The Long, Long Trailer

The Long, Long Trailer
Released Date: February 18, 1954
Director: Vincent Minnelli
Actors: Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Marjorie Main, Keenan Wynn, Gladys Hurlbut, Moroni Olsen, Bert Freed, Madge Blake, Walter Baldwin, Oliver Blake and Perry Sheehan

     During the hype of I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz decided to make a movie about love and marriage. The difficult side of marriage. They really are a cute couple and seem to be happy. But did you know that the reason they decided to make I Love Lucy in the first place was because they were not having such a great marriage? They were falling apart, and the two decided to rekindle their relationship by making one of, if not the greatest show of all time. You may notice some familiar faces, besides Lucy and Desi that is. I did not think I was going to like this movie, let alone love it. But I was happily surprised. I missed Fred and Ethel but after the first ten minutes, I forgot all about the couples TV show. Talent, it's the only word best describing the pair.

     This movie starts off with the husband, Nicky (Desi Arnaz) in the rain searching for his wife. He ends up on a trailer park, and inside the main office. There is another man in there explaining that his wife was interested in buying a trailer. Nicky's trailer. And Nicky's wife, Tracy (Lucille Ball) is selling their trailer without her husband's knowledge. Nicky then starts to talk about how wonderful having a trailer is at first, and horrible it is later. We begin his story in flashbacks. Nicky and Tracy are talking about marriage, and how Tracy would love to have a trailer. Nicky is in the business where he has to move around a lot. So why not a trailer? Then the search for a trailer begins. And soon they are the proud owner of a HUGE trailer. Everything is going great, until they start moving from one side of the country to another. But can their marriage survive ALL the fighting and mishaps? It is a bunch of laughs. Lucy and Desi are a great team, in I Love Lucy and their own movies.

Undercurrent

Undercurrent
Released Date: November 28, 1946
Director: Vincent Minnelli
Actors: Katharine Hepburn, Robert Taylor, Robert Mitchum, Edmund Gwenn, Majorie Main, Jayne Meadows, Clinton Sundberg, Dan Tobin, Kathryn Card, Leigh Whipper, Charles Trowbridge, James Westerfield and Billy McClain

     Post war movies are always fun to watch. For this reason alone, the actors that came back from the war to go on with their acting career. James Stewart was one of them, and so is Robert Taylor. He was in the military service in World War II. And after returning, this was his first picture. Robert Mitchum plays Robert Taylor's brother in this movie, and Katharine Hepburn plays Taylor's wife. Although still young, Katharine Hepburn plays a spinster, well almost spinster, she is saved from that single old age by her husband. Did you know that Katharine Hepburn and Robert Mitchum did not get along while filming? You may never see it, that is the beauty of acting. But Hepburn apparently told Mitchum this: "You know you can't act, and if you hadn't been good looking you would never have got a picture at all. I'm tired of working with people like you who have nothing to offer!" Harsh words, huh? I have always enjoyed Mitchum movies and am sad by that remark. I have always been and will be a Katharine Hepburn fan, though strong headed, she was not too far from the truth. Mitchum did in fact have better looks than acting range, but he always made fun pictures. But so did Katharine Hepburn!

     Ann Hamilton (Katharine Hepburn) grew up with a loving family in the country. The picture is beautiful, with the country feel, snow up to your knees, snow covering the old time cars and a fireplace. A scene I have dreamed about all my life. The good looking Alan Garroway (Robert Taylor) comes to her house and they end up falling in love. Hamilton's father, Professor Hamilton (Edmund Gwenn (a great actor)) tells her that she will end up marrying Garroway. The Professor can see his daughter falling in love. After a whirlwind wedding, Mr and Mrs. Garroway head to Alan's home, in my hometown, of Washington D.C. Ann is a country girl at heart, always will be. Her clothes spell country, and she feels different from all of the D.C. women she meets. Alan throws a few parties, and Ann feels like the loan sheep. Alan seems perfect, tons of money, very good looking, friendly and all around happy. But he has a demon, his brother. Michael Garroway (Robert Mitchum) seems to have hurt his brother pretty badly. But while all stories unravel, Ann has doubts about her new husband. And so do we, the audience. I said this before, but Katharine Hepburn makes masterpieces, and this is a great movie. Found on accident, I taped it on TCM, and enjoyed every minute. I taped because of Katharine Hepburn!!! You will love this new find of mine just as much as I have :)