by Hal Erickson
synopsis
Based on a play by Samuel Taylor and Cornelia Otis Skinner, The Pleasure of His Company is an old-fashioned romantic comedy. Fred Astaire plays Biddeford "Pogo" Poole, the long-absent prodigal father of Jessica Poole (Debbie Reynolds), who is just about to be married. Much to the dismay of his ex-wife, Katharine (Lilli Palmer), and her new husband, James Dougherty (Gary Merrill), Pogo shows up at the wedding. To get back into the family circle, he puts on the old charm, but before film's end realizes that charm alone is no substitute for parental responsibility. Charlie Ruggles makes a wry turn as Pogo's former father-in-law.
characteristics
- Father
- Ex-husband
- Parenthood
- Estrangement
- Only Human
- Return
- Wedding
- Visit
- Love
- Family-disapproval
- Daughter
- Wives
- Wife
- Husband
- Influence
