The shelf

The Seven Little Foys (1955) poster

All Ages

The Seven Little Foys

1955

Vaudeville comedian Eddie Foy cares more for the stage than for family life, even after marrying and having seven children. When his wife dies, he has to learn to be a father, and puts the children into his act.

The default: films the whole family can watch together; any scary or intense moments for the littlest viewers are flagged in the Context Notes.

Runtime
1 hour 33 minutes
Rating
NR
Director
Melville Shavelson
Cast
Bob Hope, Milly Vitale, George Tobias, Angela Clarke, and Herbert Heyes
Picture
Color
Genre
Music, Comedy, Drama
Shelf
Family

Why it’s here

A self-centered entertainer learns to be a father. The James Cagney dance with Bob Hope is a delight.

Context notes

For parents, before you press play.

Eddie neglects his children for his career, and his wife's death leads to grief and a custody fight; the film shows him grow into fatherhood. Nothing else of note.

Discussion questions

When the credits end, go around the room. Each person gives the film a score out of ten and says why.

  1. Why did Eddie neglect his family at first?
  2. What changed him?
  3. How did the kids feel about performing?
  4. Which number was the funniest?

Content advisory

WebSearch synthesis (TV-G): a mother's death; grief; a custody conflict; no notable violence or language.

Best edition

The disc comes first.

The Seven Little Foys (1955)

DVD · November 21, 2000

Coming later

Where to stream

Streaming services are not listed yet. When they are, this note stays secondary to the disc.

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