''Father Was a Fullback'' is a 1949

black-and-white Black-and-white (B&W or B/W) images combine black and white in a continuous spectrum, producing a range of shades of grey. Media The history of various visual media began with black and white, and as technology improved, altered to color. ...

film from

20th Century Fox 20th Century Studios, Inc. (previously known as 20th Century Fox) is an American film production company headquartered at the Fox Studio Lot in the Century City area of Los Angeles. As of 2019, it serves as a film production arm of Walt Dis ...

based on a comedy by

Clifford Goldsmith Clifford Goldsmith (March 29, 1899 – July 11, 1971) was an American writer, best known for his play ''What a Life'', from which ''The Aldrich Family'' radio and television series and the ''Henry Aldrich'' film series were derived. In 1943, ''T ...

. The film is about a college

American football American football (referred to simply as football in the United States and Canada), also known as gridiron, is a team sport played by two teams of eleven players on a rectangular field with goalposts at each end. The offense, the team with ...

star and his woes. The film stars

Fred MacMurray Frederick Martin MacMurray (August 30, 1908 – November 5, 1991) was an American actor. He appeared in more than one hundred films and a successful television series, in a career that spanned nearly a half-century. His career as a major film le ...

Maureen O'Hara Maureen O'Hara (; 17 August 1920 – 24 October 2015) was a native Irish and naturalized American actress and singer, who became successful in Cinema of the United States, Hollywood from the 1940s through to the 1960s. She was a natural ...

Natalie Wood Natalie Wood ( Zacharenko; July 20, 1938 – November 29, 1981) was an American actress who began her career in film as a child and successfully transitioned to young adult roles. Wood started acting at age four and was given a co-starring r ...

, and Betty Lynn.

Plot

State College football coach George Cooper has more than enough problems on the job without his teenage daughter Connie complicating his life at home. She has written a story but no one has agreed to publish it yet. Furthermore she is convinced that she is unattractive to the opposite sex and wallows in frustrated self-pity. Resigning herself to a loveless existence, she decides to make literature her life. When she gets a check for $180 for a fictional article she pens about a teenage bubble dancer that recently appeared in a confessions magazine, the boys come calling. The young author dates a high school football star from across town who chooses to attend State College (rather than

Notre Dame University The University of Notre Dame du Lac, known simply as Notre Dame ( ) or ND, is a private Catholic research university in Notre Dame, Indiana, outside the city of South Bend. French priest Edward Sorin founded the school in 1842. The main campus ...

) to be near his newfound sweetheart. She is the first girl he likes more than football. George's football and domestic problems seem to be solved. His wife Elizabeth and housekeeper Geraldine support the family members in distress, while the younger sister Ellen helps Connie and her father out during this difficult time. In the end she feels much like her sister did in the beginning.

Cast

Principals

Fred MacMurray Maureen O'Hara Father was a fullback 1949

as George "Coop" Cooper, a college football coach *

as Elizabeth Cooper, his wife * Betty Lynn as Constance "Connie" Cooper, his oldest daughter *

as Ellen Cooper, his youngest daughter *

Thelma Ritter Thelma Ritter (February 14, 1902 – February 5, 1969) was an American actress, best known for her comedic roles as working-class characters and her strong New York accent. She won the 1958 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical, and received s ...

as Geraldine, his housekeeper *

Jim Backus James Gilmore Backus (February 25, 1913 – July 3, 1989) was an American actor. Among his most famous roles were Thurston Howell III on the 1960s sitcom '' Gilligan's Island,'' the father of James Dean's character in ''Rebel Without a Cause ...

as Professor "Sully" Sullivan, his neighbor (performing under the name, James G. Backus) *

Rudy Vallee Rudy or Rudi is a masculine given name, sometimes short for Rudolf, Rudolph, Rawad, Rudra, Ruairidh, or variations thereof, a nickname and a surname which may refer to: People Given name or nickname *Rudolf Rudy Andeweg (born 1952), Dutch poli ...

as Mr. Roger "Jess" Jessup, a football supporter

Supporting players

Robert Adler Robert Adler (December 4, 1913 – February 15, 2007) was an Austrian-American inventor who held numerous patents. He worked for Zenith Electronics, retiring as the company's Vice President and Director of Research. His work included developing ...

as Grandstand Bit Part (uncredited) * Don Barclay as Grandstand "Coach" (uncredited) * Gilbert Barnett as Stinky Parker (uncredited) * Rodney Bell as Grandstand "Coach" (uncredited) * Tom Bernard as Delivery Boy (uncredited) * Harry Carter as Grandstand Bit Part (uncredited) *

