Papa's Delicate Condition (DVD, 2008)

Jackie Gleason in my opinion always gave a five star performance no matter what part he played. Papas Delicate Condition was filmed in 1962 when Gleason was in his prime.

He plays the role of Jack Griffith a prosperous rail roader who likes to sneak a drink or several drinks any time he can get away with it. He's the father of two daughters one a stiff snippy spoiled teenager and a younger daughter about 8 years old who came along as a surprise. His wife Glynis Johns (played the mother in Mary Poppins) is just like the teenager real strict, proper and society minded, she and the teenager are always on Gleason's back for spoiling the youngest daughter who is the only one in the family that shows him any love.

Gleason has a habit of buying things while under the influence which gets him in trouble with the wife but after some nagging, griping, & brow beating she lets it slide but when he buys a Circus (while under the influence) thinking he's pleasing his young daughter who only wanted a pony and cart that she saw at the Circus, not the whole Circus! The wife leaves Gleason and takes the daughters to her fathers house and in doing so breaks Gleason's heart so he goes away on the railroad thinking he's been a bad influence on the young daughter and his family. Of course the wife and daughters come home to find him gone and the father n law who is a Mayor of Texarkana puts out a nation wide search to find Gleason.

The movie isn't very funny just one of those movies that makes you feel good. The sets beautifully decorated and extravagant, the musical score is really good and the quality of the DVD is about a 7+

I was surprised that it is in print and feel fortunate to own a copy for my collection. Once the movie is out of print the price will go up so you might want to get your copy pretty quickly.