Main Cast: William Powell, Irene Dunne, Monte Blue, ZaSu Pitts, Clara Blandick, Johnny Calkins, Emma Dunn, Edmund Gwenn, Elizabeth Taylor
Release Year: 1947
Country: US
Run Time: 118 minutes
Plot
The longest-running non-musical play in Broadway history, Life With Father was faithfully filmed by Warner Bros. in 1947. William Powell is a tower of comic strength as Clarence Day, the benevolent despot of his 1880s New York City household. Irene Dunne co-stars as Day's wife Vinnie, who outwardly has no more common sense than a butterfly but who is the real head of the household. The anecdotal story, encompassing such details as the eldest Day son's (James Lydon) romance with pretty out-of-towner Mary (Elizabeth Taylor), is tied together by Vinnie's tireless efforts to get her headstrong husband baptized, else he'll never be able to enter the Kingdom of God. Each scene is a little gem of comedy and pathos, as the formidable Mr. Day tries to bring a stern businesslike attitude to everyday household activities, including explaining the facts of life to his impressionable son. Donald Ogden Stewart based his screenplay upon the play by Howard Lindsey (who played Mr. Day in the original production) and Russell Crouse; the play in turn was inspired by a series of articles written by Clarence Day Jr., shortly before his death in 1933. Due to a legal tangle with the Day estate, Life With Father was withdrawn from circulation after its first run; it re-emerged on the Public Domain market in 1975. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
Review
Life With Father is yet another well-made film from the versatile Michael Curtiz, who probably directed more types of films well than anyone else in screen history. This is another "family values" film from the post-WWII era, with William Powell as the loving patriarch and Irene Dunne as the wife who understands her duties to gender traditions. One of the best reasons to watch is to see a young Elizabeth Taylor in an important supporting role. The film does not so much evoke the values of a bygone era as advocate them, and current-day audiences may have difficulty relating to its simplistic world view. As with nearly all of Curtiz' studio efforts, the production is first-rate, the performances strong, and the events fast-moving. The film is perhaps better remembered by reputation than by re-viewing, but it was one of Warner Bros.' top films of the era, and it remains a well-constructed piece of commercial filmmaking. ~ Richard Gilliam, All Movie Guide
Nancy Evans - Delia; Mary Field - Nora; Frank Elliott - Dr. Somers; Queenie Leonard - Maggie; Moroni Olsen - Dr. Humphries; Jimmy Lydon - Clarence; Elizabeth Risdon - Mrs. Whitehead; Derek Scott - Harlan; Heather Wilde - Annie; Martin Milner - John; Jean Andren - Mother of Twins; Russell Arms - Stock Quotation Operator; Joe Bernard - Cashier; Arlene Dahl - Girl in Delmonico's; Jean del Val - Francois; Creighton Hale - Father of Twins; Hallene Hill; Douglas Kennedy - Mr. Morley; Philo McCullough - Milkman; George Meader - Salesman; Michael Mineo - One of Twin Boys; Clara Reid - Cleaning Woman; Henry Sylvester; Laura Treadwell - Churchgoers; Philip Van Zandt - Clerk; Lois Bridge - Corsetierre; David Cavendish; Elaine Lange - Ellen; Faith Kruger - Hilda; James Metcalfe - Customer; Lucille Shamburger - Nursemaid; Gertrude Valerie; John Beck - Perkins the Clerk; Jack Martin - Chef
Due to the 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.
Clara Blandick - Miss Wiggins, the Maid Service Employment Agent
Memorable Quotes
Employment agent: "Sir, before I can let any girl go from this establishment, I must know the character of the home in which she will be employed." Mr. Day: "Madam, I am the character of my home!"
