Yours, Mine and Ours (1968)

We have a special Sunday At The Classics for everyone today and it's a film that as soon as I saw it, I had to check it out. There have been plenty of films that we have seen in the past that emulate the same idea as today's film like Cheaper By The Dozen (original and remake), but it was seeing Lucille Ball (I Love Lucy) name attached to 1968's Yours, Mine, and Ours is what made me pick this film. The film stars Henry Fonda (12 Angry Men) as Henry Beardsley, a Navy officer who is the father of nine children and recently widowed is looking to get back in the game to find a companion, but what he does realize is that his companion Helen North (Ball) is the mother of 8 kids herself. Together, they'll form an alliance that most people would fail to do, but they are in it for the long haul. The Beardsley's were Tim Matheson (National Lampoon's Animal House) as Mike, Gil Rogers (Lost In Space) as Rusty, Nancy Roth (Here's Lucy) as Rosemary, Gary Goetzman (Philadelphia) as Greg,  Morgan Brittany (Dallas) as Louise, Holly O'Brien as Susan, Maralee Foster (Bewitched) as Mary, Tracy Nelson (The Night Caller) as Germaine, and Michele Tobin (Wacko) as Veronica. The Norths were Jennifer Leak (Agent On Ice) as Colleen, Kevin Burchett (Shade) as Nicky, Kimberly Beck (Friday The 13TH: The Final Chapter) as Janette, Mitch Vogel (Bonanza) as Tommy, Margot Jane (The Rat Patrol) as Jean, Eric Shea (The Poseidon Adventure) as Phillip, Greg Atkins (The Under Achievers) as Gerald, and Lynnell Atkins as Teresa. The film was written and directed by Melville Shavelson (Houseboat).

This was definitely quite the movie if you ask me and one that definitely did not disappoint at all. It had your typical 60 quirks written into the script and it was everything you would expect from a film that is about a family of 19 that gets together. The one thing that I will say is thank God for Eric Shea who provides plenty of comedic relief as young Phillip North who wants to do good by his mom and be apart of the family, but it seems that he is the runt of the litter who just keeps getting the shaft. The poor kid just can not catch a break whether it be at home for breakfast or at school with a nun for a teacher who will not budge. He alone made the film worth watching and I am telling you that you will laugh hopefully as hard as I did every time he is on screen (I am laughing right now thinking about it). Henry Fonda is masterful as he always was when he was on screen and Lucille is just as amazing as she was in this semi serious role that she had and what about a young Tim Matheson who was still years away from his big role in Animal House. He plays a character that I didn't like too much, but as the film goes on, he sort of grows on you as he did absolutely great in the film. If you just want some wholesome family entertainment then this is definitely the film to check out and I am sure the 2005 version does not hold a candle to this one which is why I am going to give the film an A- for a final grade. There is only one more Sunday At The Classics before I do my 30 day challenge so stay tuned. Oh and if you think Christmas or your grocery bill is bad, just watch how they do shopping.