Friday, December 30, 2011

"The Long, Long Trailer"

In 1953 Lucy and Desi made a cute film called "The Long, Long Trailer" about a newlywed couple who decide to live in a trailer as they circle the country. Sounds great, right? But this flick has many hitches along the way. Pun intended.



Nicky is talked into buying a trailer so that after the wedding they can have a home together since Nicky travels so much for work. They go to the trailer convention and Tacy falls in love with a beautiful, yellow, 40 foot, 3 ton trailer that costs way over budget. But the bride-to-be insists, and after Nicky's pocket book is drained, they are the proud owners of a house on wheels. After the wedding, Tacy and Nicky are on their way!


I want this dress for my wedding. Seriously! This is the dress I have been looking for. Why can't I find one like it?




"Um, Tacy, do we really need all this stuff?"


First stop: a cute little trailer park with trimmed greens and a sparkling pool. If trailer parks looked like this, we would all want to buy ourselves a trailer! Nicky goes to lift his new bride through the doorway when...


..the other "trailorites" see them and think Tacy is injured her ankle. Neighbors to the rescue!



They wrap her foot up and slip her a sleeping pill. Oh well for sexy time on their wedding night! Nicky finds his trailer has turned into the life of the party as all the trailorites hang out while Tacy sleeps away.


The next morning they book it out of there for some peace and quiet. Tacy suggests they find a place in the forest. This sounds just fine until they hit a bump and get stuck, just in time for rain. Plus no hook up for gas or electricity.


Three days in without a wedding dinner and Tacy thinks she'll cook while Nicky drives to save some time. I love this scene. She is trying to toss her Cesar salad while the trailer is in motion and the whole idea falls apart. The fiancee didn't like this one bit. He gets frustrated when movie plots are so obviously not going to work!


"Is din din ready yet?"

Along the way, Tacy has been collecting rocks from each place they visit so when they do get a home they can line the walkway with them. These are some big rocks and they start to weigh the trailer down. She also accumulates some jarred fruits for the road and they trailer starts to look like an episode of Hoarders until Nicky tells her to throw it all out. They are going up a mountain the next day!


Tacy decides she has a better plan, and it doesn't include throwing anything away. Nicky also gives her a chance to drive the trailer, a feat that Nicky has stressed over himself the whole time they have owned the thing. Tacy does a great job but is too relaxed for Nicky's taste and they start to quarrel.


The next day brings the mountain, at 8,000 feet elevation!





The honeymoon phase seems over as the longer they own the trailer the more problems they have. Can the marriage last? Will they have to sell the trailer?


 This film is so adorable. I love the costumes, I want the trailer, and you can't beat the chemistry between the two. This was the 3rd of 4 movies they would do together.


4 comments:

Mr. Tiny said...

"Trailer brakes first, trailer brakes first!!" I love this movie. All the character actors are awesome - Keenan Wynn as the traffic cop is hilarious & Marjorie Main as the nosey "trailerite." Great colors and great costumes!

A said...

One of my favorite comedies. It's funny every time you watch it.

FlickChick said...

I love this move. They are so wonderful together. I still haven'y gotten over their divorce (not to mention Sonny & Cher's).

Anonymous said...

Think of it as a train behind you. 40 FEET OF TRAIN! LOL Gets me every time. I used to drive 54' Semi Trailer Tractor Combos.