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| The Long, Long Trailer - 1954 |
Coming up next we have 1954's "The Long, Long Trailer", a comedy about a young couple who starts their married life in a trailer. The adventure tests them beyond anything they think possible.
The film's cast includes Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Marjorie Main, Keenan Wynn, Gladys Hurlbut, Moroni Olsen, Madge Blake, and Walter Baldwin.
Nicky and Tacy are an engaged couple who are looking at options for a home. Since Nicky's job requires him to be on the road a lot, Tacy suggests that they buy a trailer so that she can provide a home for him wherever he is required to be.
At a trailer show, Tacy finds the biggest and most expensive model and decides that it's the one for them. Nicky goes along with the idea. Both have them have no idea what they're in for.
To begin with, it necessitates their getting a new car that is heavy enough to pull a trailer. In addition to the expense of this purchase, they must also outfit it with the equipment necessary to haul their new home.
Nicky's worries about all of it fade away on their wedding day. After a ceremony and reception surrounded by all of their friends and family, the two hit the road. Their ultimate destination is Denver, and they've decided to take their time in getting their in order to have a honeymoon.
As they hit the open road, Nicky nervously navigates the highways. Quite a line of traffic forms behind them.
They are all smiles once Nicky gets accustomed to handling the rig. Their drive up the California coastline is beautiful.
At their first overnight stop, Nicky plans to carry Tacy over the threshold. However, a well-meaning fellow "trailerite", Mrs. Hittaway, mistakes this for a busted-up ankle. She and her neighbors bundle Tacy off to the bedroom and give her a sleeping pill so that she'll rest easy.
It seems like the entire trailer court shows up to call on Nicky while Tacy is being attended to. Near midnight, Mrs. Hittaway tells everyone it's late and they should be going home. Leaving Nicky with the dishes, she says, "I’d like to know what a trailerite is good for if
it’s not to help another trailerite!"
The next morning Nicky has quite an experience as he gets used to the shower in the trailer. It's quite a fight, and I think the shower wins.
After the effects of the sleeping pill wear off, Tacy tells Nicky they should find a place that night where it will be just the two of them.
Well, that turns out to be a disaster. On an old logging road in the woods, the trailer gets stuck at an angle. Tacy has to cook dinner for the both of them (eggs running everywhere), and she gets covered in mud when she loses her balance and flies out of the trailer because of the steep angle it's resting at.
Things don't improve when they visit some of Tacy's family. Trying to back the trailer onto the family property, Nicky ruins some prize roses and destroys their carport.
They forget their worries and sing along with the car radio as they drive through beautiful Yosemite National Park.
During the trip, Tacy begs Nicky to let her drive. Reluctantly, he agrees. Soon, he realizes that he's made a mistake. When he tells her that she's driving to fast, she brushes him off by saying it's alright because she's only driving thirty-five miles per hour. With eyes wide on the road, Nicky says, "It's alright for you, but I am sitting on the suicide seat!"
Wanting to save time and have food ready when they stop for the night, Tacy decides to cook while the trailer on the road. This turns out to be a colossal mistake. Once it's on the road, the trailer moves all over the place, and so does she! Food flies everywhere, and poor Tacy is shaken by the time the trailer comes to a stop.
Once they hit the mountainous road to Denver, it's Nicky's turn to be upset. Tacy has loaded down the trailer with rocks she's collected and jars of preserves she's put up. It's the final straw for Nicky, and once he's parked the trailer for the night, he takes the car and drives off.
A well-meaning older married man talks some sense into Nicky, and he and Tacy make up in the middle of a rain storm.
Cast rundown:
Lucille Ball...................................Tacy Bolton
Desi Arnaz...................................Nicky Collini
Marjorie Main...............................Mrs. Emma Hittaway
Keenan Wynn...............................Policeman
Gladys Hurlbut.............................Mrs. Bolton
Moroni Olsen................................Mr. Tewitt
Madge Blake................................Aunt Anastacia
Walter Baldwin.............................Uncle Edgar
And that's it for The Long, Long Trailer. It first the movie studio wasn't sure that this film would be a hit. Desi Arnaz bet the studio $25,000 that it would be. He was right and eventually won the bet. Audiences loved being able to see "Ricky and Lucy" in color. In fact, the characters of Nicky and Tacy are remarkably like their television counterparts.
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