Good , But It Is Overrated By Some

Better Late Then Never

A story that's too fascinating to pass by...

This is one of the best movies I’ve seen in a very long time. You have to go and see this on the big screen.

Frank Beardsley's (Henry Fonda) opening narration tells of how his children feel he neglected his wife and their mother; an interesting parallel to real life in which Fonda told his wife Frances Ford Seymour in 1949 he wanted a divorcée so he could remarry after an unhappy 13 year marriage; a confession which drove her to suicide. Not to mention Fonda was a man who was "emotionally distant" to his children starring in a movie like Yours, Mine and Ours, but being the great actor he is, never is he out of place.Yours, Mine and Ours doesn't have a massive amount of substance but has just enough to keep it afloat. It's not the most advanced comic material for the likes of Lucille Ball but she makes the most of it. Apparently Fonda became deeply in love with Ball during film and the two became very close; always a benefit to the on screen chemistry. Likewise sex references still manage to slip into a family film ("He'll bring me home in plenty of time for dessert"). The cinematography is also surprisingly advanced for a movie of this kind such as seen in the very opening shot of the film in which the camera pans back from a close up of Fonda to a battle ship in its entirety. Likewise there are plenty of effective shots of San Francisco.The old fashioned family ideals in Yours, Mine and Ours were not in tune with a changing America of the time. The film was originally to be made in the early 60's but was delayed due to various setbacks but the fashions present here are clearly of the late 60's. With the film's inclusion of battleships and planes the movie clearly has US Navy endorsement and I can see this pro-military aspect of the film not going down well during the days of the Vietnam War. Likewise at the end of the film the eldest son Michael Beardsley joining the armed forces; so I guess that's off to Nam! This is the aspect of Yours, Mine and Ours which I find the most interesting; it's a film which the product of before it's time, clinging onto bygone values. For example the movie has Van Johnson in a supporting role whom I've always pictured as being an archetypal 50's actor. But more importantly Frank Beardsley can't be a stay at home father, he's clearly a man's man as evident from his high ranking position in the navy.

Lucille Ball who was President and CEO of Desilu wanted to move Desilu into movie production as well as its fabled TV operation and this film is a Desilu movie released thru United Artists.Lucille Ball nurtured this script for years at Desilu and got the right director in Mel Shavelson and it is a delightfully fine piece of film making. Henry Fonda and Van Johnson give able support but it is Lucille Ball's picture and Lucy scored a great hit. Lucille Ball was robbed of an Oscar nomination for her superb performance. Some have carped re Ms. Ball being in her mid 50's playing a much younger woman but to me the film works because of Ms. Ball who looks wonderful in the film.Paramount Pictures bought adjacent Desilu after this movie was made, and when Yours Mine and Ours was such a hit, Desilu's 25% was paid from United Artists to Paramount! Lucille Ball also owned outright 25% of the movie and made millions on this film.This one of my favorite films.Bravo Lucy

Yours Mine and Ours is the tender, touching and tantalizing tale of a mildly retarded 70-year-old red-headed woman who accidentally gets drunk and then miraculously gets pregnant with a baby. A complex color- and number-coded system teaches the children the value of sticking to their own bedroom and bathroom, and not only is a good time had by all, but a valuable lesson is learned by all. Nancy Roth's near-award-winning role as Rosemary Beardsley is a haunting practice in joie de vivre, as is Mr. Tom Bosley in the role of the cuddly, mildly hairy gentleman known as "Family Doctor." Keep your eyes open for a young Larry Hankin as "Supermarket Clerk/Harry."

OK, the movie is really quite dated. Perhaps this is why the movie sells for less than $9.99 on DVD. But in spite of its being dated, the movie is still very funny. Maybe it's funny because it is outdated. The movie was made a long, long time ago, in a day when "comedy" took priority over "politically correct". With Madelyn Davis and Bob Carroll, Jr writing the script, it couldn't be anything but a sure fire winner. The two also provided their talents on I LOVE LUCY. (Madelyn Davis was known as Madelyn PUGH during the I LOVE LUCY era).Lucille Ball, in this movie, has really taken a big risk in stepping out of her domain where she truly reigned as the queen of comedy. Her brilliance as a comedian has always been in her ability to act like the perfect scatterbrain, driving a totally frustrated straight man well past his breaking point with her totally insane schemes. On TV, this straight man was played by Desi Arnaz and later, by Gale Gordon.In this movie, Lucille Ball shone brighter than ever, showing an ability to go from "scatterbrain" to "serious to the point of tears" and back, so effortlessly. And there was no "straight man" to bounce her brand of comedy off of.Tom Bosely was hilarious as the family doctor, with his deadpan approach. Seeing him later as Howard Cunningham in HAPPY DAYS, I wonder if he was really acting or was he simply being himself? He certainly has that dry wit down to an art.Oh, and then, there is that issue of age. Lucille Ball was 57 and Henry Fonda was around 61 when the movie was made. This issue is obviously irrelevant. The movie was a hit when it was released in 1968. And it obviously beats that remake in 2005, hands down, in spite of the age of leading roles in the remake.Lucille Ball and Henry Fonda rule!