Sunday, June 19, 2011

Radio review – TGA – “Papa Is All” (1946) **

Tiresome family comedy set amongst the Pennsylvanian Dutch Mennonites, a conservative religious sect. Dad (played here my Oscar Homolka) is very strict, so much so he won’t let his son follow his dreams, his daughter marry a boy, or his wife (Aline MacMahon) buy some useful electrical appliances. Then Dad dies, everyone is happy and start to relax. Then he comes back – he’s not really dead. It’s a comedy, supposedly, but it’s too unpleasant to work – would have been better as a thriller or drama. It’s so lame, so tired. I’m beginning to loathe these Theatre Guild comedies.

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