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Life with Father
 
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Life with Father (1947)

Starring: William Powell, Irene Dunne Director: Michael Curtiz Rating: NR (Not Rated) Format: DVD
2.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (102 customer reviews)

Price: $7.98 & eligible for FREE Super Saver Shipping on orders over $25. Details
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Customers buy this DVD with I Remember Mama DVD ~ Irene Dunne

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  • This item: Life with Father DVD ~ William Powell

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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

Studio: Gotham (dba Alpha) Release Date: 03/29/2007

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102 Reviews
5 star:
 (26)
4 star:
 (13)
3 star:
 (8)
2 star:
 (14)
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 (41)
 
 
 
 
 
Average Customer Review
2.7 out of 5 stars (102 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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79 of 79 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars A terrible desecration of a classic film., September 15, 2004
By ardar88 (Falls Church, VA USA) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Life with Father (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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73 of 75 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars Terrible transfer and sound, November 24, 2004
By Telstar (Los Angeles, Ca USA) - See all my reviews
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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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35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A Classic Flim In Dire Need Of Restoration And A New DVD Release, September 18, 2006
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. This would prove to be among the last great roles for both William Powell and Irene Dunne, who play Clarence and Vinnie Day, and to describe their work as flawless is actually an understatement: we completely believe in them from start to finish. The same is true of the cast in general, which includes a remarkably beautiful Elizabeth Taylor; legendary comic ZaSu Pitt; and even a very young Martin Milner. The costuming and sets also capture the look and feel of the era in remarkable fashion. The film is perfectly executed from start to finish.

But you might as well throw your money away than buy any of the releases presently available on VHS and DVD. There is not a one of them worth a dime: the color is atrocious, the sound is horrific, and the picture so blurry that the only thing you'll get for your money is a headache--and this has been true of every factory release I've seen to date.

It is a terrible shame that such a fine, indeed such a great film has been so incredibly neglected. Fortunately for all concerned, LIFE WITH FATHER continues to turn up on television fairly often. Until there is a restored release, don't buy a VHS or a DVD: tape it from television instead, for I can almost guarantee that the version you find there will be superior.

GFT, Amazon Reviewer
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Most Recent Customer Reviews

1.0 out of 5 stars Life with Father
The sound on this DVD is terrible. You cannot hear the dialogue. You must turn the TV up all the way to hear anything and then and all you hear is static. Read more
Published 10 days ago by JJ

2.0 out of 5 stars This DVD is of very poor quality
Although this is a great old-time movie, don't buy the current DVDs of Life With Father.
From what I read of other reviews, there is no current DVD version of any good... Read more
Published 1 month ago by P. Jacobs

1.0 out of 5 stars Get the digitally remastered version
The audio on this version is atrocious, warbly, hardly understandable most of the time, and even drops out in one part of the movie. Read more
Published 1 month ago by A Big Fan

1.0 out of 5 stars Unfortunate Disappointment
I love Irene Dunne and looked forward to watching this film. DO NOT BUY THIS DVD! The quality is most disappointing.
Published 5 months ago by W. H. Tipton

5.0 out of 5 stars Life With Father DVD
My order arrived very promptly and was in perfect shape. I'm always happy to deal with Amazon ... never have had a bad experience.
Published 6 months ago by Vivien L. Steele

5.0 out of 5 stars A great old film
You have to love the story to enjoy the DVD - because the quality of the DVD is not that great. Nevertheless I gave it five stars because the story is great and the acting is... Read more
Published 6 months ago by Richard Franks

5.0 out of 5 stars GAAAD
It is late nineteenth century New York and the family is well regulated by father, Clarence Day, Sr. (William Powell); Well maybe. Read more
Published 6 months ago by bernie

5.0 out of 5 stars Life With Father
Not yet viewed, saw the original many years ago, worth adding to my collection, will view again and again! They don't make good movies today.
Published 7 months ago by Carrol Greenwood

2.0 out of 5 stars The Sound Quality--And Other Issues
The washed out visuals wouldn't be so hard to take if that were the sole problem. The faded quality sort of adds to the period look in a perverse way. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Gregor von Kallahann

1.0 out of 5 stars life with father
poor quality audio and video. spots in tape missing audio and video. audio could not hear. looked to be a pirated virgin of the second copy
Published 7 months ago by Roger L. Ewell

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