The Long, Long Trailer (1953)

User Rating:

6.8/10   

Director:

Vincente Minnelli

Writers:

Clinton Twiss (novel)
Albert Hackett (screenplay) ...

Release Date:

18 February 1954 (USA)

Genre:

Comedy | Romance

Tagline:

America's No. 1 Favorites Funnier than Ever on the Screen!

Plot:

Nicky and Tacy are going to be married. Nicky wants to save up money for a house, but Tacy dreams of...

Plot Keywords:

Honeymoon | Marriage | Trailer Court | Americana | Slapstick Comedy

Awards:

1 nomination

Cast

Lucille Ball	...	Tacy Bolton - Collini
Desi Arnaz	...	Nicholas 'Nicky' Collini
Marjorie Main	...	Mrs. Hittaway
Keenan Wynn	...	Policeman
Gladys Hurlbut	...	Mrs. Bolton
Moroni Olsen	...	Mr. Tewitt
Bert Freed	...	Foreman
Madge Blake	...	Aunt Anastacia
Walter Baldwin	...	Uncle Edgar
Oliver Blake	...	Mr. Ludlow
Perry Sheehan	...	Bridesmaid

Runtime:

103 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color (Anscocolor)

Aspect Ratio:

1.75 : 1

Sound Mix:

Mono (Western Electric Sound System)

Certification:

Finland:S

Filming Locations:

Alabama Hills, Lone Pine, California, USA

Company:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

Trivia:

The New Moon trailers, produced by The Redman Trailer Co. (as per original sales brochures & in viewing the actual 1953 models), didn't come with a "sunken living room" as was highlighted in the film. This was done to add a reason for Desi Arnaz's character to take his pratfall when first entering the trailer. You can see that the floor of the kitchen is flat with the living room floor if you look closely when he opens the door for the first time at the trailer show, as this was simply a regular production coach in the shot. The interior shots had a "dropped" section in the living room area and you can see that the vent windows are much further from the ceiling than they would be as seen from the exterior. New Moon trailers also had a furnace in the corner between the front door and the kitchen cabinet. It is assumed this was removed from the interior mock up for aesthetic reasons.

Goofs:

Continuity: When the couple stop on top of the mountain, the trailer tips to the left. When Nicky hops in the trailer, it is sitting perfect without Nicky struggling to get in.

Quotes:

Mrs. Hittaway: This is Mrs. Dudley, the big vagabond next door.
Tacy: How do you do, Mrs. Vagabond?

Movie Connections:

Referenced in "Mystery Science Theater 3000: Fire Maidens of Outer Space (#5.16)" (1992)

Soundtrack:

Breezin' Along With the Breeze

Trailer brake! Trailer brake! Turn right here left?

Impulsive Tacy somehow convinces obliging husband-to-be Nicky that they should buy a trailer to live in after they marry. She has her heart set on one particular model that looks great in the ad, but when they find out how small it really is, they're ready to back to the idea of the house. But then Tacy sees it - the long, long trailer!

The movie is really nothing more than an extended comedy skit in which Nicky, Tacy, and the long, long trailer travel from California to Colorado. It's very skillfully executed with nice variations in the pacing and some very tastefully applied restraint. The highlight of the movie is the going over the mountain scene, which starts off in very understated manner and slowly builds to hilarious crescendo as they climb to the top of the pass. Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, playing their characters from "I Love Lucy", work perfectly togethor and make this movie a fun time for everyone.