BF’S DAUGHTER
US, 1948, 108 minutes, Black-and-white.
Barbara Stanwyck, Van Heflin, Charles Coburn, Richard Hart, Margaret Lindsay, Keenan Wynn Marshall Thompson, Barbara Laage, Spring Byington.
Directed by Robert Z. Leonard.
Over many decades, from starring roles in the early 1930s to her matriarch in The Big Valley in the 1970s and 80s, Barbara Stanwyck has been a forceful presence on screen – not a blushing violet.
In this adaptation of popular novelist, J.P.Marquand’s postwar novel, she is the daughter of a self-made industrialist, BF, played with his usual strong presence by Charles Coburn, more serious and dominating the usual. The story opens in 1932, with BF succeeding during the Depression as others have not. His money is for his beloved daughter, Pauline, popularly called Polly, and he hopes that she will marry a lawyer whom he admires, Richard Hart.
However, one day, by chance, she is chatting with her friend Apple, Margaret Lindsay, and their over using the word “divine”. A lecturer, Tom, is in the bar, overhears, invites them to eat with him – and Polly is fascinated by him. This is a leading role for Van Heflin. They impulsively marry and she bankrolls, with her father’s money, a lecture tour that he could not do by himself – and he does not know what she has done.
Years pass, World War II has begun, Tom gets a job in Washington DC while Polly builds a huge mansion in Connecticut, something which repels Tom. There is an estrangement, Poly-seeing her husband once a month, suspicious of his behaviour, especially with news of a house in Georgetown where a woman has been set up. It is not what she or the audience think, rather Tom is a do-gooder and the woman dependent on him after his bringing her from Europe to America.
And just as the war gets going, the picture ends romantically.
The director is Robert Z. Leonard, director of a wide range of films, especially at MGM in the 1940s including the Garson- Olivier Pride and Prejudice.
1. The picture of the US in the 1930s and 1940s? The Depression, World War II? Topical in its time? In retrospect?
2. MGM production values, lavish, black-and-white photography, the cast, the director? Locations? Connecticut and mansions? The backwoods? Washington DC? Guam? The musical score?
3. The title, the focus, Polly’s impact? Personality and style, determination?
4. BF, the self-made man, industrialist, humble origins, family relationship, his wife, love for his daughter? His age, experience, managing the Depression? Board meetings, dividends? Hopes for prosperity? Is the Polly Bob? An example of the American dream?
5. Politics, stances, right-wing? Republican? Martin, the radio broadcasts, the attacks on BF, BF listening to the broadcasts?
6. Polly, her age, engagement to Bob, love for her father? Friendship with Apple? Meeting at the bar, Tom listening in, the criticism of the use of the word “divine”? Having a meal with them, Polly and interest, falling in love, staying, talking, fascination? The decision to go to the theatre, to see Hamlet, knowing that Tom would be there, encounter, going home with him?
7. Polly and Bob, decision not to marry, going to see her father, the explanation, his reaction, BF meeting Tom, the tension, the marriage?
8. The honeymoon, the remote cabin, Polly buying things, Tom writing, the agents saying there were no lectures, Polly going to Apple’s wedding, to Bob, going to the agent, doing the deal, Martin witnessing, the financial backing, the tour, Tom’s nervousness, Polly singing and calming him, success, the reports
in the papers?
9. The years passing, Tom and his government job, responsible, going to Washington DC, the war and his being busy?
10. Polly, building the house, Tom coming with Martin, the gatehouse and the caretaker, Tom and his reaction to the house, the tensions, the meal, BF and his questions to Tom, Tom’s harshness? The message to go to Washington? Martin telling Polly the truth about BF’s money for the tour? Tom talking with Polly about it, going back to Washington, never wanting to come back to the house? The phone call, BF and his collapse, Polly going and their talk, his encouraging her to be courageous, his death?
11. Tom, the issue of the funeral, the orders to go to Lisbon, to meet the Dutch girl and bring her to America?
12. Polly, estrangement from Tom, seeing him every month, her suspicions?
13. Martin, his broadcasts, his cynical attitudes? On active service, meetings in Guam, meeting Bob, his disdain for him? The broadcasts, the criticisms of him being a desk person, affluent? Bob and his receiving the dangerous commission, his accepting? Martin and his criticism of Martin flying off, learning the truth, his apology, Polly and Tom listening to the broadcast?
14. Polly, friendship with Apple, staying in her apartment, Apple going to visit her mother, not knowing about Bob, Bob ringing from San Francisco and all being well?
15. Tom, his jobs, his secretaries at the office? The girl in Georgetown? Polly going to see her, discovering she was blind, her story, her admiration for Tom, loving him, and needing him?
16. Tom searching for Polly, Apple’s apartment, Bob being safe, their talking, the truth about the Dutch girl? Polly relieved, Tom and his apology, the final image of kissing and reconciliation?
