Plushly-produced fluff stars Glenn Ford as a widower father dating different women, unaware that the divorcée next-door might just be the perfect gal for both Dad and his precocious young son. Vincente Minnelli's direction isn't as detailed or full-bodied as one might hope--and the picture doesn't flourish as a result. John Gay's screenplay, based on the novel by Mark Toby, trades off comedy with sentiment, though there's also a curious undercurrent of cynicism in the mix (with a penchant for events to happen off-screen). Nevertheless, the lead performances by Glenn Ford, Shirley Jones and Ronny Howard are first-rate, while Stella Stevens is colorful in a stop-and-start supporting role (one that isn't allowed to take off). Later a popular TV series. **1/2 from ****
Review of The Courtship of Eddie's Father
