DVD Review: Jackie Gleason in Papa’s Delicate Condition
PAPA’S DELICATE CONDITION
Directed by George Marshall. Starring Jackie Gleason, Glynis Johns, Charle Ruggles, Linda Bruhl, Laurel Goodwin, Ned Glass, Murray Hamilton, Elisha Cook jr, Chalres Lane, Don Beddoe, Juanita Moore. Released March 6, 1963. Running time: 98 minutes.
Jackie Gleason was dubbed as The Great One, an accurate description for one of TV comedy’s greatest visionaries. In films, Gleason had more inconsistent success with some great films and some misfires. His best work was on the small screen.
Gleason chose to star in “Papa’s Delicate Condition” because he felt he needed to do a lightweight comedy after such heavy dramas as “The Hustler” and “Requiem for a Heavyweight,” in which Jackie gave fine dramatic performances. And this pleasant, colorful comedy really is the polar opposite of those other two films.
The backstory of this film has Paramount buying the movie rights to silent movie actress Corrine Griffith’s memoirs in 1955 with plans to star Fred Astaire as Corrine’s father Jack. Astaire agreed to play the role after he completed work on the film “Funny Face.” However, by the time production on that film concluded, Astaire had lost interest in the Griffith project, so it was shelved until the studio dusted it off as a vehicle for Gleason.
With Jackie Gleason as the star, the character of Jack Griffith is an effective bigger-than-life character not unlike Gleason himself. When prices go up at a favorite ice cream parlor, he buys the entire business. When his daughter wants a pony in a circus parade, he buys the entire circus. His flamboyant spending results in bad deals when he’s drinking (which is often) and his family being in debt. When his wife and daughters leave him to work on his father-in-law’s mayoral campaign, Jack follows them and attempts to help in his usual grandiose manner, but does little more than cause a disruption. Separated from his family after that, he reconciles with them at the end.
“Papa’s Delicate Condition” is a tour-de-force for Gleason who engages in light comedy and pathos-driven drama with equal effectiveness. The strong supporting cast is filled with showbiz veterans, but Linda Bruhl, who plays Corrine Griffith, made no other films (only a TV spot on “Route 66” and a few commercials). Director George Marshall had helmed films by Laurel and Hardy, Bob Hope, and Jerry Lewis, so his command of the comedy material was spot-on, with Gleason having a good time chewing the scenery.
As this was originally conceived as a musical, some songs did survive to this production, including the Oscar nominated “Call Me Irresponsible” which Gleason delivers with customary gusto.
Kino Lober’s blu ray is a beautiful restoration that really brings out the Technicolor.
It is available here.