Life with Father (B+ or 3.5/4 stars)
Based on an autobiographical book by Clarence Day Jr., directed by Michael Curtiz, & cherished as a stage play that ran for over 8 yrs. on Broadway, 'Life with Father' is a son's remembrance of his Victorian youth spent in the home of his authoritative but lovable father, 'Clare' (wonderful William Powell). Irene Dunne co-stars as Clare's wife 'Vinnie' (assumably short for Lavinia) and the mother of their red-haired clan. Outwardly, she seems a slightly flighty woman who doesn't have much common sense or wits. However, while Clare, a NYC Wall Street broker would like to THINK that he runs his household with an iron fist, he finds himself constantly bemused at how much his wife actually runs everything; she ultimately has the best ideas, she gets things done -- it's pretty funny, really.
Now, there's really not much of a "plot", just a pleasant series of alternately low-key & raucous moments of life, love, sadness, & laughter as the family goes about its urbane 1880s-era existence. The "plot" encompasses such details as the eldest son's (likeable James Lydon) sweet romance with pretty Mary (young, but nevertheless enchanting Elizabeth Taylor); various purchases for the house that Clare doesn't approve of; a dramatic stretch where the life of Vinnie is put in jeopardy; and ultimately, Vinnie's tireless efforts to get her headstrong husband baptized so that he can be with her in Heaven one day. See ... not much of a plot, haha. In fact, the whole 'let's get father baptized' storyline got to be a bit too much for me; making the running time longer than it should have been.
Having said that, the movie is so charming, so good-looking, so witty, and so adorably performed ... that a lacking plot doesn't affect my overall opinion. Not to sound trite or gooey but, each scene really is like a little gem. Each scene contains nicely observed humor or pathos or both. The comedy in the story is mostly based on/around the father's eccentric characteristics and mother's continual subduing of his tantrums (one of the running comedy motifs is the revolving door of maids they employ. Each one is terrified of Clare and winds up quitting; resulting in subsequent scenes where Clare asks (and I paraphrase), 'Now who is this maid!?"
William Powell is fantastic as the formidable patriarch, a somewhat sexist man (accepted then, not now) who tries to bring a stern, businesslike attitude to everyday household activities, yet always caves-in to his wife/family in matters of the heart -- he's really a mush under all the layers of stiff, mustached pomposity. And it's a hoot to watch him try to explain the facts of life to his impressionable sons. Irene Dunne is wonderful {when isn't she?} as the seemingly hapless, yet exceedingly put-together wife & mother who always seems to get her way in the end. Dunne casts such a glow; and the relationship btwn. she & Powell is lovely. As mentioned above, Liz Taylor is stellar as the sweetly feminine Mary. And I also enjoyed Edmund Gwenn (that's Santa, to you) as the kindly minister. Filmed in nostalgia-hued Technicolor with beautiful period sets/costumes, and exuding strong family values ... I really enjoyed this modest motion picture adaptation.
Now, there's really not much of a "plot", just a pleasant series of alternately low-key & raucous moments of life, love, sadness, & laughter as the family goes about its urbane 1880s-era existence. The "plot" encompasses such details as the eldest son's (likeable James Lydon) sweet romance with pretty Mary (young, but nevertheless enchanting Elizabeth Taylor); various purchases for the house that Clare doesn't approve of; a dramatic stretch where the life of Vinnie is put in jeopardy; and ultimately, Vinnie's tireless efforts to get her headstrong husband baptized so that he can be with her in Heaven one day. See ... not much of a plot, haha. In fact, the whole 'let's get father baptized' storyline got to be a bit too much for me; making the running time longer than it should have been.
Having said that, the movie is so charming, so good-looking, so witty, and so adorably performed ... that a lacking plot doesn't affect my overall opinion. Not to sound trite or gooey but, each scene really is like a little gem. Each scene contains nicely observed humor or pathos or both. The comedy in the story is mostly based on/around the father's eccentric characteristics and mother's continual subduing of his tantrums (one of the running comedy motifs is the revolving door of maids they employ. Each one is terrified of Clare and winds up quitting; resulting in subsequent scenes where Clare asks (and I paraphrase), 'Now who is this maid!?"
William Powell is fantastic as the formidable patriarch, a somewhat sexist man (accepted then, not now) who tries to bring a stern, businesslike attitude to everyday household activities, yet always caves-in to his wife/family in matters of the heart -- he's really a mush under all the layers of stiff, mustached pomposity. And it's a hoot to watch him try to explain the facts of life to his impressionable sons. Irene Dunne is wonderful {when isn't she?} as the seemingly hapless, yet exceedingly put-together wife & mother who always seems to get her way in the end. Dunne casts such a glow; and the relationship btwn. she & Powell is lovely. As mentioned above, Liz Taylor is stellar as the sweetly feminine Mary. And I also enjoyed Edmund Gwenn (that's Santa, to you) as the kindly minister. Filmed in nostalgia-hued Technicolor with beautiful period sets/costumes, and exuding strong family values ... I really enjoyed this modest motion picture adaptation.