MovieChat Forums > The Courtship of Eddie's Father (1963) Discussion > Anyone else find this movie oddly strang...

Anyone else find this movie oddly strange?

posted 9 years ago by thomas196x2000
11 replies | jump to latest

I have watched this twice...once I did not get all the way through it, and there is just some things really odd about this movie.

There are some nice moments...Eddie asking his dad where his mom is, and what she said when he saw her the last. The movie almost works on that level.

But it is odd that he SO wants to get his dad involved with someone else. No kid would be that way. Kids are completely self-centered. It just made no sense.

And WHAT was it with the Stella Stevens character. Her wide-eyed robotic performance...her mechanical drum playing, and she wasn't a ditz, she was more spastic. Her character, from her voice to her actions, is just uncomfortable to watch for the entire movie. I liked the Jerry Van Dyke character, although it was one note.

This whole movie felt like it wanted to take off, but just didn't. I imagine that has something to do with the low rating here. I wanted to like the movie, but it just never gelled for me. I can't quite place it....even Shirley Jones seemed a bit odd here.

The only character AND actor that was believable and worked was Glenn Ford.

For me, this movie had the same kind of emptiness and less-than-complete feel as "Bell, Book and Candle" did, another movie which I really wanted to like and felt it never took off either.

Anyone in agreement?

[–] PenTheater 9 years ago

agreed, I questioned a lot of it,

except I love BB&C, but that may be because of Kim's dress, and Ernie Kovacs, Jack Lemmon and the beat years.

[–] thomas196x2000 9 years ago

I can understand...BB&C is a lot better than this, but still I felt it was a little empty. Some cool style elements, for sure.

[–] rtw416 9 years ago

BB&C feels weird cause Stewart looks too old for Novack....I lost my dad when I was 8 and the last thing I wanted was my mom dating for sure.I remember a repairman hitting on my mom and me butting in and telling the guy that my dad will be home soon,so he better pack up and leave-lol!
Eddie scoping out women for his dad is a unlikely real life occurance.But, you have to admit Ron Howard had pretty good taste in woman-they were all attractive-if you suspend disbelief,the movie isn't that bad..just the curiosity of watching a young Ron Howard act is entertaining on its own.I found myself thinking-this is the same dude who is now a balding multi millionaire director of movies like "CINDERELLA MAN" and "BACK DRAFT" it was fun just jumping back and forth to IMBd to check all the players bio's-who's dead or alive and other trivia.....

[–] tim-arnold777 9 years ago

I didn't find it too awfully strange that Ron Howard's character considered his dad's happiness ahead of his own sense of loss. Maybe kids like that are exceptions to the rule, but God bless those kids who are. I have to agree with Eddie—women with squinty eyes tend to be cold and guarded. I think they squint when they smile so you can't see enough of their dead lifeless eyes to discern that the smile is fake—and so are they. The eyes are the window to the soul. Squinty eyes are the resident closing the door on you.

Ron Howard's acting as a child was organic, natural and irresistible. And that's saying a lot. Not normally partial to gingers.

[–] thegr8defender 9 years ago

Yes, there was definitely a reason why he was such a popular little actor. He was just very good. Natural, charming, sweet, unaffected.

[–] 9 years ago

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[–] thomas196x2000 8 years ago

I have a suggestion for you. Go F yourself.

[–] 8 years ago

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[–] thomas196x2000 8 years ago

You're right about mum. The only part that bothers me is she has to sit and wait while you swallow your dad's ball sack for hours on end. You should have more respect for your elders. That and when you start playing tossed salad with your Uncle Fornius and balancing that with a rousing session of Dirty Sanchez with your own mum. No one should really have to see that.

[–] 8 years ago

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[–] spookyrat1 8 years ago

And WHAT was it with the Stella Stevens character.

Agreed. Her performance makes me laugh in this movie, but for all the wrong reasons.

... even Shirley Jones seemed a bit odd here.

Well she didn't sing for a start, not that I wanted her to.

The only character AND actor that was believable and worked was Glenn Ford.

I thought he was good in the role too.

I imagine that has something to do with the low rating here.

6.8? Pretty high I would have thought. 🐭