Añade un argumento en tu idiomaIn early 1900s Pennsylvania, Mr. Pennypacker has two company offices -- and two families with a combined total of 17 children. With an office in Harrisburg and an office in Philadelphia, he ... Leer todoIn early 1900s Pennsylvania, Mr. Pennypacker has two company offices -- and two families with a combined total of 17 children. With an office in Harrisburg and an office in Philadelphia, he has successfully kept two separate homes. However, when an emergency requires his oldest s... Leer todoIn early 1900s Pennsylvania, Mr. Pennypacker has two company offices -- and two families with a combined total of 17 children. With an office in Harrisburg and an office in Philadelphia, he has successfully kept two separate homes. However, when an emergency requires his oldest son to find him, Mr. Pennypacker's dual life is revealed.
- Dirección
- Guión
- Reparto principal
- Nancy Pennypacker
- (sin acreditar)
- Babs Pennypacker
- (sin acreditar)
- Ann Pennypacker
- (sin acreditar)
- The Verger
- (sin acreditar)
- Charlie Pennypacker
- (sin acreditar)
- Mary Pennypacker
- (sin acreditar)
- Elizabeth Pennypacker
- (sin acreditar)
- Dick Pennypacker
- (sin acreditar)
Reseñas destacadas
This turn of the last century comedy was based on a Broadway play by Liam O'Brien that ran 221 performances in the 1953 season on Broadway and starred Burgess Meredith. It was considerably expanded for the film as the stage play takes place only in the Pennypacker Harrisburg home.
In fact Pennypacker was a real character, a relative became Governor of Pennsylvania. This Pennypacker on a business trip to Philadelphia met and married another woman and fathered another family there.
In fact Webb as our protagonist neatly compartmentalizes his life in Philadelphia and Harrisburg and arranges it so that he has to look after business affairs in both cities on alternating months. He raises his children to be like himself, freethinkers who question orthodoxy.
Two things bring this happy arrangement which went on for almost a score of years to a halt. First eldest daughter Jill St. John of the Harrisburg family announces her engagement to minister Ron Ely and wants her father home for a quick wedding even if it's not the month to be in Harrisburg. Secondly Webb gets a summons for his advocacy of Darwinism, John Scopes could tell you they had such imbecilic laws back in the day. Richard Deacon has a nice bit as an officious sheriff who is a real bloodhound in tracking Webb from Philadelphia to Harrisburg.
This story bears some resemblance to Webb's Cheaper By The Dozen, but it doesn't work near as well. Oddly enough Webb's character in that film Frank Gilbreath was also a real person. Still The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker holds up pretty good and could be shown to today's audiences.
This throws off Mr. Pennypacker's schedule and when an emergency occurs in Philadelphia, a son there is forced to track him down...and chaos ensues.
I think this was supposed to be a moral lesson...but I felt like it tried to be cute but fell flat.
I was twelve when my family and I first enjoyed this charming confection in 1959 and I find myself still able to appreciate it for what it is.
To start with the production values are sumptuous and greatly enhanced by wide screen, lush colour and authentic sets and costumes.
The casting is first rate with the polished and ever reliable Clifton Webb firmly at the helm and Dorothy McGuire giving an attractive and intuitive performance that I feel ranks as one of her best. Charles Coburn provides some very funny moments and the fresh and lovely Jill St. John represents the younger generation along with David Nelson and others. I love this film and intend watching it again soon. Come on, give it a go.
But Fox did him a disservice by forcing him to play the remarkable man in this film, an 1890s gentleman married to two wives who know nothing about the other's existence. The only remarkable thing is that this time it doesn't work at all, plodding along in an attempt to be fresh and funny while at the same time irritatingly forcing its premise on the viewer by making all the other protesting townspeople look like old fogies.
The only supporting role character worth mentioning is CHARLES COBURN, again adding his own special brand of ornery charm to a role that doesn't deserve his presence. DOROTHY McGUIRE gives another one of her understated performances as one of the wives. Unfortunately, an annoying performance by JILL ST. JOHN (with high-pitched voice playing "young") gets the film off to a bad start. RON ELY is much better as her sweetheart.
Henry Levin's direction is stilted and there's not enough comedy to really enjoy it as a Clifton Webb film. Saddling him with 17 children does not alter the fact that his prissy ways make the basic premise entirely unlikely. This sort of thing (without the bigamy) was done more effectively (and much more pleasantly) in CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN.
Technically, the film is fine. Sets and costumes look good in Technicolor and provide the charm missing in the script.
This sounds just like prime meat for the star of CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN, but there's a major problem: Webb, despite his speeches in this movie, is a self-serving jerk. There's no supercilious wit in his role, just an almost unbreakable self regard. Despite a prime cast that includes Charles Coburn and a fresh-faced Jill St. John, there's a tiredness to the role, as if the studio bought the Broadway stage show with an eye towards keeping Webb's string of titillating family fare going. Because of the way the role is written, it is no such thing. Acting honors to Miss Malone, but this looks like Disney fare of the 1970s.... once you subtract the immorality.
¿Sabías que...?
- CuriosidadesThe film is based on a play which ran for 221 performances on Broadway in 1953-54. Burgess Meredith played Horace (Pa) and Martha Scott played Emily (Ma). Una Merkel played Aunt Jane. In the play, the story was set in Wilmington, Delaware rather than Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
- ConexionesReferenced in Las aventuras de Ozzie y Harriet: The Other Guy's Girl (1959)
Selecciones populares
- How long is The Remarkable Mr. Pennypacker?Con tecnología de Alexa
Detalles
- Duración1 hora 27 minutos
- Relación de aspecto
- 2.35 : 1