The Lloyd Bridges Show (TV Series) My Daddy Can Lick Your Daddy (1963) User Reviews

Very disappointing episode, given the talent involved

[lor_ · 9 March 2011]

With Robert Towne writing and John Cassavetes directing I was pretty hopped up looking forward to a look-back at this episode of Lloyd Bridges' anthology TV series. Unfortunately, it's a stinker.

At age 50 Bridges was really pushing it, casting himself as the boxing champion of the world Pappy Devlin (175-pound division), the only concession here being his having to strip naked to barely make the weigh-in.

Towne's gimmick is that the opponent is Devlin's son Kid Devlin (well personified by then heartthrob Gary Lockwood). Supposedly the public, press and fight world movers & shakers have demanded this bout after the youngster racked up 37 fights without a defeat, and Pappy finally acquiesced to the match-up.

Script is pure corn, with Bridges' main squeeze Mary Murphy stuck in a strictly stock "complainer" role, and from director Cassavetes' troupe Lelia Goldoni (star of SHADOWS) not very impressive as Lockwood's wife. Dialog is of the Damon Runyon school, but not witty enough to pass muster.

The low-budget aspect of these half-hour drama series from TV's Golden Age is a killer, as the fight scenes are frankly boring, with the stars merely trading punches, and none of the latter-day Chartoff-Winkler choreography (see their productions: ROCKY, RAGING BULL and even Ken Russell's VALENTINO) in evidence. In fact, Lockwood's crouching stance comes off as ridiculous.

I wouldn't have bothered reviewing on IMDb this ephemeral misfire, but the previous (and sole) review on the website is a facetious, unfunny & embarrassing bit of attempted satire that annoyed me no end. He never saw this show and his intentionally misleading and inaccurate description is strictly a put-on. Like the demented crew of IMDbers who like to make fun of porn titles he couldn't resist mocking a show innocently named "My Daddy Can Lick Your Daddy".

Worrisome title, but a barrel of fun.

[BentCrewStreak · 29 June 2004]

"Well, considering your daddy is Rip Taylor, I'm not surprised, but my daddy doesn't swing that way"

Well, at least that was my initial reaction to the title of this movie, but I soon found out that it was not an expose about washed up comedic "actors" and their propensity for attempting male tongue sports. Which, as it turns out, is a very good thing, as I tend to stay away from such exotic movies.

But, this film is an exotic film of sorts, as it is a remake of a French film called "La langue de mon père a plaisir à lécher d'autres pères" or literally, "My Father's Tongue Enjoys Licking Other Fathers".

Directed by John Cassavetes, who is one of those kinda famous directors that I've heard of, but have no idea what they've directed, "My Daddy Can Lick Your Daddy" is actually the story of a young boy named "Hucklebee" and his tumultuous childhood.

Powerful performances by such heavy hitters as Lloyd Bridges, who most audiences will know of in his role of Vincenzo Cortino in the epic 1998 comedy "Jane Austen's Mafia!". Bridges' role as the vain boxing champ is simply a marvel to behold.

Of course, one would be remiss to neglect supporting players. Namely, newcomer Frederick Draper who also teamed with Bridges in the war drama "A Pair of Boots". After this movie, however he starred in only a handful of other roles. And then, much like Kaiser Soze, he was gone.

This movie is a good way to spend a lazy afternoon, and is recommended for everyone. Even the little ones, that is if you can drag them away from their violently bloody video games.