Ruth Clifford Ruth Clifford (February 17, 1900 – November 30, 1998) was an American actress of leading roles in silent films, whose career lasted from that era into the television era. Early years Clifford was born in Pawtucket, Rhode Island, the daughter ...

as Neighbor (uncredited) *

Heinie Conklin Heinie Conklin (born Charles John Conklin; July 16, 1880July 30, 1959) was an American actor and comedian whose career began in the silent film era. Early years Conklin was born Charles John Conklin on July 16, 1880, in San Francisco, Califor ...

as Ed (uncredited) * Fred Dale as Cheerleader (uncredited) * Gwenn Fields as Daphne Sullivan (uncredited) *

Bess Flowers Bess Flowers (November 23, 1898 – July 28, 1984) was an American actress best known for her work as an extra in hundreds of films. She was known as "The Queen of the Hollywood Extras," appearing in more than 350 feature films and numerous ...

as Football Fan (uncredited) * Charles Flynn as Policeman (uncredited) * Tom Hanlon as Radio Announcer (uncredited) * Sam Harris as Alumnus at Dinner (uncredited) * Joe Haworth as Skip, Reporter in Locker Room (uncredited) * Don Hicks as Bill (uncredited) * Pat Kane as Bellhop (uncredited) * Kenner G. Kemp as Alumnus at Dinner (uncredited) *

Louise Lorimer Louise Lorimer (born Louise Knapp Pinkham, July 14, 1898 – August 12, 1995) was an American actress who played character roles on Broadway, in films, and on television in a career lasting over six decades. Life and career Born Louise Knapp Pi ...

as Mrs. Jones (uncredited) * Lee MacGregor as Cheerleader (uncredited) * Mike Mahoney as Pete, the Sailor (uncredited) * Buddy Martin as Cheerleader (uncredited) * Mickey McCardle as Jones (uncredited) * John McKee as Cy (uncredited) *

Frank Mills Frank Mills (born June 27, 1942) is a Canadian pianist and recording artist, best known for his solo instrumental hit "Music Box Dancer". Early life and education Mills was born in Montreal, Quebec. He was raised in Verdun, Quebec and started pl ...

as Assistant Football Coach (uncredited) * Forbes Murray as Mr. Higgins, College President (uncredited) * Robert Patten as Manager (uncredited) *

Bill Radovich William Alex Radovich (June 24, 1915 – March 6, 2002) was a National Football League guard and a film actor who regularly played the "tough guy". He was the first NFL player to file suit against the league. College career Radovich played colle ...

as Football Player (uncredited) * William Self as Willie Davis (uncredited) * Richard Tyler as Hercules Smith a.k.a. Joe Birch (uncredited) * Wilson Wood as Grandstand "Coach" (uncredited)

Behind the scenes

*''Father Was a Fullback'' marked the second time

child actor The term child actor or child actress is generally applied to a child acting on stage or in film, movies or television. An adult who began their acting career as a child may also be called a child actor, or a "former child actor". Closely associ ...

was cast as the daughter of

's character. The first was in ''

Miracle on 34th Street ''Miracle on 34th Street'' (initially released as ''The Big Heart'' in the United Kingdom) is a 1947 American List of Christmas films, Christmas comedy-drama film released by 20th Century Fox, written and directed by George Seaton and based on ...

''. A month after the film was released Wood received the Child of the Year Award in celebration of

Children's Day Children's Day is a commemorative date celebrated annually in honor of children, whose date of observance varies by country. In 1925, International Children's Day was first proclaimed in Geneva during the World Conference on Child Welfare. Sin ...

. *Actress Betty Lynn would achieve immortality almost ten years after making ''Father Was a Fullback'' as Thelma Lou,

Barney Fife Bernard "Barney" Fife is a fictional character in the American television program ''The Andy Griffith Show'', portrayed by comic actor Don Knotts. Barney Fife is a deputy sheriff in the slow-paced, sleepy southern community of Mayberry, North C ...

's girlfriend in ''

The Andy Griffith Show ''The Andy Griffith Show '' is an American situation comedy television series that aired on CBS from October 3, 1960, to April 1, 1968, with a total of 249 half-hour episodes spanning eight seasons—159 in black and white and 90 in color. The ...

'' (1960–1968). Lynn made 26 appearances on the series.

References

External links

* * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Father Was A Fullback 1949 films 1949 comedy films 1940s sports comedy films American black-and-white films American football films American sports comedy films Films directed by John M. Stahl Films scored by Cyril J. Mockridge Films set in universities and colleges 20th Century Fox films 1940s English-language films 1940s American films