Life with Father (1947)

A straitlaced turn-of-the-century father presides over a family of boys and the mother who really rules the roost.

Director:

Michael Curtiz

Writers:

Clarence Day (memoir "Life with Father"), Donald Ogden Stewart (screen play)

Stars:

William Powell, Irene Dunne, Elizabeth Taylor

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 2 wins.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
William Powell	...	Clarence Day - Father
Irene Dunne	...	Vinnie Day - Mother
Elizabeth Taylor	...	Mary Skinner
Edmund Gwenn	...	Rev. Dr. Lloyd
Zasu Pitts	...	Cora Cartwright
Jimmy Lydon	...	Clarence Day Jr.
Emma Dunn	...	Margaret - the Cook
Moroni Olsen	...	Dr. Humphries
Elisabeth Risdon	...	Mrs. Whitehead
Derek Scott	...	Harlan Day
Johnny Calkins	...	Whitney Day
Martin Milner	...	John Day
Heather Wilde	...	Annie - the Maid
Monte Blue	...	The Policeman
Mary Field	...	Nora

Storyline

In late nineteenth century New York City, a Wall Street broker likes to think his house runs his way, but finds himself constantly bemused at how much of what happens is down to his wife. His children are also stretching their wings, discovering girls and making money out of patent medicine selling. When it comes to light he has never been baptized and everyone starts insisting he must do so, it all starts to get a bit too much.

---

Plot Keywords:

period drama | new york | children | new york city | shouting | 

---

Taglines:

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

---

Genres:

Comedy

---

Certificate:

Passed

Did You Know?

Trivia

As of Father's Day (June 21) 2020, 97 year-old Jimmy Lydon, who played the eldest Day son, is the lone surviving starring cast member.

---

Goofs

In the opening scenes, as the boys come down the stairs the maid appears to be among those who believe in one of the superstitions involving red-heads. But she didn't seem to notice that both adults are also red-heads.

---

Quotes

Vinnie: Is that suit of your father's too tight for you?
Clarence Day: No, it's not too tight.
Vinnie: Well, what is it?
Clarence Day: Mother, very peculiar things have happened since I started to wear this suit. I can't seem to make these clothes do anything Father wouldn't do.
Vinnie: Oh, that's nonsense. And not to kneel in church is a sacrilege.
Clarence Day: Making Father's trousers kneel seemed like more of a sacrilege.

---

Crazy Credits

The opening credits are superimposed on scenes of old New York, viewed as if through an old-fashioned stereopticon.

---

Connections

Spin-off Life with Father (1953)

---

Soundtracks

Ye Servants of God
(hymn tune "Hanover") (1708) (uncredited)
Music attributed to William Croft
Lyrics by Charles Wesley
Played on violin by Clarence Jr. and piano by Mary Skinner

User Reviews

A charming picture...

Life With Father, the story of an eccentric, excitable 1880s gentleman and his continually exasperating family is the perfect showcase for the under-appreciated talents of William Powell. Powell, best know for his work with Myrna Loy in the "Thin Man" series of films. Powell uses every second of this plum role to display his charming style and verbal acuity.

The story is simple: Powell and his wife, played by Irene Dunne, face a series of calamities, some serious and some ridiculous, mostly brought on by their four rambunctious, red-headed sons. After a visiting cousin brings along fifteen-year-old Elizabeth Taylor, events are put into motion which threaten to turn Powell's neatly-ordered world upside down.

The performances are uniformly fine, and Powell and Dunne are absolutely sterling. A supporting cast that includes Zasu Pitts, Edmund Gwenn and early appearances from Martin Milner and Elizabeth Taylor round out the picture quite well. If there is anything to detract from the complete enjoyment of the film, it is Taylor's performance, which can get grating, but hey, she's just a kid, and when you look at her, you can already see the amazing beauty still to come. The exceptional visual style of the film makes you long for the day when people rode in horse-carts to Delmonico's for dinner.

Watch for some classic dialogue between Powell and Dunne over the cost of a new coffee pot, between Powell and his son about "the facts of life where women are concerned," and the nonsensical wordplay over the return of a Porcelain Pug-Dog.

Details

Official Sites:

Official site

Country:

USA

Language:

English French

Release Date:

13 September 1947 (USA)

Also Known As:

Life with Father

Filming Locations:

Warner Brothers Burbank Studios - 4000 Warner Boulevard, Burbank, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$4,700,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Warner Bros.

Technical Specs

Runtime:

118 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1