Movie very well represent extremist time, time of religion. Just awful time. I'll show this movie to my children, to show them how was time of extreme religion when people didn't think with their head.

If you watch this film because you adore the urbane and witty William Powell, you're going to be sorely disappointed. In this film he is a stodgy old tyrant (well, that may be overstating it a bit, but not much). So for me, this rather famous movie was rather disappointing. And it didn't end with Powell; I was equally disappointed with Irene Dunne. Oh, it's not their fault. It's just the nature of the characters they play here.The cast is interesting. Elizabeth Taylor is along as the female romantic interest for teenager Jimmy Lydon ("Henry! Henry Aldrich! Coming mother!"). Edmund Gwenn is here as a minister. Zazu Pitts has a small part. Martin Milner ("Route 66") plays one of the middle sons. And, there are a number of other fine character actors.Staid. That's the perfect word to describe this film. This film has its moments, but they are few and far between. And, usually I like this type of film.Ah well. Maybe it's just me. But I won't want to watch this again.

William Powell as Wall Street broker Clarence Day, a devout Republican, penny-pincher, and eternally-fussy family man in 1880s New York. He's an insufferable prig, the kind of man who refuses to kneel at church and makes maids cry. His lashing out at everyone is supposed to blustery and charming--holding up a 'mirror' to the audience so that we can see what funny fools we all are. This would acceptable if Powell's performance were indeed a hoot but, instead, his Clarence Day is a lead-weight: Ebenezer Scrooge without the benefit of Christmas. Donald Ogden Stewart's screenplay (adapted from the insanely long-running Broadway hit by Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, from Day's memoir), is full of big entrances, punched-up laugh lines, and broad exposition. One gets the feeling that Ogden Stewart grew up in the theater and remained there throughout his adulthood. The picture has handsome color, and the casting benefit of a girlish Elizabeth Taylor as a love-interest for Powell's eldest son (whose voice cracks like a 12-year-old's, though the actor portraying him is at least 20). As for Powell, his nasty disposition is finally (and predictably) sentimentalized, as if the ultimate purpose of this piece was simply to melt our hearts. Bah! ** from ****

The picture goes steadily downhill once the element of Clarence Day (William Powell) is pressed by Vinnie, his wife, (Irene Dunne) to be baptized.Before this and Vinnie's strange illness, we have a fair comedy here where Powell is a tyrannical head of the household, causing maids to leave and not understanding why. He wants his house to be conducted like a business. Sounds more like N.Y.C. Mayor Bloomberg.The comedic gifts of ZaSu Pitts are totally wasted. In addition, both Elizabeth Taylor and Miss Dunne talk in a sing-song voice which becomes irritating.Edmund Gwenn is in rare form as the minister with his melodious voice. This is the same year that he garnered the supporting Oscar as Santa Claus in "Miracle on 34th Street."Amazing that William Powell won the best actor award from the N.Y.C. film critics for his performance as the erudite father in this film. This is amazing as he beat out Gregory Peck in "Gentleman's Agreement," and eventual Oscar winner-Ronald Colman for "A Double Life."Powell was at his best when he was stubborn in his roles. This film is no exception.The problem was that the film was tedious at best.