ada
the leading man is my tpye
Evengyny
Thanks for the memories!
MamaGravity
good back-story, and good acting
SeeQuant
Blending excellent reporting and strong storytelling, this is a disturbing film truly stranger than fiction
mark.waltz
"She'll write like any other American girl, when she needs money." That's what happens when Sandra Dee heads off to college, ending father James Stewart's homebound headaches but adding new ones. It's too soon for him to learn that silence is deafening as he still has one daughter at home, as well as a straight talking wife (Audrey Meadows), maybe no longer a Honeymooner, but still gifted with that delightful raspy voice that could crack ice. If having been approached for autographs by kids who think that he was the star of "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" isn't enough, he has to hear wife quote "Que Sera Sera" from "The Man Who Knew too Much". But those un-plot related references to other Jimmy Stewart movies are forced laughs, while the real plot line has him recounting his story to the executives and board of his employers, deciding whether or not to ask for his resignation or fire him.An often eye rolling farce tests trying too hard to be "hip", this uses Stewart's hearing at his job and phone calls to explain what's going on in the story. If this reveals anything, it's the ridiculousness of some college aged kids obsession with social issues (often doing it simply to be involved with the crowd, not even understanding the whole issue), and getting involved with the "wrong" crowd. Stewart, getting involved in trying to talk some sense into his daughter, keeps getting into hot water thanks to his dizzy daughter. Bob Denver adds a few minor chuckles as a beatnik college student, while John McGiver plays the stereotypical staid stick in the mud businessman. One thing the script does get right in this unbelievable version of a forgotten Broadway hit is the description of Dee as "Cuckoo, the Bird Girl", unintentionally getting pop into trouble, but he's no rocket scientist either. There have been much better films (comic and dramatic) about the generation gap, here proving that the gap is located between both generation's ears. The film is too episodic to really grab the viewer completely, stuck in its decade and locked on its reels with superglue. Poor Meadows is sadly wasted as the stereotypical mom, no different than Joan Bennett was in "Father of the Bride", window dressing only. Unlike the quietly ignored Spencer Tracy in that film, though, Stewart keeps making a fool out of himself, perhaps a good reason as to why pop always pays but never gets involved. Pretty photography in exotic settings doesn't hide the film's mediocrity, complete with some truly stinky songs, including one about Paris that I hope to never hear again, especially as sung by the tone deaf Ms. Dee.
Nazi_Fighter_David
Once again Stewart was the unlucky husband and father (this time an attorney) who must keep fun-loving, adventurous daughter Dee out of trouble
In college, the intrepid miss gets herself into the Bohemian lifestyle
When Stewart visits to check up on her, he ends up in trouble with the police himself, with the consequent embarrassment of unwanted publicity
Having been dismissed from college, Dee flies to Paris, where her father tracks her again
Dee has taken up with avant-garde painter Phillippe Forquet, who is as eccentric as he is handsome
Stewart winds up in a bizarre-looking costume at a bohemian ball, falls into the Seine, and gets arrested by the French police
Finally, a promise of relative stability is presaged when Dee and Forquet head to the altar
Back home (and greatly relieved to be there), Stewart realizes that his middle-aged domesticity with Anne (Audrey Meadows) will be short-lived
Their second daughter has reached an age to rival, and possibly surpass her older sister's tendency for unpredictable mischief-making
Meadows was just the woman to complement Stewart's hi-jinks
Morley and McGiver enriched the elements
catchclaw
An all around fun movie from a time when they didn't have to rely on foul language, sex, and violence for their plots. I had never seen Sandra Dee in anything other than her Gidget roles. Wish they made movies like that today - a comedy that was actually funny. :)
Coxer99
A naive teen provides plenty of excitement for her well intentioned Dad, who tries keeping her on an even keel. Fun for die hard fans of Jimmy Stewart, like me. Originally, a play which starred Art Carney and Elizabeth Ashley, who won a Tony for her performance.