Papa's Delicate Condition

What a treat!!!
For years I had been vaguely aware of the existence of this film, but wrote it off as being a product of it's time such as "Cheaper by the Dozen", which by todays standard is SO DATED. Boy, was I wrong. Papa's Delicate Condition was funny, witty, and refreshing. Jackie Gleason's sly sarcasm is as hilarious as it is timeless. For those of you who only know Jackie Gleason from "The Honeymooners", you will be delighted to see Gleason's artistry go way beyond his character as Ralph Cramden. Though the movie is filled with great character actors, Gleason definitely carries the picture.

I found the relationship between the father and his youngest daughter to be particularly endearing. In one scene, he tells the older sister and the mother to stop ganging up on the little girl. It is at moments like that which cause the picture to break away from the mold and stereotypes of it's era.

This is a great family picture. The storyline is simple enough for children to...

Good Vehicle for the Great One
When Jackie Gleason passed some years ago I remember a couple of tidbits from his obituary. One relates a doctor telling him that he had lung cancer and suggesting that he cut back on his smoking. Heeding his doctor's advice Gleason cut back from six packs a day to four packs. Gleason had his own little Algonquin Round Circle that consisted of Salvador Dali and Mickey Mantle among others. What did these seeming unlike public figures have in common? A love of the bottle. Gleason made something of a mark in films after his "Honeymooners" heyday. He was absolutely mesmerizing as Minnesota Fats in "The Hustler". I'm still waiting for a DVD release of "Soldier in the Rain" with Steve McQueen. "Papa's Delicate Condition" is an interesting film in that it was probably promoted as a comedy but dig a little deeper it's a sober look at the scourge of alcoholism. Gleason's Jack Griffiths is one of those larger-than-life gregarious personalities whose impulsive behaviour, usually when...

Still fresh comedy after 38 years
Jackie Gleason is great in this movie. He play a troubled man who has no idea how to be a good father. But when he finally trys to do it, he goes to far. The result must be seen to be believed!

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