Life with Father (1947)
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91% of critics liked it
(11 reviews) -
76% of users liked it
(1,543 ratings)
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… More 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 Due to a legal tangle with the Day estate, Life With Father was withdrawn from circulation after its first run; it re-emerged on the Public Domain market in 1975.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, Rovi
- Directed By
- Michael Curtiz
- Written By
- Donald Ogden Stewart
- Genres
- Classics, Comedy
- In Theaters
- Jan 1, 1947 Wide
- On DVD
- Aug 4, 1998
- Studio
- Madacy Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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Variety Staff, Variety
Irene Dunne and William Powell have captured to a considerable extent the charm of the play by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse.
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Trevor Johnston, Time Out
Curtiz knocks it together without so much as breaking sweat.
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, TV Guide's Movie Guide
Powell is nothing less than magnificent as the mustached philosophizing patriarch, and Dunne casts a warm glow beside him.
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, Film4
All in all it's innocuous with infrequent laughs.
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Ken Hanke, Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)
Good cast, competent direction can't save this seemingly interminable nostalgia flood.
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Cast
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William Powell
as Clarence Day
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Irene Dunne
as Vinnie Day
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Monte Blue
as Policeman
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Zasu Pitts
as Cora
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Clara Blandick
as Mrs. Wiggins
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Johnny Calkins
as Whitney
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Emma Dunn
as Margaret
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Edmund Gwenn
as Rev. Dr. Lloyd
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Elizabeth Taylor
as Mary Skinner
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Nancy Evans
as Delia
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Mary Field
as Nora
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Frank Elliott
as Dr. Somers
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Queenie Leonard
as Maggie
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Moroni Olsen
as Dr. Humphries
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Jimmy Lydon
as Clarence
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Elizabeth Risdon
as Mrs. Whitehead
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Derek Scott
as Harlan
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Heather Wilde
as Annie
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Martin Milner
as John
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Jean Andren
as Mother of Twins
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Russell Arms
as Stock Quotation Operator
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Joe Bernard
as Cashier
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Arlene Dahl
as Girl in Delmonico's
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Jean Del Val
as Francois
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Creighton Hale
as Father of Twins
- Hallene Hill
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Douglas Kennedy
as Mr. Morley
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Philo McCullough
as Milkman
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George Meader
as Salesman
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Michael Mineo
as One of Twin Boys
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Clara Reid
as Cleaning Woman
- Henry Sylvester
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Laura Treadwell
as Churchgoers
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Philip Van Zandt
as Clerk
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Lois Bridge
as Corsetierre
- David Cavendish
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Elaine Lange
as Ellen
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Faith Kruger
as Hilda
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James Metcalfe
as Customer
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Lucille Shamburger
as Nursemaid
- Gertrude Valerie
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John Beck
as Perkins the Clerk
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Dr. Martin Jack Rosenblum
as Chef
- Elisabeth Risdon
