THE REMARKABLE MR PENNYPACKER
US, 1959, 87 minutes, Colour.
Clifton Webb, Dorothy McGuire?, Charles Coburn, Ray Stricklyn, Jill St. John, Ron Ely, David Nelson.
Directed by Henry Levin.
The Remarkable Mr Pennypacker is a Clifton Webb comedy. He perfected the brusque, witty and somewhat supercilious screen character. In Laura, The Razor's Edge he did it in a serious context. But as M1r. Belvedere in Sitting Pretty he brought it his own particular comic tone - which he was to repeat in many films during the '50s including Dreamboat. He was also the star of Cheaper By The Dozen - and this film is somewhat reminiscent of that comedy.
Mr Pennypacker is a free thinker is Harrisburg at the turn of the century. It appears that he is also a bigamist, spending alternate months with a family in Harrisburg and a family in Philadelphia. (Somewhat reminiscent of the Alec Guinness comedy, The Captain's Paradise.)
Dorothy McGuire? (who appeared with Webb in Three Coins in the Fountain) is the gentle wife. A young Jill St. John is the eldest daughter. Charles Coburn enjoys himself blustering as Webb's father.
There are a lot of comments about free thinking, American manners and morals and a pleasant piece of American period comedy.
1. An entertaining comedy? Piece of Americana? A reflection on American morals and values - with the light touch?
2. Harrisburg and Philadelphia at the turn of the century? Decor and costumes? Inventions?
3. The title and the ironic focus on Mr. Pennypacker? His ideas, behaviour? Free thinking? His theories on bigamy? - But the finale with his marriage to one woman only, forsaking all others?
4. Clifton Webb's wit, acid and supercilious style as Mr. Pennypacker? His behaviour in his home? With Emily, with the children? His going away for one month? The revelation of his other family? His free thinking, the series of cartoons on Darwin's theories - with the insult to the Police Chief? The arrival for the wedding? The car turning over - and his confrontation with the cow and burning the hay? His being caught out? His father's attack on him? Emily's grief? The children running away? Dr. Fielding and his reaction? The arrest and his night in the cells? His release? The family council and their forgiving him? Emily's visit to Philadelphia? The wedding - and the reconciliation and new wedding for Horace and Emily? A sardonic character? A comment on American values?
5. The theme of bigamy gently presented? Horace Pennypacker and his love for Emily and her children, his devotion? His business? His devotion to his other family? The pros and cons of bigamy? The reaction of the various characters? The finale?
6. Emily and her family, their genteel way of life? Her bringing up of the family? Kate and the prospective wedding? The shock at the truth? Emily being hurt? Her visit to Philadelphia, meeting the other children? Her hard stance on the issue? The new wedding?
7. The two families of children - and their similarities? The detail of children's behaviour? Kate, the bicycle, her love for Wilbur? The proposal? Dr. Fielding and his hesitation? The crisis of the bigamy? Kate and her being hurt? The reconciliation and the happy wedding?
8. Mr. Pennypacker Senior and his firm, arrival in the house, bluster, the bailiff and his attack, the night in jail, his attitudes towards his son? Jane as the spinster, her fainting? Her going to help the family in Philadelphia?
9. The touches of domestic life? The changing ways of the 20th century? Inventions? Business? Manners and morals?
