Life with Father (1947)

My Review

“Life with Father” is a comedy film about a stockbroker in the 1880’s trying to run his household with corporate efficiency, only to meet resistance from his wife and four sons. In addition, she finds out that her husband was never baptized as a child in the Episcopal Church, and is deeply concerned that he will not get to heaven. Director Michael Curtiz (“Casablanca” 1942) put together a humorous film from a good screenplay by Donald Ogden Stewart. It was adapted from the 1939 play of the same name and the 1935 autobiography of the same name by Clarence Day, filmed in beautiful Technicolor.

The stars include William Powell and Irene Dunne as the Day’s, Elizabeth Taylor as cousin Mary, Jimmy Lydon, Martin Milner, Johnny Calkins, Derek Scott as the four sons, ZaSu Pitts as cousin Cora, Moroni Olson as the doctor, Monte Blue as the policeman, Queenie Leonard as a maid, and Douglas Kennedy as Rev. Morley. “Life with Father” was the third highest grossing film of 1947 for Warner Bros. Pictures. It received four Oscar nods for Best Actor (Powell), Best Art-Set Direction, Best Cinematography (William V. Skall, J. Peverell Marley), and Best Musical Score (Max Steiner).