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Actors: Spencer Tracy, Elizabeth Taylor, Joan Bennett, Don Taylor, Billie Burke, Moroni Olsen
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| Review Summary and Plot Commentary about Father's Little Dividend |
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Stanley Banks (Spencer Tracy) is currently a very happy man. The kids are grown, the house is paid for and he is looking forward to a vacation with his beautiful wife Ellie (Joan Bennett). All of that is about to change as they are invited to their daughter Kay's (Elizabeth Taylor) for a special announcement.
He realizes something big is brewing because his son-in-law Buckley's (Don Taylor) parents are also present. Stanley thinks that Buckley is going to announce news about a business transaction he has been working on. He is totally floored when they instead announce that Kay is going to have a baby. Everyone else is overjoyed but Stanley's good mood is immediately demolished. He in no way, shape or form wants to be a grandfather. It's too much like being old not to mention all of his free time going out the window. In addition, he has to cope with is wife's instantly crazy behavior as she jumps to make preparations for the coming event. It's not so bad at first as all she wants to do is plan a baby shower. The next thing you know, she is planning major renovations to the house so the expecting couple can move in when the baby arrives. Stanley is horrified! He grumbles his way into the living room where Mother and Father Dunstan (Billie Burke & Moroni Olsen) are waiting with a big announcement. They too are planning big renovations to their house for the children to move in. So begins the competition between grandparents. They are all quickly quieted when Kay explains that they have already bought a home of their own. Ellie is once again chirping like a bird as she now plans to totally decorate their new place. All except the nursery because the project is given to the Dunstan's as a consolation prize.
Besides arguments over what to name the baby, all is well for a couple of months until a phone call in the night. Buckley is calling to see if Kay has gone home. They had a terrible argument and she cannot be found. Stanley drags himself out of the bed and visits the children's apartment. He phones the taxi company only to find that they have dropped Kay at his door. Once again in frustration, he returns home to find her sleeping on the porch swing and vowing never to go back to Buckley. She believes he is being unfaithful because of his late hours at the office. Buckley explains that he is afraid of finances when the baby comes and he has been putting in overtime. Of course the couple do make up and once again, all is well.
As the due date draws nearer everyone sits on pins and needles waiting for the phone to ring. Clothes are piled by the door and the car is kept ready. After a few false alarms, the night finally does arrive. It's a happy healthy bouncing baby boy! He is happy until Grandpa Stanley enters the room then it's all tears. Stanley and the baby just don't get along. This is why he is mortified when he comes home one afternoon to find that he and his wife will be sitting with the baby for the weekend. Ellie talks him into taking the baby for a walk to get to know him better. This is a huge mistake as Grandpa Stanley wanders off to play ball with kids in the park leaving the baby unattended. He returns to find baby and carriage missing. With only hours before his daughter's return what will he do?
--Talea, Resident Scholar
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| Analysis of Father's Little Dividend |
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Ratings are on a 1-10 scale (Low to High)
Plot
Time/era of movie:
- 1930's-1950's
Romance/Love/Hugging
Yes
Kind of romance:
- Unprepared for birthing/child rearing
Main Character
Identity:
- Male
Profession/status:
- business executive
Age:
- 40's-50's
Is this an ordinary person caught up in events?
Yes
Hair color?
- brunette (Brown)
Hair type
- (man) short/standard wavey
Body type
- (man) average
Events of movie makes character more...
- caring
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
How sensitive is this character?
- middling sensitive to others' feelings
Sense of humor?
- Mostly serious with occasional humor
Intelligence
- Average intelligence
Physique
- average physique
Secondary Main Character
Identity:
- Female
Hair color
- brunette (Brown)
Hair style
- (woman) medium/shoulderlgn wavey
Body type
- (man) very skinny
How much in movie?
- 60%
Ethnicity/Nationality
- White (American)
Main Adversary
Identity:
- general circumstances
How much of work is main antagonist actually present in:
- 90%-100%
Setting
United States
Yes
The US:
- California
Style
Accounts of torture and death?
- no torture/death
Movie makes you feel...
- full of laughter
Check here if B&W
Yes
Any profanity?
- None
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Resident Scholar Profiles
TOP SCHOLAR:
 Talea
SCHOLARS:
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Note: the views expressed here are only those of the reviewer(s). | |
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