Happy Father’s Day…or Not

 

This Sunday, millions of dads will be so happy to receive a tie. It’s Fathers Day and, I hope, most have wonderful dads. I had a wonderful dad even though, at times, he could be mean and unfair, but, overall he was a very good man and one who could be downright sweet. I miss my dad every day and he died 38 years ago. This got me thinking, for every Gregory Peck, who played the best dad ever, Atticus Finch, you have Darth Vader who tortures and fights his children, cutting off his one kid’s hand. I decided to go the mean route and choose dads who are just nasty S. O. B.’s. So here we go…

1. BROKEN BLOSSOMS-1919

I know I spoke about this 107 year old movie( holy crap! I saw this film when it was only 65 yrs old) before, but it really fits this theme because it is one of the first films to show an abusive parent. Donald Crisp plays the brutish, ex-boxer who takes out his frustrations on his sad, little daughter who has no clue what kindness means, played so well by the great Lillian Gish. She can only smile by using her fingers to move her lips into a smile. On another part of the city is a Chinese man, played so humbly, by white Richard Barthlemess, who came to America to spread the word of Buddhism. He quickly finds out that the States is not wanting to know anything about Buddhism ( except for Richard “ anyone see my pet gerbil”  Gere) and he is relegated to have some smoke in their own opium dens. When he sees the young girl, he falls, very innocently,  in love with her. When he finds her, nearly beaten to death by her dad, he brings her to his tiny oasis of his home and treats her with respect and reverence. This is the first time, she has ever experienced kindness and is unsure how to react. When her nasty father finds out where she is, all hell breaks loose. This film, directed by D. W. Griffith, is chock full of rascist stereotypes from the opium dens to all the white guys getting high on opium playing Chinese men. I saw this film in film class and we all laughed when the words came up letting us know what each was saying. Gish kept calling her friend, “ Chinky” just not the right thing to say. The professor, quite rightly, chastised us for laughing and to remember when the film was made and by who. Griffith meant to show this  with respect and that this was a love story, pretty bold for the times since it is between a white girl and Asian man. It is worth a look.

2. THE BARRETTS OF WIMPOLE STREET-1934

This is the true story of the love affair between Elizabeth Barrett Browning and Robert Browning and the major conflict they had to deal with regarding her dad, played so menacingly by Charles Laughton. This evil bastard makes sure to keep his daughters all to his own literally crippling his one daughter, Elizabeth ( played by Norma Shearer), by mental and emotional abuse. Her poetry becomes famous bringing Robert Browning( played by Fredric March) to write to her and, before long, their letters become one of affection and love. When Browning and Elizabeth meet, love is in bloom, but not if Laughton has anything to do with it. I need to re-see this film since it has been decades, but I was enthralled by their love for each other and the nastiness of Laughton. In fact, Laughton suggested via his mannerisms, that he loved his daughters  the way you are not supposed to which makes him more heinous. Due to this film, I started to read poetry starting with these 2 and venturing to other greats like Byron and Shelley.

3. CHINATOWN-1974

“My Mother, ( slap), my sister ( slap), my daughter” so yells Faye Dunaway to her lover, Jack Nicholson, who slaps her when he realizes she is not telling him the truth. This is a modern film noir, directed by Roman Polanski, who, memorably, makes a cameo as a short, freak thug who slices Jack’s nose. Throughout most of the film, Jack wears a Nose bandage throughout most of the film. He is hired by femme fatale Dunaway, and becomes involved with the water reservoir and the fight between the land owners and the money men who control the water. Head of that fight is the very evil Cross, played so perfectly, by John Huston. Huston’s voice and mannerisms create a character that is both charming and evil to the core. What he does to his daughter is beyond reprehensible. Well acted, with a typical, convoluted plot and music that evokes the feel of this film noir set in the 1930s, helps you become invested in this film. 

What Nasty dads can you think of? 

By the way, the newer to yesterday’s music post, “Sooner or Later” won the Oscar, “Somewhere In My Memory” was nominated and “ It Must Have Been Love” came up empty-handed. FYI..the other nominees were, “Blaze of Glory” by Bon Jovi from  Young Guns 2; “I’m Checkin’ Out” written by Shel Silverstein from the movie, Postcards From The Edge; and “Promise Me You’ll Remember”  by Carmine Coppola with lyrics by John Bettis from The Godfather 3.