Life with Father (1947)

Director:

Michael Curtiz

Writers:

Clarence Day (memoir)
Howard Lindsay (play) ...

Release Date:

13 September 1947 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy

Tagline:

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

Plot:

A financier from New York rules his numerous family, consisting of his wife and his four sons, with the meticulousity of a bookkeeper.

Plot Keywords:

Businessman | Redhead | Young Love | Family Relationships | Maid

Awards:

Nominated for 4 Oscars. Another 2 wins

Cast

William Powell	...	Clarence Day, Sr.
Irene Dunne	...	Vinnie Day
Elizabeth Taylor	...	Mary Skinner
Edmund Gwenn	...	Rev. Dr. Lloyd
Zasu Pitts	...	Cousin Cora Cartwright
Jimmy Lydon	...	Clarence Day, Jr.
Emma Dunn	...	Margaret - the cook
Moroni Olsen	...	Dr. Humphries
Elisabeth Risdon	...	Mrs. Whitehead - introduces Morley
Derek Scott	...	Harlan Day
Johnny Calkins	...	Whitney Day
Martin Milner	...	John Day
Heather Wilde	...	Annie - 1st maid
Monte Blue	...	The Policeman
Mary Field	...	Nora - 2d maid

Runtime:

118 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Technicolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.37 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound System)

Certification:

Australia:G | Argentina:Atp | Finland:S | USA:Approved (PCA #11667, General Audience) | Sweden:Btl

Company:

Warner Bros. Pictures

Trivia:

Mary Pickford was to have made her big screen comeback in the role of Vinnie but eventually the role went to Irene Dunne because of her box-office appeal.

Goofs:

Factual errors: The movie opens "NEW YORK 1883". Later, Father rails at Mayor "Honest" Hugh Grant. Grant was NYC mayor from 1889-1892. Franklin Edson was mayor in 1883.

Quotes:

Rev. Dr. Lloyd: After considerable thought, we voted that out supporting members should each contribute a sum equal to the cost of their pew.
Father: I paid $5,000 for that pew.
Vinnie: Yes, Clare, that makes out contribution $5,000.
Father: That's robbery. Do you know what that pew is worth today? $3,000. That's what the last one sold for. I've taken a dead loss on that pew of $2,000 already. Frank Bags sold me that pew when the market was at its peak. He knew when to get out. And I'm warning you, Vinnie. If the market ever goes up, I'm going to unload that pew!

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "M*A*S*H: Life with Father (#3.8)" (1974)

Soundtrack:

Sweet Genevieve

An adorable, nearly perfect, time capsule

William Powell IS Clarence Day, Sr. And Irene Dunne is utterly his match in every way as Vinnie. The days show you life in the Gay '90's in New York as you always wished it to be. And the interplay between cute Jimmie Lydon and young Elizabeth Taylor is priceless. If you want to utterly enjoy yourself for two hours, watch this film.