Father's Little Dividend

Overview

"Vincente Minnelli's sequel to Father of the Bride, Father's Little Dividend, comes to DVD with a standard full-frame transfer that preserves the original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.33:1. The English soundtrack is rendered in Dolby Digital Stereo. There are neither subtitles nor closed-captions on this release. There are no supplemental materials of any consequence, but this Alpha title is inexpensive making it worthwhile for fans of the film."

Product Details

Release Date:	01/22/2002
UPC:	0089218307392
Original Release:	1951
Source:	Alpha Video
Presentation:	[B&W]
Language:	English
Time:	1:21:00
Sales rank:	52,358

Cast & Crew

Performance Credits

Spencer Tracy	Stanley Banks
Elizabeth Taylor	Kay Dunstan,Buckley Dunstan
Joan Bennett	Ellie Banks
Billie Burke	Doris Dunstan,Actor
Moroni Olsen	Herbert Dunstan
Russ Tamblyn	Tommy Banks
Richard Rober	Police Sergeant
Marietta Canty	Delilah
Tom Irish	Ben Banks
Hayden Rorke	Dr. Andrew Nordell
Paul Harvey	Rev. Galsworthy
Frank Faylen	Policeman
Beverly Thompson	Nurse
Dabbs Greer	Taxi Driver
Robert B. Williams	Officer
Frank Sully	Diaper Man
James Menzies	Mike,Red
Harry Hines	Old Man
Nancy Valentine	Bridesmaid
Wendy Waldron	Bridesmaid
Lon Poff	Elderly Man on Porch
George Bruggeman	Gym Instructor
Donald Clark	The Dividend
Albert Sendrey	Composer

Technical Credits

Albert Hackett

Frances Goodrich

Vincente Minnelli	Director
Albert Hackett	Screenwriter
Frances Goodrich	Screenwriter
Pandro S. Berman	Producer

Editorial Reviews

This sequel to Father of the Bride cannot really stand up to the original, but on its own terms, Father's Little Dividend is an amusing, lightly enjoyable little film. There's definitely a sense of déjà vu to the film, not only because it's a sequel, but because it is revisiting territory that has been trod many times. Complicating matters is the fact that there's no real plot to the film, merely a series of episodes which, on the surface, fit together but which don't really add up to a satisfying whole. Add to this some overly contrived situations -- including the climactic sequence in which the viewer is asked to believe that Spencer Tracy would leave a baby unprotected in a carriage while he plays with a group of boys -- and it's easy to see why the film falls short of classic status. Fortunately, it does have an expert cast to help it over the rough spots, with Tracy leading the way with his usual gruff-but-lovable routine. Director Vincente Minnelli seems a bit hampered by the script and by the necessity of filming in black-and-white, but he does find a number of arresting shots, and his staging of the sequence in which Elizabeth Taylor comes to feel overwhelmed by those around her is very well-handled. Dividend is not an outstanding comedy, but it is pleasant and diverting.