Life with Father (film)

Life with Father

Theatrical Film Poster
Directed by Michael Curtiz
Produced by Robert Buckner
Screenplay by Donald Ogden Stewart
Based on Life with Father
1935 novel 
by Clarence Day
1939 play by Howard Lindsay
Russel Crouse
Starring William Powell
Irene Dunne
Music by Max Steiner
Cinematography William V. Skall
J. Peverell Marley
Edited by George Amy
Distributed by Warner Bros.
Release dates
  • August 14, 1947 (1947-08-14) (U.S.)
Running time
118 min.
Country United States
Language English
Budget $4.7 million[1]
Box office $6.455 million[1]

Life with Father is a 1947 Technicolor American comedy film.[2][3] It tells the true story of Clarence Day, a stockbroker who wants to be master of his house, but finds his wife and his children ignoring him, until they start making demands for him to change his own life. The story draws largely on the insistence by his family that Clarence be baptized to avoid going to Hell and Clarence's stubborn, ill-tempered nature. In keeping with the autobiography, all the children in the family (all boys) are redheads. It stars William Powell and Irene Dunne as Clarence and his wife, supported by Elizabeth Taylor as a beautiful teenage girl with whom Clarence's oldest son becomes infatuated, along with Edmund Gwenn, ZaSu Pitts, Jimmy Lydon and Martin Milner.[4] The film and its audio entered the public domain in 1975.[5]

Plot summary

Irene Dunne and William Powell in Life with Father

Clarence Day (William Powell), is a benevolent despot of his 1880s New York City household. His wife Vinnie (Irene Dunne), is the real head of the household. The anecdotal story encompasses such details as the romance of Clarence (Jimmy Lydon) with pretty out-of-towner Mary (Elizabeth Taylor). Vinnie tries to get her headstrong husband baptized, else he'll never be able to enter the Kingdom of God.[6]

Cast

Production

Due to the Motion Picture Production Code standards of the day, the play's last line (in response to a policeman asking Mr. Day where he is going), "I'm going to be baptized, dammit!" had to be rewritten for the film.

The movie was adapted by Donald Ogden Stewart from the play by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, which was based on the book by Clarence Day, Jr. It was directed by Michael Curtiz.

Memorable quotes

Awards

It was nominated for Academy Awards for Best Actor in a Leading Role (William Powell), Best Art Direction-Set Decoration, Color (Robert M. Haas, George Hopkins), Best Cinematography, Color and Best Music, Scoring of a Dramatic or Comedy Picture.[7]

Reception

The film earned rentals of $5.9 million in rentals in North America.[8][9]

Through a clerical error, the film was not renewed for copyright and has fallen into the public domain. There is a digitally remastered version in the Archive Movie Collection through Digicom.tv with a copyright date of 2009.

References

  1. 1 2 H. Mark Glancy, “MGM Film Grosses, 1924-1948: The Eddie Mannix Ledger,” Historical Journal of Film, Radio, and Television , 12, no. 2 (1992), pp. 127-43
  2. Variety film review; August 20, 1947, page 16.
  3. Harrison's Reports film review; August 16, 1947, page 131.
  4. Turner Classic Movie synopsis and production information
  5. New York Times, Life With Father
  6. http://www.allmovie.com/movie/life-with-father-v29266
  7. "Life with Father". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-12-19.
  8. "All Time Domestic Champs", Variety, 6 January 1960 p 34
  9. "Top Grossers of 1947", Variety, 7 January 1948 p 63

External links

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