MovieChat Forums > Life with Father (1947) Discussion > The part of Clarence Jr.

The part of Clarence Jr.

posted 8 years ago by Florestan51
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One reviewer states: "And the interplay between cute Jimmie Lydon and young Elizabeth Taylor is priceless." Actually this is the only part of the movie that I don't enjoy, and I struggle to think of Jimmy Lydon as being cute. I just find his character somewhat overplayed, and his disputation with Mary (as to who would write first to the other) protracted to the point of tedium. I haven't read Clarence Jr.'s book so I don't know how faithful this part of the movie is.

Overall, though, I love this movie, as silly or disagreeable as some of the characters are, which is surely part of the fun.

[–] CoriSCapnSkip (1562) 5 years ago

The movie Life with Father[/i] is based on the play of the same name which is based (with considerable liberties) on three books by Clarence Day, Jr., [i]Life with Father[/i], [i]Life with Mother[/i], and [i]God and My Father[/i]. Cousin Mary is barely mentioned in a conversation between Mr. and Mrs. Day in [i]Life with Father[/i], and never visits. Vinnie learns Clarence Sr. is not baptized in the chapter "My Mother's Discovery" in [i]God and My Father, when she directly asks his father what church he had been baptized in and Grandpa said he hadn't been baptized at all. The subject arose sometime before Clarence Jr. was fourteen or so, while Mother spoke to him of being confirmed, so not as old as he was in the film. A major difference is that Clarence Jr. in the book is present at his father's baptism, while in the movie the three younger boys ride off with the parents while Clarence Jr. stays with Mary.