In honor of Eddie Murphy’s new release, “Imagine That,” Father’s Day, and the two best dads I know, my own dear father and my darling husband, here’s a list of great movie dads and daughters.
1. A Little Princess I love all the film versions of the classic novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett about the girl who is mistreated by her school headmistress after the death of her adored father but holds on to her dignity, her integrity, and her imagination. The BBC miniseries is the most authentic, but the 1995 film directed by Alfonso Cuarón is beautifully done.
2. To Kill a Mockingbird
3. “Our Vines Have Tender Grapes” Edward G. Robinson took a break from his usual tough guy roles to play the loving father of a little girl (Margaret O’Brien) in this gentle story of a Norwegian immigrant farm family living in Wisconsin. The movie is based on a book inspired by the childhood of the author’s wife.
4. Father of the Bride
5. A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
6. Tyler Perry’s Daddy’s Little Girls
7. Paper Moon
8. Love in the Afternoon
9. Monsoon Wedding
10. The Game Plan Duane “The Rock” Johnson plays a pro quarterback who finds out that he is the father of a little girl and that he has a lot to learn about little girls, about parenting, and about what really matters.
posted June 8, 2009 at 11:20 am
What about “On Golden Pond” – another real-life Father-Daughter movie.
posted June 8, 2009 at 5:43 pm
Thanks for putting “Our Vines Have Tender Grapes” on this list, Nell. Great pick! Edward G. Robinson is at his best, and what a great dad he portrays so lovingly here! This was one of my favorite films as a girl. I found it on VHS years ago and shared it with my family, but now I see, as your lack of a link also reveals, that it is out of print. There are two copies of the original book, which is also excellent, for sale on Amazon.com now.
posted June 8, 2009 at 9:46 pm
Thanks so much, Chattering! This was also a favorite of my family when I was growing up and I remember very well watching the scene of the two children getting washed away in a laundry tub and realizing that it was scarier for the parents than it was for the children. I recently saw it again on Turner Classic Movies and found it even more touching than I had remembered. You’re right that Robinson is wonderful in this movie, and so is Agnes Moorehead as the mother.
posted June 9, 2009 at 6:45 am
A great addition, Tom! Many thanks.
posted June 9, 2009 at 12:28 pm
Cheaper by the Dozen (the first one with Clifton Webb as the father). I loved the part where the oldest daughter takes her dad to the dance and he ends up being the life of the party!
posted June 9, 2009 at 10:01 pm
Oh, Anne! That is one of my favorite scenes in one of my favorite movies. The original “Cheaper by the Dozen” and its sequel are classics and of course based on a real-life family. Thanks so much for mentioning it!
posted June 11, 2009 at 10:32 pm
Solid list … it’s interesting that the majority of your choices involve older movies. Today’s Hollywood seems less interested in this area, one reason which could help “Imagine That” perform better than expected.