LIFE WITH FATHER

US, 1947, 118 minutes, Colour.
William Powell, Irene Dunne, Elizabeth Taylor, Edmund Gwenn, Zasu Pitts, Jimmy Lydon, Martin Milner.
Directed by Michael Curtiz.

Life With Father is based on a play by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse (who were responsible for many Broadway plays and books for such musicals as Call Me Madam and The Sound of Music). It is directed by Michael Curtiz who, after his films of the 30s and 40s at Warner Brothers, many of them tough action pictures, moved to quite a variety of genres in the late 40s, even musicals like I’ll See You In My Dreams and The Vagabond King.

William Powell, who had made such an impression in the Thin Man series with Myrna Loy, is perfect as the father who wants to run his household like clockwork. Irene Dunne brings charm to her role as the mother. (She was to appear the following year as a mother in I Remember Mama.)

There is an entertaining supporting cast led by Edmund Gwenn and comedienne Zasu Pitts. A young Elizabeth Taylor, thirteen to fourteen when she made the film, makes an early appearance although she had appeared in Lassie Come Home, Jane Eyre and National Velvet by this time.

A portrait of life in the 1880s as seen from the perspective of sixty years later. A pleasant, sometimes charming, picture of ideal American life – with its smoothness as well as all its ups and downs with youngsters trying to grow up.

1. The classic status of the film, its appeal in its day, its impact now?

2. Was it evident the film was based on a play, in terms of setting, the strength of the dialogue, the scenes, the delineation of the characters, the details of the plot? Did the film seem stage bound at all?

3. The impression of the 1880s, the colour, sets and costumes, the picture of New York and its way of life?

4. The importance of the style of the Day family, the focus on Father and his ruling the house, the irony of the title? The role that he assumed, the role that Mother was forced to play, the role of the children? The roles of the maids, visitors, clergymen? The importance of tradition and in the Nineteenth Century? The atmosphere of nostalgia about the film? The glorifying of the past as well an the criticism of the past? Did the film approve of Father and his way of ruling his household?

5. The build-up of the opening, audience expectations of the house, via the maids, the arrival of the sons, Mother's role? The initial silhouette of Father?

6. How did the initial meal reveal all the characters and their characteristics their interests, priorities? Father's love yet his cruelty and insensitivity? Mother trying to please Father? The sons with their interests and yet in the light of their father? The maid and her leaving?

7. How was Father revealed through his work, the traits of his personality, his attitudes towards love, religion, relatives, money, hiring maids? How important was the issue of his baptism? Mother's illness and his reaction?

8. How was Father humanized throughout the film? The interaction of people, the issues that changed him? A man of his word, dogmatic, refusing to kneel?

9. How typical was Mother of nineteenth century women? Her understanding of her subservience, yet instinctively ruling Father? Her influence on her sons? Her running of the household? Her love for her relatives? Her lack of idea about money and charging things on account, for example, the dog at the end? Her scrupulous attitude towards religion? The reason for her illness, its effect, her appeal to Father for baptism?

10. Comment on the boys and their varying personalities? The oldest boy influenced by his father's clothes, by Mary? The younger boys and their playfulness, catechism, sport etc?

11. The humour through the character of Cousin Cora and her visit?

12. The attractiveness of Mary, the visitor from the country# the effect on Clarence, the romantic crisis between the two and its resolution?

13. Comment on the quality of the comedy and the various sequences which best illustrated the delightful touch?

14. Comment on the melodramatics of Mother's illness, Father's reaction, the final resolution?

15. The film gave great attention to detail. Which aspects were most striking? How good a piece of American cinema was this? A portrayal of the American city of the nineteenth century, its heritage and traditions?