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Life with Father (1947)

William Powell , Irene Dunne , Michael Curtiz  |  NR |  DVD
3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (207 customer reviews)

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Life With Father - 1947 Color (Digitally Remastered Version)
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Product Details

  • Actors: William Powell, Irene Dunne, Elizabeth Taylor, Edmund Gwenn, Zasu Pitts
  • Directors: Michael Curtiz
  • Writers: Clarence Day, Donald Ogden Stewart, Howard Lindsay, Russel Crouse
  • Producers: Jack L. Warner, Robert Buckner
  • Format: Color, NTSC
  • Language: English
  • Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  • Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
  • Number of discs: 1
  • Rated: NR (Not Rated)
  • Studio: Alpha Video
  • DVD Release Date: June 4, 2002
  • Run Time: 118 minutes
  • Average Customer Review: 3.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (207 customer reviews)
  • ASIN: B000067IVZ
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #4,364 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)
  • Learn more about "Life with Father" on IMDb

Special Features

None.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Ah, remember those good old days when father ruled the roost, keeping a tight rein on the money, the kids, and the docile wife? Well, neither does Clarence Day (William Powell), the title character in Life with Father. Taking place in New York in 1883, this charming comedy purports to show the life of a strict father managing his house and his family, only to be constantly--and unknowingly--out-manipulated by his somewhat ditzy wife, Vinnie (Irene Dunne). Day is terrifying enough that maids keep quitting, but Vinnie manages to keep Day under control--that is, until she discovers that he was never baptized. A battle ensues as she desperately tries to ensure that they will one day meet in heaven, and all the while he severely maintains that the church has no business messing with a man's soul. Meanwhile, young Clarence Day Jr. (Jimmy Lydon) is busy falling for visiting Mary Skinner (played gigglingly by Elizabeth Taylor), and his brother John concocts a money-making scheme that involves the selling of a rather dubious potion. The costumes, the characters, and the wonderful story line--based on a play that was based on the memoir written by Clarence Day Jr.--make this a delightful movie that's perfect for a family-film night. --Jenny Brown

Product Description

Irene Dunne, William Powell, Elizabeth Taylor. A delightful family comedy set in turn-of-the-century New York. Based on Lindsay & Crouse's hit Broadway play and nominated for four Academy Awards including Best Actor for Powell. 1947/color/118 min/NR/fullscreen.

Customer Reviews

Poor sound, picture quality. Erik D. Gosswiller  |  24 reviewers made a similar statement
The ceramic dog goes back in exchange for the new suit. Acute Observer  |  2 reviewers made a similar statement
Great family funny movie. Ron D. Lowry  |  18 reviewers made a similar statement
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
121 of 123 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars A terrible desecration of a classic film. September 15, 2004
By ardar88
Format:DVD
This movie is an all-time classic and easily rates five stars. The DVD version, however, is absolutely atrocious. Very poor sound quality and a washed out picture with color so bad it looks almost like it's in black and white. This movie was filmed in sumptuous Technicolor, but you'd never know it from this DVD. The VHS release of several years back is far superior. No DVD extras either, just a lousy print and nothing else. Is this the best they could do?

This is a perfect gem of a movie that screams for a major restoration! Until that happens, steer clear!
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69 of 69 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
As an adult, Clarence Day Jr. (1874-1935) joined his well-known father on Wall Street--but developed a form of arthritis that left him a semi-invalid. Shortly before his death he published LIFE WITH FATHER, a humorous memoir of his Victorian childhood; sadly, he did not live to see its great success. A best seller, the novel was adapted to the stage in 1939 by Howard Lindsay and Russell Crouse. Warner Bro.s bought the film rights, agreeing to wait until the show finished its Broadway run; as it happened the studio had a long wait, for the play went on to become one of Broadway's longest running shows, playing almost eight years.

In acquiring the rights, Warner Bro.s also gave Clarence Day's widow and playwrights Lindsay and Crouse substantial power over the film version. Censorship issues of the day prevented an absolute translation of the script to the screen, but on the whole the script survived the transformation extremely well, and fueled by a host of flawless performances and remarkably fine production values LIFE WITH FATHER became as memorable on screen as it was on stage.

Clarence Day is an eccentric man, absolutely certain that he alone is correct in all decisions, and eternally running afoul of wife Vinnie's scatterbrained logic, his four sons, visiting relatives, and terrified servants. When a conversation reveals that he has never been baptised, Mr. Day laughs the matter off--but Vinnie is determined that he will be baptised whether he likes it or not. Comic battlelines are drawn, and the result is a hilariously amusing portrait of Victorian manners and attitudes about everything from religion to the place of women in the world.

