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Life with Father (1947)

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 1
Fresh: 1 | Rotten: 0

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76

liked it
Average Rating: 3.7/5
User Ratings: 1,454

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Movie Info

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

Unrated, 1 hr. 58 min.

Classics, Comedy

Donald Ogden Stewart

Aug 4, 1998

Madacy Entertainment

Cast

All Critics (11) | Top Critics (1) | Fresh (10) | Rotten (1) | DVD (1)

Irene Dunne and William Powell have captured to a considerable extent the charm of the play by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse.

March 26, 2009 Full Review Source: Variety | Comment
Variety
Top Critic IconTop Critic

Powell is nothing less than magnificent as the mustached philosophizing patriarch, and Dunne casts a warm glow beside him.

March 24, 2011 Full Review Source: TV Guide's Movie Guide | Comment
TV Guide's Movie Guide

Curtiz knocks it together without so much as breaking sweat.

February 9, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out | Comment

All in all it's innocuous with infrequent laughs.

May 24, 2003 Full Review Source: Film4 | Comment

Good cast, competent direction can't save this seemingly interminable nostalgia flood.

January 22, 2003 Comment
Mountain Xpress (Asheville, NC)

Dunn and Powell are adorable, musty charm in this sweet family classic.

September 12, 2002 Comment
Tooele Transcript-Bulletin (Utah)
More Critic Reviews

Audience Reviews for Life with Father

An interesting, intelligent, and realistic family drama with a great cast. I really liked it, although it was a bit boring at times.

September 5, 2010
ajv2688

Super Reviewer

i'd forgotten all about this charming film based on a long running broadway play. william powell is hilarious as the always exasperated father of a red-headed brood in late 19th century new york. the wonderful irene dunne keeps the family on course. 15 yr old elizabeth taylor has a small part. delightful :)

August 23, 2010
rubystevens
Stella Dallas

Super Reviewer

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Foreign Titles

  • Life With Father (1947) (DE)
  • Life With Father (1947) (UK)
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