Yawn. Poorly Filmed Snooze Fest.

How sad is this?

This is a small, humorous movie in some ways, but it has a huge heart. What a nice experience.

By the time the dramatic fireworks start popping off, each one feels earned.

This is delightful customs comedy to be living each single scene,the father is played by William Powell in your best performance ever...which is a kind of impertinent man who live over our rules,he faces every expenses even has been a rich man,but the main problem reachs when your puritan and religious woman discover that him wasn't get the christian baptism until now,so after that she handle in your own terms,became father's life a real nightmare,a real gem of old cinema that still amuzing us with so funny picture!!!!Resume:First watch: 1980 / How many: 2 / Source: TV-DVD-R / Rating: 9

I used to wonder why William Powell wasn't cast as the grumpy father in Father of the Bride, since he resembled the novel's illustration much more than Spencer Tracy. Maybe he was too likable; maybe he couldn't pull off grumpy and structured, I thought. After watching Life with Father, I stand corrected. William Powell has the market cornered on grumpy and structured. He was even nominated for an Academy Award for this performance! Before we even see him, the audience is exposed to Bill's quirks. The new servant is terrified of making a mistake, since her predecessors usually only last a few days; Irene Dunn walks her through what's expected. The coffee must be piping hot, the muffins must remain in the ceramic container until the last possible moment, the paper must be unwrinkled, the milk gets delivered in a special tin bucket, the stock market must behave itself—and when Bill Powell finally walks on screen, he corrects the foyer clock according to the time on his pocket watch. He complains constantly, berates the servants, criticizes his wife and children, and is downright hostile at the idea of hosting his wife's cousin at their house. The audience is supposed to think he's a terrible beast, especially when he treats Irene with such little respect as they quibble over the household expenses. I saw through it, as I hope many viewers will. This isn't a gruff, abusive man. This is a man trying to uphold the image of "man" in a household of four impressionable sons. In the 1800s, "man" had a very defined role to play. This film shows the difficulties and conflicting emotions involved in maintaining the role.I really love this movie. The oldest son falls in love with a young and beautiful Elizabeth Taylor, and he tries to emulate his father as he realizes he's turning into a man. But when he tries to be gruff and controlling, it backfires. Why can't he act as manly as his father does? The truth: because underneath his exterior, William Powell isn't gruff. He loves his wife more than anything in the world. It really is a touching story.One aspect of the movie might turn some viewers off, but I urge you to keep watching. Bill and Irene constantly argue about religion, and if you're not religious, you might brush the movie off as a "God movie". Just replace it with any other argument in your mind and keep watching the movie. The argument isn't about God, it's about the give and take between husband and wife.Give Life with Father a try. I highly recommend it. And if you like period pieces, it's an excellent portrayal of life in the 1890s. It was nominated for set design and music Oscars, but I think Marjorie Best's costume design should have been honored. The dresses are incredibly beautiful!

William Powell plays Clarence Day, a successful New York City banker, with a huge home on Park Avenue in Manhattan in the 1880s. His wife, Binnie, is played by the wonderful Irene Dunne. Dame Elizabeth Taylor has a supporting role as the girl, Mary Skinner, from the country who comes visiting the city with Binnie's Cousin Cora. The film has dated issues. Anyway, Clarence and Binnie have four sons each with a different and unique personality. Too bad, we didn't get to see more of the youngest. Anyway, Clarence is an overpowering figure in the household enough to scare the latest maid away. They have a revolving list of maids but housekeeper Margaret is there in charge. Most of the scenes take place in the Day home. A revelation is made that stuns Binnie and the family about their patriarch. Anyway, Elizabeth Taylor's early performance is noted here. While she's there, it's really William Powell and Irene Dunne, early Hollywood heavyweights, that bring this play to life in film.

The picture goes steadily downhill once the element of Clarence Day (William Powell) is pressed by Vinnie, his wife, (Irene Dunne) to be baptized.Before this and Vinnie's strange illness, we have a fair comedy here where Powell is a tyrannical head of the household, causing maids to leave and not understanding why. He wants his house to be conducted like a business. Sounds more like N.Y.C. Mayor Bloomberg.The comedic gifts of ZaSu Pitts are totally wasted. In addition, both Elizabeth Taylor and Miss Dunne talk in a sing-song voice which becomes irritating.Edmund Gwenn is in rare form as the minister with his melodious voice. This is the same year that he garnered the supporting Oscar as Santa Claus in "Miracle on 34th Street."Amazing that William Powell won the best actor award from the N.Y.C. film critics for his performance as the erudite father in this film. This is amazing as he beat out Gregory Peck in "Gentleman's Agreement," and eventual Oscar winner-Ronald Colman for "A Double Life."Powell was at his best when he was stubborn in his roles. This film is no exception.The problem was that the film was tedious at best.