After doing research for this blog it turns out that there seems to be a general consensus on the best dads of the 80’s movies. They’re not bad choices, but if all I do is copy, paste, and spin my editor would throw it back at me. So consider this list dads whose character you have to look at a bit closer than you would the star of the movie. The logic really isn’t that twisted (though you may disagree) and to calm the nerves of those who are inclined to disagree with all the dads on the list I included one that deserved a repeat marquee listing.
Dirty Dancing — Jake Houseman
Played by Jerry Orbach (from that Law and Order TV show), Baby’s dad can be easily related to by viewers who happened to grow up in the 80’s. It was a time when dads were right, everyone else was wrong, and you learned to meet their expectations much like dads of the 50’s. Change was taking place, but had yet to gain momentum. Baby’s dad rejected the rebel kid which led to Baby trying to communicate how wrong he was. But in the end, for the sake of Baby and probably for his own good, he admitted he was wrong, apologized to those he misjudged, and was able to let Baby grow up. He also learned Baby lied from time to time. Dads may be slow to catch on, but eventually they figure things out. By the way, is it a coincidence that Mike and the Mechanics “The Living Years” came out a year after the release of Dirty Dancing?
Star Wars – Darth Vader
Like Jake, Darth had his problems with his offspring. And though their problems were clearly black and white, somehow you always sensed that there was something going on behind the scenes. There were more than a few people who were not completely shocked that Darth Vader was Luke Skywalker’s father. So what gives him a place on this list? As we see in later installments of the franchise, when push comes to shove Darth protects his son despite operating in very different universes. How many dads can meet that standard? Luke knew there was some good in his father all along — and he was right.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
First of all, the father of Indiana Jones was played by Sean Connery, which gives the character a huge advantage. This is the one generally agreed upon as the top 10 best dads of 80’s movies. We can think of him as a “freedom father” — one who gave his son all the freedom he wanted to determine his own destiny, yet when was criticized by his son for doing that he is nonplussed. Despite going their separate ways in life, they meet up again in pursuit of the same thing. As they say – like father, like son.
Wall Street — Carl Fox
If the name doesn’t sound familiar to you, he was Bud Fox’s dad played by Charlie Sheen’s dad. While we get all wrapped up with the shenanigans of Gordon Gecko and Bud, it is easy to lose sight of the fact that from beginning to end, Carl was always trying to steer his kid in the right direction. Maybe Bud didn’t want to be a customer service supervisor in the 80’s (was there anyone who did?) but his dad always left the option open. When Bud didn’t meet his dad’s expectations it was OK. Dad was still there for him. The stereotypical blue collar dad of the 80’s and fit in perfectly as the contrast to the world of the rich and powerful. In the end, even when Bud is going to jail, dad is there for him. You can’t get much better than that.
The Untouchables — Elliot Ness
Eliot Ness?? Yes. Though he actually becomes a father during the movie, he has all the tools necessary for being the best father ever. He is courageous, knows when to bend the rules, is always looking out for his family’s best interests, gets rid of the bad guys, and listens to older people. He is polite to women struggling with a baby carriage, is quick to make friends, is a good judge of character, and is willing to take a blood oath for the good of others. His one flaw is that once Prohibition is rescinded, he says he is going out for a drink.
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