Father Was a Fullback
Father Was a Fullback is a 1949 black-and-white film from 20th Century Fox based on a comedy by Clifford Goldsmith. The film is about a college American football star and his woes. The film stars Fred MacMurray, Maureen O'Hara, Natalie Wood, and Betty Lynn.
| Father Was a Fullback | |
|---|---|
 1950 Theatrical Poster | |
| Directed by | John M. Stahl |
| Produced by | Fred Kohlmar |
| Written by | Aleen Leslie Casey Robinson Mary Loos Richard Sale |
| Starring | Fred MacMurray Rudy Vallee Maureen O'Hara Natalie Wood Betty Lynn Thelma Ritter |
| Music by | Cyril J. Mockridge |
| Cinematography | Lloyd Ahern |
| Edited by | J. Watson Webb Jr. |
| Distributed by | Twentieth Century Fox |
Release date |
|
Running time | 84 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Box office | $1.8 million[1] |
Plot summary
State College football coach George Cooper (Fred MacMurray) has more than enough problems on the job without his teenage daughter Connie (Betty Lynn) complicating his life at home. She has written a story but no one has agreed to publish it yet. Furthermore she is convinced that she is unattractive to the opposite sex and wallows in frustrated self-pity. Resigning herself to a loveless existence, she decides to make literature her life. When she gets a check for $180 for a fictional article she pens about a teenage bubble dancer that recently appeared in a confessions magazine, the boys come calling. The young author dates a high school football star from across town who chooses to attend State College (rather than Notre Dame University) to be near his newfound sweetheart. She is the first girl he likes more than football. George's football and domestic problems seem to be solved.
His wife Elizabeth (Maureen O'Hara) and housekeeper Geraldine (Thelma Ritter) support the family members in distress, while the younger sister Ellen (Natalie Wood) helps Connie and her father out during this difficult time. In the end she feels much like her sister did in the beginning.
Cast
Principals
- Fred MacMurray as George "Coop" Cooper, a college football coach
- Maureen O'Hara as Elizabeth Cooper, his wife
- Betty Lynn as Constance "Connie" Cooper, his oldest daughter
- Natalie Wood as Ellen Cooper, his youngest daughter
- Thelma Ritter as Geraldine, his housekeeper
- Jim Backus as Professor "Sully" Sullivan, his neighbor (performing under the name, James G. Backus)
- Rudy Vallee as Mr. Roger "Jess" Jessup, a football supporter
Supporting players
- Robert Adler as Grandstand Bit Part (uncredited)
- Don Barclay as Grandstand "Coach" (uncredited)
- Gilbert Barnett as Stinky Parker (uncredited)
- Rodney Bell as Grandstand "Coach" (uncredited)
- Tom Bernard as Delivery Boy (uncredited)
- Harry Carter as Grandstand Bit Part (uncredited)
- Ruth Clifford as Neighbor (uncredited)
- Heinie Conklin as Ed (uncredited)
- Fred Dale as Cheerleader (uncredited)
- Gwenn Fields as Daphne Sullivan (uncredited)
- Bess Flowers as Football Fan (uncredited)
- Charles Flynn as Policeman (uncredited)
- Tom Hanlon as Radio Announcer (uncredited)
- Sam Harris as Alumnus at Dinner (uncredited)
- Joe Haworth as Skip, Reporter in Locker Room (uncredited)
- Don Hicks as Bill (uncredited)
- Pat Kane as Bellhop (uncredited)
- Kenner G. Kemp as Alumnus at Dinner (uncredited)
- Louise Lorimer as Mrs. Jones (uncredited)
- Lee MacGregor as Cheerleader (uncredited)
- Mike Mahoney as Pete, the Sailor (uncredited)
- Buddy Martin as Cheerleader (uncredited)
- Mickey McCardle as Jones (uncredited)
- John McKee as Cy (uncredited)
- Frank Mills as Assistant Football Coach (uncredited)
- Forbes Murray as Mr. Higgins, College President (uncredited)
- Robert Patten as Manager (uncredited)
- Bill Radovich as Football Player (uncredited)
- William Self as Willie Davis (uncredited)
- Richard Tyler as Hercules Smith a.k.a. Joe Birch (uncredited)
- Wilson Wood as Grandstand "Coach" (uncredited)
Behind the scenes
- Father Was a Fullback marked the second time child actor Natalie Wood was cast as the daughter of Maureen O'Hara's character. The first was in Miracle on 34th Street. A month after the film was released Wood received the Child of the Year Award in celebration of Children's Day.
- Actress Betty Lynn would achieve immortality almost ten years after making Father Was a Fullback as Thelma Lou, Barney Fife's girlfriend in The Andy Griffith Show (1960–1968). Lynn made 26 appearances on the series.
References
- "Top Grossers of 1949". Variety. 4 January 1950. p. 59.