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.  :)