It follows the everyday life of the ideal American family, the Andersons. Jim, the titular father, played by Robert Young is a kind and well-meaning insurance agent who wants nothing more than to make his wife and children happy and content. Margaret, played by Jane Wyatt, is the typical American housewife, complete with pearls and heels. Perfectly happy in her role, she never shows a single symptom of the "problem without a name." Jim and Margaret have three children: Betty, Bud, and Kathy. Betty (Elinor Donahue) is pert and popular, forever going to dances and hayrides. Despite the occasional existential crisis, she too fits the mold. Bud (Billy Gray) is the all-American boy. Not terribly bright, but certainly innovative and sporting, Bud's trademark is his deadpan delivery. Kathy (Lauren Chapin) is the baby of the family, pampered by everyone, who provides a measure of innocent wisdom to almost every situation the family experiences.
There are many modern-day critics who dismiss Father Knows Best as archaic and even dangerous to modern viewers because of the values it teaches. Even Billy Gray said many years later that he regretted having been party to the promotion of such dated, anti-feminist ideals. And at the time, the Andersons were a family to emulate, it's true. But today, it is valuable for that very reason. I certainly have no desire to be a Betty and bat my eyelashes to get what I want (and I'm not at college to get my degree in Poetry, as Father suggested). But being so enlightened, I can appreciate it as a glimpse into history, since it definitely reflects the prevailing values of the time. And of course, I love the clothes. Dear lord, I love the clothes.