"Who, day and night, must scramble for a living? Feed a wife and children, say his daily prayers? And who has the right, as master of the house, to have the final word at home?  The Papa!" (Jerry Bock, 1964)

This fall, we look in on two famous Movie Musical fathers Tevye, (Fiddler on the Roof ) and Lon Smith Sr. (Meet Me in St Louis), as they watch their daughters come of age in a changing world. 

Welcome to the September – October 2021 Edition ~ Father Knows Best  Fiddler on The Roof and Meet Me in St. Louis.

As both stories begin, each patriarch finds himself living in a culture that dictates their place in the family. Each earns a living and makes the crucial decisions from whom the daughters will marry (Tevye, Fiddler on the Roof) to when they eat dinner, who answers the telephone, and where they live. (Lon Smith Sr. Meet Me in St Louis). When you are the man in a house populated by women, you guide your daughters to their proper place in life. It is tradition!

As each story progresses, the daughters step willingly into the role of a marriageable young woman.  Tevye's daughters await the matchmaker, and Mr. Smith's daughter Esther awaits acknowledgment from the boy next door.

The fathers look upon this "rite of passage" as a mark of their success -- they raised the girls with traditional values that allow them to take their place in society with the right man.

However, when  Tevye's daughters find that a union arranged by the matchmaker could leave them "stuck for good," Tzeitel, Hodel and Chava become matchmakers.  Tzeitel chooses a match that is "made to measure." (Motel). Hodel's choice, Perchik, is a young man with strange ideas. For espousing that women and men should dance together, he is called a radical. For encouraging Hodel's participation, he and she are labeled sinners. Yet, these actions are what excites her and draw them together.

Chava's choice (Fyedka, a Christian) is so far removed from her that she keeps the relationship a secret.

Although they see themselves as independent women capable of making their own choices, each daughter seeks out Tevye. First for his permission as tradition demands (Tzeitel and Motel). Then for his blessing (Hodel and Perchik), which infuriates him:

"My blessing?  For what? For going over my head! Now, if I like it or not, you'll marry him! Go on, be wed, and tear out my beard and uncover my head! Tradition! (You are)  not even asking permission from the Papa! One little time I pull out a thread, and where has it led?"

It has led to a changing world where Papa must accept that "best" is not always his decision. The best he can do for an independent daughter is support her in her growth and trust a matchmaker of a higher power.

With his newfound faith in a higher power matchmaker, Chava hopes for his understanding when she marries. When he denies her ("No! I forbid it!"),  she implores: "Papa, I beg you to accept us!" Tevye recognizing her pain, seeks an answer from above. However, realizing to "bend that far" would break his spirit; he does what is best/dictated by his faith and separates from her.

Father knows best, began as a tradition grew into an understanding of love in a changing world, and in St Louis evolves into a father who the women in his family easily manipulate.

As his elder daughters pursue worthwhile men (John Truitt and Warren Sheffield), Mrs. Smith suggests that Mr. Smith be kept in the dark about an impeding long-distance phone call from Warren Sheffield. ("You know how he plagues the girls about their beaus.")  Grandpa would agree. ("Your Papa's not supposed to know. It's enough that we're letting him work hard to support the whole flock of us. He can't have everything.”) When the phone call is received, Papa discovers that his eldest daughter "is practically on her honeymoon and everyone in St. Louis knows about it but (him)!"

To assert his status, Mr. Smith  proclaims: "In view of the fact that this family refuses to let me in on their little intrigues, I will handle the telephone in my own way!" Dominance re-established Rose receives the call and looks forward to a future with a "Yale Man"!

As the story progresses, Mr. Smith receives a promotion and plans to move the family to New York after Christmas.  He is shocked when this news saddens the family. Based on their sadness and Mrs. Smith's declaration, "there will be no talk of packing just yet." Mr. Smith dubs himself a criminal. ("That's what I'm being treated like. I'm just trying to give my grateful family what they deserve!. That's worse than murder. I'm wrecking everybody's life." ) In response, Mrs. Smith supports him, "if you think it's best for us to go away, that's what we will do."

Father knows best, and the Smiths begin packing before attend the Christmas Dance. ("Our last dance in St. Louis.”)

As the film concludes, Papa stands at the window on Christmas Eve and hears the cries of his youngest daughter Tootie as she destroys her  Snow People saying, "Nobody's gonna have them. I got to kill them if we can't take them with us!  You can't do anything (in New York)  like you do in St. Louis!"  Esther,  calming her, replies:

"Wait 'til you see the fine home we're going to have and the loads and loads of friends we'll make. But the main thing is we're all going to be together.  We could be happy anywhere as long as we're together."  

As Papa listens, a look of surprise comes over his face. He gathers his family and declares:  "We're not moving to New York! We're staying right here.  New York hasn't got a copyright on opportunity.   St. Louis is headed for a boom that will make your head swim."  

With these words, happiness is restored. When Esther hugs her
father and says, "Oh Papa, you've given us the nicest
Christmas present anybody could ask for," what she means is 
father does know best.  

These fathers are strong men who prove although their roles are
born of tradition, they can move through a changing
world and see the new world from  a loving daughter's 
point of view.  

~~Lori