Sunday, January 27, 2013

Family Friendly Movie Review - The Long, Long Trailer


FAMILY FRIENDLY FILM REVIEW-


When I was a kid, I loved old movies.  I watched many and certain ones always stuck in my mind.  Whenever I would run across one of those films on television, it didn't matter what point the movie was in, I would watch it through to the end.  I thought it would be fun to revisit some of these oldies that I loved, and share some reviews.





The Long, Long Trailer
Starring: Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz

About the film (from IMDB):
Nicky and Tacy are going to be married. Nicky wants to save up money for a house, but Tacy dreams of starting off with their own home on wheels--a trailer. After the two are hitched, they hitch up their trailer and begin their honeymoon. The humor comes from several disastrous adventures the couple has while traveling including Tacy's awkward attempt to cook dinner in a moving trailer, and a cliffhanging ride through the mountains that nearly destroys their marriage.

 
My Review:  The Long, Long Trailer is a movie sharing the honeymoon on wheels taken by Nicky and Tacy as they bring their trailer to their future home in Colorado.  They pick a trailer because Tacy really wants to set up house with her husband not just an apartment wherever they need to temporarily  rest their heads as he is a civil engineer who must travel and remain in various places for his career.  Living in a trailer seems a dream come true to Tacy who really doesn't want much more than a nice home for her and Nicky.

As Nicky and  Tacy embark on their honeymoon it all seems quite sweet and quaint.  In fact, it can make a person kind of want a trailer home themselves, and then the difficulties begin.  As idyllic as driving a trailer on a honeymoon sounds, it is a long, long trailer and moving it is not as easy as it looks, but there are great places to visit and fun and quirky people to meet.  Troubles come and go sometimes with big laughs and other times with sweet charm.

What I liked:  First of all there was not a lot for me to not like in this film.  When I first saw it as a child, I was enchanted by the idea of taking a trailer on a honeymoon.  As an adult I am charmed by old trailers and actually would love to get a nice small trailers for a little camping hop here and there (I would especially enjoy something vintage and quite similar to what Nicky and Tacy first look at when they are shopping).  I know much of it was on a set and looked it, but it kind of made me appreciate not only the film but the time frame.  That is simply how things were done then.  For me it doesn't even take away from the film.  It is like a time stamp.  I loved looking beyond the story to the props (even the cookware).  Lucy and Desi were a great team.  They worked well with each other on film.  I enjoyed the larger than life supporting cast too.  They were all certainly characters and added to the fun of the film.  The Long, Long Trailer really reminded me of what I like about old films and comedies.  There is an innocence of the characters and the circumstances and although we know that historically there was certainly bad in the world, it is easily escaped by movies such as these.

What I didn't like:  I am fairly certain that the movie was a bit longer.  It was cut down, but I do not know why or exactly where.  It was a long time since I first saw it.

I received this movie from my husband for Christmas.  It was on my list for a very long time, and I was overjoyed when I received it.  He's so awesome.  :)



My rating: Four big smiles

Side note:  The Long, Long Trailer was based on the novel by Clinton Twiss.  I found it as a free download for Nook at Barnes & Noble.  Of course I had to download it now.  More gym reading.  :)  

11 comments:

  1. That was nice of hubby to get you a gift that's been on your list! I like to watch shows now from time to time that I enjoyed when I was kid. I always have a different perspective now. Some I like, some...not so much. ;)

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    1. He's pretty sweet. He is also smart. We both make wish lists on Amazon so neither of us ends up with something cringeworthy. Most of the movies I enjoyed when I was a kid I still do. As far as the really old ones go. Like "Gone With the Wind," "The Grapes of Wrath," and "Some Like it Hot." I think I just like the nostalgia of it all. I have to admit though that I could care less about the Abbot and Costello movies. There was a TV station that played something called The Family Film Festival every weekend. I got hooked through them. :)

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  2. I've never seen this but I definitely want to check it out!

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    1. It is awfully cute. And super cheap on Amazon. I think it is like less than $5 now. :) Perfect for trailer lovin. :)

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  3. You are they did make a great team, to bad Desi was such a womanizer..thanks for stopping by my blog

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  4. I love old movies! Gone with the Wind is my favorite. I first saw it in junior high and it struck me so hard, it has stayed with me ever since. I used to love to watch Family Film Festival on Saturdays with Tom Hatten. I didn't care for the Abbot and Costello movies either but I loved all the Road to... movies and Bob Hope's Paleface etc. The Long, Long Trailer is a great one and a lot of fun to watch, especially since it's basically the pilot for I Love Lucy. If you love old movies, please consider checking out my novel Studio Relations, it takes place in 1935 Hollywood and is all about the old studio system. Have a great week!
    http://www.amazon.com/Studio-Relations-ebook/dp/B008RBSNYY/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1359350199&sr=8-2&keywords=studio+relations

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    1. Georgie, I used to watch the Family Film Festival with Tom Hatten too. I also watched the Little Rascals and Popeye cartoons. I think he hosted the Popeye stuff too. I am not sure if he hosted the Little Rascals, but I think they were on before the other program he hosted. The Road movies were definitely some of my favorites. I just love Dorothy Lamar. :) I will definitely check out your book. :)

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  5. I had NO IDEA that Lucy and Desi did movies together. I will have to check that out!

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  6. Hi Kelly! Thanks for stopping by GivingNSharing. I haven't seen this movie - I always loved to watch Lucy & Desi together and will have to see if I can get this on Netflix. It sounds great! I'm gonna follow you back on LF & your social media sites. =D


    Tina 'the book lady'
    http://givingnsharing.blogspot.com

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