Life with Father1947Life with Father
1947
In 1880s New York, blustering stockbroker Clarence Day rules his household of four red-haired sons. His wife Vinnie quietly manages him, until she discovers he was never baptized.
The default: films the whole family can watch together; any scary or intense moments for the littlest viewers are flagged in the Context Notes.
Why it’s here
A loving, blustering father and the wife who manages him; family life seen through affectionate comedy. Based on Clarence Day's memoir and the long-running Broadway hit.
Context notes
For parents, before you press play.
Father rules with bluster and Vinnie sometimes steers him with gentle cunning, played for comedy (he is loving underneath). The boys sell a patent medicine that makes their mother ill, and they face the consequences; smoking and a dated joke about Africa.
Life with Father (1947)
Discussion questions
When the credits end, go around the room. Each person gives the film a score out of ten and says why.
- Was Father a good father? Why?
- Why did Vinnie want Father baptized?
- What happened with the patent medicine?
- Which son were you most like?
Content advisory
WebSearch synthesis: smoking; a patent-medicine mishap sickens the mother; dated references; no violence or profanity.
Trailer
Best edition
The disc comes first.
Life with Father (1947)
DVD · April 25, 2023
Blu-ray listed on Blu-ray.com (release date unconfirmed)
Edition link coming soon.
Listing on Blu-ray.com (opens in a new tab)Coming later
Where to stream
Streaming services are not listed yet. When they are, this note stays secondary to the disc.