, Jane plays a bubbly orphan whose father was a member of the Rod & Gun Club. The by-laws of the club state that, if any member's death leaves minor children surviving, the membership as a whole are to adopt the orphans if no family member comes forward. So, the Rod & Gun Club collectively adopt little Jane. Unfortunately, all the clubmen are a bunch of old codgers.

      Of all these geezers, it falls to Bunny Carothers to be the one actually to take Jane into his home. With a name like Bunny Carothers, I thought he'd be hanging about with Raffles the cracksman ... but that's another film. Bunny's nice young nephew Roger lives with him. Roger has a girlfriend Elizabeth who's just a gold-digger. When he wises up and gives her the brush-off, she sues him for breach of promise ... expecting to get some of old man Carothers's Bunny-money. It's no surprise that little Jane puts everything right.

      There's nothing here that you won't get more enjoyably in a Shirley Temple movie. Shirley's speaking voice and singing voice are pleasanter to hear than Jane's, and Shirley's smiling face is easier on the eyes than Jane's. I was hoping the members of the Rod & Gun Club would change the title of this movie to 'COLT .45 fathers': in the last reel, they would take the shotguns out of their gun racks and start gunning for little orphan Jane. (And they could save a few cartridges for bit player Chester Clute.) Oh, well. I'll rate this movie 3 points out of 10.
      helpful•0
      6
      • F Gwynplaine MacIntyre
      • Oct 14, 2003

      Details

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      • Release date
        • November 26, 1937 (United States)
        • United States
        • English
      • Also known as
        • 20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA
      • Production company
        • Twentieth Century Fox
      • See more company credits at IMDbPro

      Technical specs

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      • 1 hour 10 minutes
        • Black and White

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      Thomas Beck, Romaine Callender, Richard Carle, Sammy Cohen, Charles Croker-King, Frank Dawson, George Givot, Andrew Tombes, and Jane Withers in 45 Fathers (1937)
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      By what name was 45 Fathers (1937) officially released in Canada in English?
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