By Barb Pert Templeton
When a national holiday was declared for Mother’s Day in 1914 the idea to also have a Father’s Day began to take shape as well. Still, it took almost another six decades for a formal national holiday to finally be declared for Dads in 1972.
Today, celebrating dear old dad on the third Sunday in June has prompted much celebrating including everything from ball games, golf matches and most definitely barbecues.
It seems the importance of fathers has always held a strong hold on major motion pictures and many of the most popular portrays of the traditional ‘head of the house’ proved so successful at the box office 50 years ago, they continue to be remade with more update stories.
Here are a few of my favorites from the classic era.
Life with Father 1947 Directed by Michael Curtiz
‘Life With Father’ was Warner Brothers top grossing film in 1947.
Storyline: This tale revolves around the Day family, the father, Clare Day (William Powell), mother, Vinnie (Irene Dunne) and four rambunctious sons. A stern stockbroker who wants to run his household with a strict code of behavior as if he’s running a business. It’s an amusing look at life in the late 19th century, complete with proper manners, table cloths and transportation left to the horse and buggy set. Despite Day’s rule the roost mentality we quickly see that it’s his wife who runs the show and when the elder Day discovers he’s never been baptized the merriment begins in convincing him to do so.
Behind the Scenes:
- Of the four boys in the cast only Martin Mull was a real red head. There was nearly a major hair mishap when all the boys were having their heads dyed red and suddenly the water was shutoff on the block where they were filming. A quick application of cold cream helped rinse things through or the foursome might have been bald.
- When the film was being shown at Radio City Music Hall, they alternated top billing on the sign outside between William Powell and Irene Dunne daily.
- This was Warner Brothers highest growing movie in 1947.
Movie Quote: “Why did God make so many dumb fools and Democrats?” Clare Day (William Powell)
Father of the Bride 1950 Directed by Vincente Minnelli
‘Father Of The Bride’ was released in 1950 to rave reviews as was the remake starring Steve Martin when it was released in 1991.
Storyline: The ‘Father of the Bride,’ in this case Stanley Banks (Spencer Tracy) takes us through his memories of his daughter Kay’s (Elizabeth Taylor) fun and disaster ridden engagement and wedding day. As he struggles with all that goes into planning such a main event, he also falls into a bit of despair that his baby girl is leaving the nest.
Behind the Scenes:
- The wedding date for the film is June 10 and that was a nod by Director Minnelli to his wife, Judy Garland as it was her birthday. Oddly it so happened to later be the date that Spencer Tracy died in 1967.
- The difference in economics from this film in 1950 to today is astounding, for example the $400 wedding cake depicted here would cost over $5,000 today.
- A photo on Mr. Bank’s nightstand (Spencer Tracy) was an actual childhood photo of Elizabeth Taylor.
Movie Quote: “Right then I knew we’d lost her. She’ll always love us of course, but not in the old way. From now on her love will be handed out like a farmer’s wife tossing scraps to the family rooster.” Stanley T. Banks (Spencer Tracy) the Father of the Bride
Critics of the day in 1950 called this film, ‘By The Dozen’ ‘an old-fashioned upbeat family comedy.’
Cheaper by the Dozen 1950 Directed by Walter Lang
Storyline: As the title infers this movie offers an up close and humorous look at a family with 12 children with father, Frank Bunker Gilbreth (Clifton Webb) and mother, Mrs. Lillian Gilbreth (Myrna Loy) suffering the ups and downs of a crowded family life. It’s based on the real-life story of the Gilbreth family and the father’s many escapades as an inventor, testing lots of his latest experiments on his children.
Behind the Scenes:
- The mother in the movie, Lilian Gilbreth was an educated psychologist in real life and the gold necklace she wears is a Phi Beta Kappa Key (honors society).
- Actress Jeanne Craig played oldest daughter, Anne Gilbreth in the film and later stated Clifton Webb was just the opposite of the good-natured father in the film. She instead said that as a person and as an actor, Webb was “temperamental, bombastic and dictatorial.”
- Myrna Loy played a mother in this film and many others but never had any children of her own in real life.
- Movie Quote: Repairman: “All those kids yours, Mister, or is this a picnic?”
Father, Frank Gilbreth: “They’re all mine and believe me, it’s no picnic!”
