Father Was a Fullback

{{Short description|1949 film by John M. Stahl}} {{No plot|date=June 2023}} {{Use American English|date=January 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox film | name = Father Was a Fullback | image = Father was a Fullback - 1950 Poster.png | caption = 1950 Theatrical Poster | director = John M. Stahl | producer = Fred Kohlmar | screenplay = Aleen Leslie Casey Robinson Mary Loos Richard Sale | story = Clifford Goldsmith | starring = Fred MacMurray Maureen O'Hara Betty Lynn Rudy Vallee Thelma Ritter Natalie Wood James G. Backus | music = Cyril J. Mockridge | cinematography = Lloyd Ahern | editing = J. Watson Webb Jr. | distributor = Twentieth Century Fox | released = {{Film date|1949|09|30}} | runtime = 84 minutes | country = United States |gross= $1.8 million<ref name="top">{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/stream/variety177-1950-01#page/n58/mode/1up|title=Top Grossers of 1949|magazine=Variety|date=4 January 1950|page=59}}</ref> | language = English | budget = }}

'''''Father Was a Fullback''''' is a 1949 black-and-white film from 20th Century Fox based on a comedy by Clifford Goldsmith. The film is about a college American football coach and his woes. The film stars Fred MacMurray, Maureen O'Hara, Natalie Wood, and Betty Lynn.

==Plot== {{More info}} A college football coach struggles with his team's losing streak and family troubles.

==Cast==

===Principals=== thumb|Fred MacMurray and Maureen O'Hara in a scene from the film * Fred MacMurray as George "Coop" Cooper, A College Football Coach * Maureen O'Hara as Elizabeth Cooper, His Wife * Betty Lynn as Constance "Connie" Cooper, His Oldest Daughter * Natalie Wood as Ellen Cooper, His Youngest Daughter * Thelma Ritter as Geraldine, His Housekeeper * Jim Backus as Professor "Sully" Sullivan, His Neighbor (billed as James G. Backus) * Rudy Vallee as Mr. Roger "Jess" Jessup, A Football Supporter

===Supporting players=== * Robert Adler as Grandstand Bit Part (uncredited) * Don Barclay as Grandstand "Coach" (uncredited) * Gilbert Barnett as Stinky Parker (uncredited) * Rodney Bell as Grandstand "Coach" (uncredited) * Tom Bernard as Delivery Boy (uncredited) * Harry Carter as Grandstand Bit Part (uncredited) * Ruth Clifford as Neighbor (uncredited) * Heinie Conklin as Ed (uncredited) * Fred Dale as Cheerleader (uncredited) * Gwenn Fields as Daphne Sullivan (uncredited) * Bess Flowers as Football Fan (uncredited) * Charles Flynn as Policeman (uncredited) * Tom Hanlon as Radio Announcer (uncredited) * Sam Harris as Alumnus at Dinner (uncredited) * Joe Haworth as Skip, Reporter in Locker Room (uncredited) * Don Hicks as Bill (uncredited) * Pat Kane as Bellhop (uncredited) * Kenner G. Kemp as Alumnus at Dinner (uncredited) * Louise Lorimer as Mrs. Jones (uncredited) * Lee MacGregor as Cheerleader (uncredited) * Mike Mahoney as Pete, the Sailor (uncredited) * Buddy Martin as Cheerleader (uncredited) * Mickey McCardle as Jones (uncredited) * John McKee as Cy (uncredited) * Frank Mills as Assistant Football Coach (uncredited) * Forbes Murray as Mr. Higgins, College President (uncredited) * Robert Patten as Manager (uncredited) * Bill Radovich as Football Player (uncredited) * William Self as Willie Davis (uncredited) * Richard Tyler as Hercules Smith a.k.a. Joe Birch (uncredited) * Wilson Wood as Grandstand "Coach" (uncredited)

==See also== * List of American football films

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{IMDb title|0041350|Father Was a Fullback}} *{{TCMDb title|74664|Father Was a Fullback}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Father Was A Fullback}} Category:1949 films Category:1949 comedy films Category:1940s sports comedy films Category:American black-and-white films Category:American football films Category:American sports comedy films Category:Films directed by John M. Stahl Category:Films scored by Cyril J. Mockridge Category:Films set in universities and colleges Category:20th Century Fox films Category:1949 English-language films Category:1949 American films Category:English-language sports comedy films