The performances are superlative.
... Read more ›
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71 of 72 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Just Beautiful November 14, 2009
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
It's just beautiful. We've waited a long time for this...I just can't understand why Warner Brothers did'nt do it from start because it's a high profile classic picture...but Digi-Com you did great and it will certainly pay off. The DVD on our 32 inch plasma set looks like a live television picture rather than a movie. In addition to fixing the color and sound, every little tiny speck of scratch and dust and whatever is gone, and there is zero left/right movement back and forth as a film looks like going through a projector. It does look like live TV. Just beautiful.

Thanks.

Steve Spears
Orrs Island, Maine
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90 of 93 people found the following review helpful
2.0 out of 5 stars Terrible transfer and sound November 24, 2004
By Telstar
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
Although this is better than the unwatchable Madacy DVD, it still is horrible. There is 60 Hz hum throughout the audio, audio that is distorted and clipped, and a rather grainy, noise full video print. Max Steiner's inventive variation-on-a-theme music score is ruined.

If this is the best that can be done with this delightful movie, it is a true pity.

Someone, please restore this to glory.
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36 of 37 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars Life With Father November 30, 2009
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
They did a good job remastering this movie. You can actually watch this one.
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25 of 25 people found the following review helpful
1.0 out of 5 stars Terrible DVD does not do justice. April 25, 2008
Format:DVD
I love this movie and I have an old VHS copy which I taped myself. I thought by purchasing a brand new DVD, modern and latest technology, I would have a better quality movie. However, I was horribly wrong. This is the worst copy of a movie I've ever had. Not only is the color way too blue, the sound and voices skips and breaks. But probably more distracting and annoying is the reverse in some of the scenes - for instance, the stairwell in the opening early scene -- looking towards the stairwell from the entrance, the railing is on the right and the wall is on the left; so if someone is coming down the steps the railing will be to their left, but in the next scene when Vinnie comes down the stairs, the railing is on her right, and as she walks into the dining room, the background image shows the stairwell railing is now on the left again. I don't know how the transfer to DVD actually accomplished this reversal. It is unfortunate for such a great movie to have such a horrible transfer to DVD - it is not worthy of the quality of the movie. And it is very annoying to a Classic movie lover.
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29 of 30 people found the following review helpful
5.0 out of 5 stars At last, a perfect DVD for this classic movie. December 15, 2009
Format:DVD|Amazon Verified Purchase
This DVD is perfect in every way, technically, and all others, so far as I can tell. For those who love this splendid classic movie, it is just what we have been waiting for.
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16 of 16 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:DVD
I watched this movie many years ago on AMC. It made me laugh outloud! I cannot understand why the DVD transfer is so poor.The colors are faded and the sound is so garbled that you can't understand what they are saying. This is the kind of film that deserves to be transferred by real professionals. If that ever happens I will buy a new copy. The one I own, I will keep as a reminder that Madacy entertainment=poor quality.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
1.0 out of 5 stars Poor Product
Poor product - muffled sound and blurry picture. Shop somewhere else for this oldie but goodie. Try getting it at dvdplanet.com
Published 12 days ago by Waytogo
5.0 out of 5 stars One of the best classic movies of all time!
May not make everyone's list but my BF and I just love this movie. William Powell and Deborah Kerr are both in top form and the supporting cast wonderful. Great classic film!
Published 1 month ago by Lotsof Sole
1.0 out of 5 stars The only time I was disappointed...........
Unfortunately, the sound was horrible. The picture was great. This movie is a classic and a favorite. Read more
Published 1 month ago by Regenia Higgs
5.0 out of 5 stars WONDERFUL Movie...though reviews of this product are poor.
This is WONDERFUL Family Entertainment. Well-written, well-cast and exceptionally well-acted, with a great look. You'll want it in your family library. Read more
Published 2 months ago by eswan
5.0 out of 5 stars So good
Such a funny old timer. Love the family and staff characters. Another movie to bring out, watch and feel good.
Published 2 months ago by Alison Dashwood
5.0 out of 5 stars OH DAFT
What a lovely light hearted old movie. Watch it and enjoy it. You will laugh. And who couldn't use a good laugh these days
Published 2 months ago by V. MCconnell
5.0 out of 5 stars classic
This is a great classic movie. Filled with humor and definitely G rated. If you like good, clean movies, then this is for you!
Published 2 months ago by Jan R.
2.0 out of 5 stars I like the movie, that why I bought a copy
I like the movie, that why I bought a copy - but beware. There is no copy right on it so you can buy a rotten copy like I did. I ended u[ throwing it way it was so poor.
Published 2 months ago by Steven R. Maxey
5.0 out of 5 stars Family friendly
This a nice movie with good actors. If you need a break from the kill or be killed movies, this is the moive for you.
Published 2 months ago by Davette M. Anderson
5.0 out of 5 stars Great movie. You'll love it.
If you like William Powell you will love this movie. Very family friendly and funny. I would watch it again.
Published 2 months ago by Justin Kunst
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