The Long Long Trailer (1953) Review
September 29th 2011 17:11
Ah poor poor Lucile Ball. The woman was infinitely talented, but
Hollywood had so much trouble finding a place for her. Lucille Ball could sing, she could dance, and on top of that she had the comic timing of a Marx brother. On top of all that, she was a classic beauty. Unfortunately, her comic leanings made casting directors reluctant to give her serious roles for fear she wouldn't be taken seriously, and directors of comedies felt that her elegance and beauty was a waste on goofball antics. For this reason, she never really reached a level of stardom in the movies, And this went double for her Cuban husband Desi Arnez.
Arnez was just as talented as his wife, and while he was a popular band leader he never got his star to shine very brightly in Hollywood. Despite being very knowledgeable about almost every aspect of showbiz, and an amazing actor, his ethnic minority made it almost impossible for him to get starring roles in the narrow minded 1950's Hollywood. However, this couple would soon say Adios to Hollywood, and make it big with their television show “I love Lucy” and become television legends. What few people know however, is that the couple did make a triumphant return to the big screen, as a team, bringing their manic slapstick style of comedy to the cinema.
“The Long Long Trailer” was the story of Nicky and Tracy, played by Desi and Lucy respectively, as their adventures in a Redmond New Moon Motor home. The movie took place at a time when trailers were a bit of a fad, and motor home culture was just starting to take off, but this movie gives a less than glamorous look at married life within a traveling trailer. But the Madcap Antics are all in the spirit of fun. A memorable scene Involves Micky learning to drive the long heavy trailer through downtown traffic, panicking as he constantly forgets to apply the trailer breaks. Another Memorable scene involves Tracy trying to make dinner in the moving trailer with hilarious results.
The film had modest success, mostly thanks to the fan following of the television show. I'm happy to say the hilarity of the show translates well to the movies, though the movie's story seems to wander bit, and seems only to serve a bridge between bouts of wackyness. One strange aspect of the movie is Desi apparently plays an Italian . . .an odd aspect of older movies where many thought any minority could play any other Minority. Kind of how Anthony Quinn played everything from native americans to Chinese men.
If your even a casual fan of “I Love Lucy” as most folks are, then “The Long Long Trailer” Merits at least a watch. It has a solid cult classic status, it's almost like a lost episode of the show and you'll get a kick out of it.
It was indeed a long long trailer
The film had modest success, mostly thanks to the fan following of the television show. I'm happy to say the hilarity of the show translates well to the movies, though the movie's story seems to wander bit, and seems only to serve a bridge between bouts of wackyness. One strange aspect of the movie is Desi apparently plays an Italian . . .an odd aspect of older movies where many thought any minority could play any other Minority. Kind of how Anthony Quinn played everything from native americans to Chinese men.
If your even a casual fan of “I Love Lucy” as most folks are, then “The Long Long Trailer” Merits at least a watch. It has a solid cult classic status, it's almost like a lost episode of the show and you'll get a kick out of it.
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