Sunday, September 27, 2009

Fathers Day...or...Who's Your (favorite) Daddy?

Our new poll takes a look at five accomplished actors in five classic father roles. Which one is your favorite? The nominees are:

Leon Ames as Alonzo Smith in "Meet Me in St. Louis" (1944)...Ames was well known for playing fathers and fatherly figures, though he also had his share of serious roles during his career. His portrayal of successful attorney Smith in one of the ultimate classic family films is timeless. Smith tended to bluster and blow hard, but also had an endearing tender side. The sole breadwinner for his wife, five children and his own father, Smith chose with his heart when faced with deciding between a major career move and his family's happiness. Ames as Smith was an ideal "Turn of the Century" dad.

Claude Rains as Adam Lemp in "Four Daughters" (1938)...TCM's "Star of the Month" for September excelled in every kind of character role. Rains played Adam Lemp in this popular film and its two sequels (Four Wives and Four Mothers). A widower, Lemp was a brilliant master-musician who took in boarders to help meet ends for himself and his four gifted and beautiful daughters. He was the rock in a close-knit family that weathered much melodrama. Rains as Lemp was a noble Depression era dad.

James Stewart as Roger Hobbs in "Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation" (1962)...Stewart played dads many times and Hobbs is one of his standouts. Mr. Hobbs and family embark on a seaside vacation during which everything goes wrong. Hobbs tries his best to deal with every disaster, but becomes increasingly perplexed and frazzled as the vacation progressively unravels. Stewart as Hobbs was an archetypal early 60's dad--it was the "New Frontier" and he was getting pressure on all sides.

Spencer Tracy as Stanley Banks in "Father of the Bride" (1950)...Tracy portrayed a vast array of characters in his career, and this is arguably his best dad role. The film is told from the viewpoint of Banks, a prosperous businessman about to lose his adored daughter to wedded bliss. Sometimes annoyed and often befuddled, Banks manages to muddle through each step leading to his daughter's wedding. Tracy played Banks again in a sequel the following year, Father's Little Dividend. Tracy as Banks was a classic dad of the affluent Post-war 1950's.

Clifton Webb as Frank Gilbreth, Sr. in "Cheaper by the Dozen" (1950)...Webb played villains, eccentrics and various scrupulous types in his career. As Gilbreth, Webb portrayed an early 20th Century pioneer in motion study who tries to apply principles of scientific management to raising 12 children. The film ends with Gilbreth's sudden death and a sequel, Belles on Their Toes, followed minus his character. Webb as Gilbreth was a sometimes-curmudgeonly but oddly charming "Machine Age" dad.

To cast your vote, click on your favorite actor/character in the poll located in the green sidebar to the right.

12 comments:

  1. Wow, Eve, these are tough choices and you make a compelling case for each one. But Mr. Hobbs does get his daughter a date with Fabian...

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  2. For me it's a tie between Webb and Stewart, but I;ll go with Stewart. AKABoom Pa

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  3. Now that I think of it, that date with Fabian could've been a reason to cancel Hobbs out on the spot! Now if he'd gotten her a date with even James Darren (at least his career lasted more than 10 minutes)...my two faves were Tracy and Ames - of course they have the advantage of Vincente Minnelli directing, spectacular co-stars and supporting casts...but I like all these dads (tho I think Clifton and I would have clashed)and films...

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  4. I'm going with Ames, though I prefer him as the father in On Moonlight Bay and By The Light of the Silvery Moon...

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  5. Eve did you see who was playing trumpet in the band at the dance? A young Herb Alpert. Give Hobbs a brake he go "Bird Watching to help is son in law.I like Tracy too.

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  6. MEET ME IN ST.LOUIS is one of my favorite musicals. so.... i put my vote in for Leon Ames.

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  7. --Sigh-- Decisions, decisions . . .

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  8. All wonderful father figures, but Clifton Webb is the one for me in Cheaper by the Dozen. I come from a large family, and that movie always held a place in my heart, makes me bawl like a baby every time!

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  10. I'm still hoping for HOBBS, but Leon Ames deserves some recognition for coping with that famous talking horse on MISTER ED.

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  11. I'm personally not really sure Hobbs is classic enough, but I wanted to include a New Frontier dad and he seemed to fit the bill...wonder what would've happened if I'd included Steve Martin from PARENTHOOD?!?

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  12. I had to vote for Ames! Meet me in St. Louis I love it, but oh man watching it last year when I was leaving my home state of NC to move to MI.... oh I wish my husband would of turned into Ames! LOL
    My actual favorite movie Dad is Darren McGavin as Ralphie's Dad in A Christmas story! He portrayed such the classic ideal realistic dad of our great USA! How can you not just love Darren McGavin in this role!

    In case you don't know who I am.. I am thirtysomething on the CFU too! :)

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