Memorable Movie Dads

“When I was a boy of 14, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around. But when I got to be 21, I was astonished at how much the old man had learned in seven years.” - Mark Twain.

I'm still enough of a newbie to this whole "dad" thing that I remain somewhat bemused when Father's Day rolls around, and I belatedly realize that I now belong to the group being celebrated. My son, Kenji, is now a few months shy of his second birthday, and I'm slowly coming around to the fact that, yep, no doubt about it, I'm a dad.

When it comes to role models for being a good father, I don't have to look any further than real life, starting with my own wonderful dad, Bruce (see my brief tribute to him from last year here). I also have a number of friends who seem to have this dad scene down pat, though I have it on good authority (i.e., them) that it's a lot easier said than done. I've learned a lot from these guys over the years, and am trying my best to follow their lead.

But being a dyed-in-the-wool movie and TV geek, I also occasionally find myself taking comfort and inspiration from the various fathers that have graced the silver screen through the years. 

Probably the fictional dads that leap to most people's minds right off the bat hail mostly from the small screen, a plethora of all types, from the iconic "best dad EVER" types like Sheriff Andy Taylor on The Andy Griffith Show, Lucas McCain on The Rifleman, and Bill Bixby's Tom Corbett on The Courtship of Eddie's Father; to the loving yet sarcastic grouches who can't wait till the kids move out, like Bill Huxtable on The Cosby Show; to the lovable, well-meaning dolts (a modern TV specialty), like Ray Romano on Everybody Loves Raymond, Phil Dunphy (Ty Burrell) on Modern Family, or, heaven forbid, the king of all idiot dads, Homer Simpson.

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Yes, television has got the dad game covered, fitting for a medium meant to be invited nightly into our homes, like an additional member of the family. But of course the movies are no slouch in the dad department, either. Movie protagonists, generally speaking, tend to be single and unencumbered by familial responsibilities - the better to make some kind of love connection through the course of the story, often with an understanding that marital bliss - and, by extension, parenthood - would be the likely outcome after the final clinch and fade-out. This all makes perfect sense, dramatically speaking, but means that fathers are more often sidelined as supporting characters, usually having to content themselves with exerting an influence over our heroes and heroines, for good or ill.

There have been all kinds of memorable movie fathers, covering the spectrum of human experience, from the noble (Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird); to the badass, take-no-prisoners type (Gene Hackman in Uncommon Valor, Liam Neeson in Taken); to the absentee, estranged father trying to reconnect with their kids (Bruce Willis in The Last Boy Scout, Die Hard, etc.); to the intimidating power brokers (Marlon Brando's Don Corleone in The Godfather); to the flat-out crazy and deranged (Donald Pleasence as nasty "white trash" Preacher Quint in Will Penny). These are just a few examples, the tip of a very large iceberg, which also includes all manner of deadbeat fathers, abusive fathers, surrogate fathers, father figures, and just plain old Fathers (like Spencer Tracy's Father Flanagan in Boy's Town).

Many of the above types loom large in the imagination. For the purposes of this post, I'm going to stick to actual fathers, doing their level best, no matter the circumstances or how brief their appearance when it comes to running time, to leave a lasting impact on their "movie" kids, and, frequently, the viewer. Here, in no particular order than off the top of my head, are a few cinematic "class act" dads:

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Samuel S. Hinds as the kindly, community-minded Pa Bailey, whose generous spirit threads through IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (1956) and deeply influences his son George's character and eventual career path.

Lewis Stone, left, as Judge Hardy, wise pop to the irrepressible Andy Hardy (Mickey Rooney) in the much-beloved MGM movie series.

Van Heflin as Joe Starrett in the classic western, SHANE (1953). Not as romantic a figure as the mysterious gunman (Alan Ladd), but, in his own way, just as strong, principled and unwilling to back down from a fight.

Many love Spencer Tracy's turn as befuddled, long-suffering dad Stanley Banks in FATHER OF THE BRIDE (1950) and its sequel. I do, too, but am even more impressed by his career-capping turn as Matt Drayton in GUESS WHO'S COMING TO DINNER (1967)

Here's another dad who's determined to do right by his son...and who's not afraid to throw down against a bad guy wielding a whip: Burt Lancaster in THE KENTUCKIAN (1955).

Gary Cooper brings all his gravitas and good humor to the part of pacifist Quaker father Jess Birdwell, trying to keep his family - especially older son, Josh (Anthony Perkins) - safe during the Civil War, in the heartwarming classic, FRIENDLY PERSUASION (1956).

The irreplaceable Thomas Mitchell, as proud papa of THE FIGHTING SULLIVANS (1944).

Westerns seem full of great movie dads...or maybe that's just my preferences showing. At any rate, Robert Mitchum does a fine job as the strong, silent type of old-school he-manly dad in RIVER OF NO RETURN (1954).

One of the Duke's few fatherly roles, as struggling single dad to young Sherry Jackson in TROUBLE ALONG THE WAY (1953).

Good ol' Jimmy Stewart played quite a few dads late in his career, but none to my mind better than as strong-willed patriarch Charlie Anderson, desperately trying to find his son amidst the chaos of the Civil War torn south, in the brutal, moving SHENANDOAH (1965).

His screentime is brief, but Joss Ackland, as D'artagnan Sr. (left), makes quite an impression on his naive, big-hearted and ridiculously enthusiastic son Michael York, in Richard Lester's wonderful rendition of THE THREE MUSKETEERS (1973).

Who can forget Carl Kolchak himself, Darren McGavin, as the salty, roast turkey and tacky ladies' leg-shaped lamp loving "Old Man," who comes through in a big way for son Ralphie on Christmas morning in the modern classic, A CHRISTMAS STORY (1983)?

And, last but not least, we have giant monster ant- fighting egghead, Dr. Harold Medford (cuddly Edmund Gwenn), father of equally adept boffin - and hottie - Pat (Joan Weldon), in THEM! (1954).

Please note, this baker's dozen is of course far from a comprehensive list. I've no doubt overlooked a slew of great choices for cinema dads. If I left out any of your personal favorites, by all means, let me know in the comments section below.

And, if you're like me, and lucky enough to still have a dad alive, well, and active in your life - be sure to give your old man a call and wish him a Happy Father's Day!