Father's Little Dividend (1951)

Shortly after coming to terms with his daughter's marriage, a father faces the prospect of becoming a grandfather.

Director:

Vincente Minnelli

Writers:

Albert Hackett (screenplay), Frances Goodrich (screenplay)

Stars:

Spencer Tracy, Joan Bennett, Elizabeth Taylor

1 win & 1 nomination.

Cast

Complete credited cast:
Spencer Tracy	...	Stanley Banks
Joan Bennett	...	Ellie Banks
Elizabeth Taylor	...	Kay Dunstan
Don Taylor	...	Buckley Dunstan
Billie Burke	...	Doris Dunstan
Moroni Olsen	...	Herbert Dunstan
Richard Rober	...	Police Sergeant
Marietta Canty	...	Delilah (Banks' Maid)
Russ Tamblyn	...	Tommy Banks (as Rusty Tamblyn)
Tom Irish	...	Ben Banks
Hayden Rorke	...	Dr. Andrew Nordell
Paul Harvey	...	Rev. Galsworthy

Storyline

In this sequel to Father of the Bride (1950), Stanley Banks (Spencer Tracy) learns that his daughter Kay (Dame Elizabeth Taylor) is going to have a baby. When they get the news everyone except Stanley is overjoyed. His wife and grandmother-to-be Ellie (Joan Bennett) broadcasts it everywhere and all Stan can do is worry about the practical things like how his son-in-law Buckley Dunstan (Don Taylor) can afford it. Well, having not long ago paid for the wedding, Stanley has no intention of bearing any of the expenses involved. Buckley's parents and Ellie are overjoyed at the news and virtually take over redecorating the young couple's new house. Crisis and false alarms take over their lives and when the child is born, the only person he doesn't seem to like is Stanley. A walk in the park - and absolute panic when Stanley misplaces his grandson - seems to resolve the situation.

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Plot Keywords:

announcement of pregnancy | fatherhood | family relationships | sequel | acting silly for a baby | 

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Taglines:

If you chuckled at "Father of the Bride", you'll laugh right out loud at his reception of the "little dividend"...if you laughed then, you'll roar now...and if you roared then - well, there's just a prediction what will happen.

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Contrary to popular belief, Bob Hope did not make a cameo appearance as the diaper delivery man. The uncredited actor's name is Frank Sully.

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Goofs

The baby is not christened until he is about 6 months old, named after his maternal grandfather, to his surprise. There is no clue given as to what he would have been called in the first six months of life.

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Quotes

Ellie Banks: You're not an alcoholic, are you?

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Connections

Referenced in Take Me Home Tonight (2011)

User Reviews

charming family picture

A befuddled Spencer Tracy and a scatty Joan Bennett find out they are to become grandparents in this charming sequel to 'Father of the Bride'. Although the original film was better, this is a funny, warm, and worthy follow-up.

Elizabeth Taylor again appears as daughter Kay, looking beautiful and radiant. Husband Buckley (the slightly wooden Don Taylor) struggles to cope with his pregnant wife's mood swings, while the in-laws (Moroni Olsen as the pompous ex-Harvard father-in-law, Billie Burke as the twittery mother-in-law) almost come to blows before baby has even arrived.

The star performance in this film is, as ever, Tracy, as he comes to terms with his little girl growing away from him, with his life 'slipping away' with the arrival of the new baby, with his resentment of the rich in-laws. It's a winning performance, and his scenes with Bennett and with Taylor are pure gold.

Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

27 April 1951 (USA)

Also Known As:

Laugh Track: Father's Little Dividend

Filming Locations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios - 10202 W. Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA

Box Office

Budget:

$941,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Technical Specs

Runtime:

82 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1