LYCOS RETRIEVER 
Beethoven: Father
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In this case, Beethoven may not be a classic, but is a good bet for a fun family film. Beethoven, a growing St.Bernard, adopts a family in need of some love. George (Charles Grodin), the grumpy, dog hating dad, eventually succumbs to the desires of his family, and winds up a far better father in the end.
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The slapstick gags in Beethoven may be old as the hills, but that hardly matters for kids who haven't been to those hills yet. For them, this comedy hit offers the irresistible combination of a dog whose destructiveness is excused by his innocence (he doesn't really mean to make such a mess) with the spectacle of a prissy, fastidious father who is proven wrong at nearly every turn.
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The women who attracted Beethoven were unattainable because they were either married or aristocratic. Beethoven never married, although he was engaged to Giulietta Guiccardi. Her father was the main obstacle to their marriage. Giulietta's marriage to a nobleman was unhappy, and when it ended in 1822, she attempted unsuccessfully to return to Beethoven. His only other documented love affair with an identified woman began in 1805 with Josephine von Brunswick, young widow of the Graf von Deym. It is believed the relationship ended by 1807 because of Beethoven's indecisiveness and the disapproval of Josephine's aristocratic family.[18]
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Beethoven's output was mostly null until 1818. At this point he was completely deaf and slightly mad. Also his brother died leaving Beethoven's only nephew, Karl, in the guardianship of his mother. Now Beethoven felt that she was not fit to raise Karl, so he entered into a vicious lawsuit over custody of the child. For the most part he was able to use his influence with the aristocracy to win the battle. Unfortunately Beethoven was not a fit father and his relationship with Karl was quite poor, driving him to an suicide attempt a few years later.
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Beethoven was born in Bonn in Germany on December 16th or 17th, 1770, his mother, the daughter of the court cook, a singer in the service of the Elector of Köln (Cologne). His father was weak-spirited and drank excessively causing extremely humiliating scenes during Beethoven's childhood, but he recognized the boy's talent and locked him in a room to practice for hours, trying to force genius into him. However he was disappointed when the young Beethoven failed to emulate Mozart as a child prodigy.
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Beethoven grew up in Bonn, Germany in a very unhappy home. He was forced to practice the piano by his father, an abusive alcoholic, who would punish him mercilessly when he made mistakes. By the time he was twelve, he was earning a living for his family by playing organ and composing. He was eventually known as the greatest pianist of his time. One of Beethoven's favorite foods was macaroni and cheese. He ... loved strong coffee - exactly 60 coffee beans to one cup.
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