roddekker Released in 1954 - The Long, Long Trailer (TLLT, for short) was very much like watching a very, very long, long episode (90 minutes) of the highly-popular "I Love Lucy" TV Show of the early 1950's.Now, don't get me wrong here - I can certainly enjoy watching an extended episode of "I Love Lucy"', now, and again. But I found that with TLLT there seemed to be something slightly out of kilter with its story - Something oddly unbalanced.It seemed to me that TLLT was missing a vitally important element in its "comedy relief" department.What I'm talking about here is, of course, the much needed input of actors William Frawley and Vivian Vance, as Fred and Ethel Mertz, into TLLT's comic story. Believe me, these 2 characters were most desperately needed several times throughout the course of TLLT as a buffer to counter the often amusing, but sometimes annoying, domestic squabbles of Nicky and Tracy (aka Ricky and Lucy Ricardo).But, with that all said - TLLT was still fairly entertaining as far as comedies go. But it certainly wasn't great.

classicsoncall There's probably a reason the film makers didn't go for the Lucy/Ricky format for this picture but I'm not aware of it. Just like their 1956 film "Forever, Darling", an opportunity was probably missed by the players not using their well regarded TV show identities. And to be honest, even though this is considered a comedy, I didn't find much humor in the story other than an infrequent lapse into Lucy's TV character as was seen in the trailer trying to prepare a meal while her husband was driving.Another impression I got from the movie was what the reaction might have been at the time from the trailer industry (they weren't recreational vehicles back then). Not for anything, but the film portrayed owning and driving one in such a bad light that it almost felt like an anti-trailer commercial for it's run of nearly two hours. Granted, this was made a long time ago, but you have to wonder if some trailer executives sitting around their desks might have wrung their hands over the way their product was being presented.The thing that really blew me away though was the way Nicky (Desi Arnaz) had to juggle his finances to make the whole project affordable. The trailer and a new car to haul it set him back a whole seven and a half grand!!! and later on, when he had to have the trailer towed away from the muddy trail they got stuck in, the towing, labor and wash set him back a whole forty six dollars! I'm starting to get nostalgic for the good old days again.Well I know Lucille Ball fans who cherished "I Love Lucy" will hold this picture in high regard as evidenced by other reviews here, but take the principal players out of the cast and I think it becomes an entirely different picture. I enjoyed the TV series myself, which makes it almost painful to tread on critical ground for this film, but I prefer to remember Lucy and Ricky as the much more entertaining Ricardos. You can pass that piccalilli now.

sddavis63 In the midst of their wildly successful run through "I Love Lucy," Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz made a movie. In "The Long, Long Trailer" they play newlyweds Nicky and Tacy. Nicky's job apparently requires him to travel a lot, and Tacy comes up with the idea of buying a trailer as their new home so that she can accompany him wherever he goes - and what a trailer. It's a beast. It's huge. And Tacy doesn't seem to understand the challenge involved in pulling the thing around the country.The basic story revolves around the fact that the purchase of this trailer almost destroys Nicky and Tacy's new marriage. Much of the humour in this revolves around the trials of driving with the trailer hooked to the car. The movie for the most part lacks the slapstick kind of humour that "I Love Lucy" was famous for - with perhaps the exception of a scene in which Tacy tries to cook in the trailer while Nicky is driving. Watching Nicky try to back the trailer into the driveway of Tacy's uncle and aunt's house and almost destroying the house is also quite funny. Otherwise, the humour is lower key than you'd expect, and the movie is sometimes even tense. The scenes in which Nicky has to pull the trailer up a long and windy mountain road is actually rather unsettling.This certainly isn't as good as "I Love Lucy" but in its own way it's fun, and lets us see Lucy and Desi doing something a little different. (6/10)

eck02 The Long Long Trailer has something for everyone as you watch in amazement of what was considered to be modern conveniences in 1953. The story of newlyweds traveling in their home on wheels is excellent, lovely and hilarious. For Lucy Ball and Desi Arnaz they shine as flirtatious yet humorous actors. Both actors are delightful to watch and have always been among my personal favorites to watch on TV. It is wonderful watching them in a full length comedy film. After their wedding, Tacy and Nicky have different opinions about where they should live as they begin their life together as man and wife, which creates a conflict. Nicky reminds Tacy of their budget for their first year of marriage and how they should save to buy a home. Tacy has her heart set on a Excelsier trailer home on wheels after seeing a trailer show. She talks Nicky into going $100 over budget and purchasing the trailer home of her dreams. He surprises his bride with the title to the 28 foot trailer as a wedding gift.