Tonight's Movie: The Courtship of Eddie's Father (1963) - A Warner Archive Blu-ray Review

THE COURTSHIP OF EDDIE'S FATHER (1963) was just released on Blu-ray by the Warner Archive Collection.

It's the story of newly widowed Tom Corbett (Glenn Ford) and his young son Eddie (Ronny Howard). As the film begins they are each returning to work and school following the unexpected death of their wife and mother.

Tom finds a kindly, if somewhat eccentric, housekeeper, Mrs. Livingston (Roberta Sherwood), and gradually tiptoes into the dating scene.

A woman (Stella Stevens) Tom and Eddie chance to meet on an evening out together ends up hitting it off with Tom's colleague (Jerry Van Dyke), but Tom becomes more serious about Rita (Dina Merrill). Unfortunately Eddie doesn't take a shine to Rita, but he's very fond of the divorcee in the apartment across the hall, Elizabeth (Shirley Jones).

Elizabeth was a friend of the late Mrs. Corbett, but while Tom appreciates her kindness to Eddie, he and Elizabeth have a curiously prickly friendship, running hot and cold.

While Eddie struggles with his father's deepening relationship with Rita, she in turn ultimately reveals herself to Tom as being rather like The Baroness from the later THE SOUND OF MUSIC (1965); she suggests that if they are to get married Tom should send Eddie to live with his brother...! An emergency call from Eddie's summer camp helps Tom put his life choices in perspective.

We had this film on VHS when our kids were small, but I shied away from watching it myself, despite liking the cast and having seen most of the other films directed by Vincente Minnelli.

I think I never quite got around to it because, while on the surface it seems like a family comedy, I knew from when my children watched it that it's very much not.

It has funny moments, to be sure, many of them featuring Stella Stevens, but it's actually about a father and son coming to terms with grief and forging a somewhat different relationship in their "new normal."

It does feel as though as couple storytelling steps are skipped; the mother just passed away, yet nothing seems to remain of her presence in the house, other than a framed photograph or two. A scene of Tom sorting her clothes or something similar might have made things feel a bit more complete and less mysterious, especially given there is no explanation for her death.

Other than that, this 118-minute film is quite well-written, with a screenplay by John Gay, based on a novel by Mark Toby. One of the things the movie gets right is the nature of grief and how one must carry on living, but sadness strikes in smaller, unexpected moments. When Eddie becomes hysterical over one of his fish dying, it's really about much more than that.

The film is realistically honest, yet manages to avoid feeling maudlin or manipulative. The script combined with Minnelli's sensitive direction and the performances makes it quite a worthwhile film, and I'm glad I finally watched it.

The role of Tom is perfect for Ford, as he quietly juggles his emotions along with parenting, working, and relationships. It's one of his better performances, and along with the following year's DEAR HEART (1964) is essential Ford viewing.

Jones is also very good as the neighbor who seems to be holding things more together than the grieving widower, only for both Tom and the audience to realize near movie's end that she's also been going through a rough time post-divorce.

As for Howard, one could heap on superlatives. He's quite outstanding and realistic, including being a little annoying at times, but never quite too much. Incidentally, his father Rance plays a summer camp counselor, and his brother Clint is one of the birthday party guests.

As mentioned, Stevens has some good moments as the ditzy yet surprisingly talented former Miss Montana contestant. She has an amusing scene at a bowling alley, and a scene where she plays drums in a nightclub is terrific.

The attractive Warner Archive Blu-ray does a fine job showing off the widescreen color photography of Milton Krasner. It's a new 1080p HD master from a 4K scan of the original camera negative.

Extras on the Blu-ray consist of the trailer; the seven-minute Tom and Jerry cartoon PENTHOUSE MOUSE (1963); and an archival commentary track by Shirley Jones, Dina Merrill, and Stella Stevens. I'm looking forward to listening to it!

Recommended.

Thanks to the Warner Archive for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray. Warner Archive Blu-rays may be ordered from the Amazon Warner Archive Collection Store, Movie Zyng, or from any online retailers were Blu-rays are sold.

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