Once upon a time, a lovely widow met a handsome widower and despite the fact they had large families separately, they got married. Now I'll bet some of the people reading this are humming The Brady Bunch theme, but you're wrong. This is the "based on the true story" of the Beardsleys as outlined in Helen Beardsley's book Who Gets the Drumstick?.

Helen North (wonderful job by Lucille Ball is a Navy widow with eight children ranging from toddler to young teen. She's relocated the family to San Francisco in the hopes that a new location might help her in her grief.

Frank Beardsley (Henry Fonda who gives the character a wonderfully dry sense of humor) is back from a carrier assignment, trying to cope with being a widower with... ten children (or as my mother put it: "TEN kids!!! No wonder his wife died!"). There's a lot of resentment because he's allowing the two youngest, a baby and toddler, to be cared for by their aunt and uncle. He's landlocked now, taking an assignment that will allow him to be at home more with his children.

After a succession of housekeepers (the longest stay was a week and only because she was hiding from the law), Frank rather reluctantly enters the dating scene. After his daughter collapses with a confrontation with yet another housekeeper, he rushes her to the base hospital where Helen is working as a nurse. She explains his daughter's problems with a woman's perspective and confides she is having the same problem in reverse--trying to understand her son's behavior as she is a widow.

Now, there's obviously some sparks between these two who have much more in common than they realize. Eventually, they do begin dating, but because each has scared off other dates by admitting to their large number of children, neither wants to tell the other how many children they have.

Of course, they have to be honest--they realize they are beginning to care about each other very deeply. Helen tells Frank (after practicing hilariously in a modern bar): "I have eight children." He's a bit shocked but finally tells her: "I have ten." Together, the math is easy... that's 18 kids between them. And I do mean between them!

Needless to say, they do try to not see each other, but it doesn't work, so they decide to introduce their families. When Frank brings Helen home for dinner, she gets a cold shoulder... until his boys get a chance to mix her a drink and mix it they do! For a "light" screwdriver, she gets most of the contents from the liquor cabinet which leads to a drunken Helen trying to manage, but alternating between laughing hysterically as she dumps mashed potatoes on one daughter's lap and crying hysterically because she doesn't realize what's wrong.

Despite the objections of 18 children, they marry in a traditional church wedding or as Frank says: "It was a typical wedding: enemies of the bride on the right, enemies of the groom on the left." However, 18 children do make one change plans. The weekend long honeymoon has to be skipped as Phillip (Eric Shea), Helen's younger son, appears ill. So the North-Beardley's new home, a Victorian fixer-upper (God help them!), and try to assimilate into a working family.

Frank, however, is given the chance to return to a ship and work. Helen, not wanting to stand in the way of his happiness, decides not to tell him of her pregnancy. His six week assignment gets longer and longer and it isn't until a letter from home with a crayon drawing of "Mommy" complete with a stomach out to there, does he rush home. Will this family always be "Yours, Mine, and Ours" or will it become "ours" alone?

There are several subplots involving Phillip's desire to be a Beardsley; the older children's continued resentments; one daughter's boyfriend wanting her to become wilder (at least with him); and the mounds of work 18 children can bring.

The Good

This is a charming film, fit for the entire family. Both Ball and Fonda handle their comedic/dramatic roles superbly with Ball being more understated than before. Fonda is totally believable as the Navy man who loves his wife, his children, and the Navy, yet willing to sacrifice to keep his family happy.

The kids aren't Disney kids, jumping up and down, squealing with glee that this man is marrying their Mom (or vice versa). They are realistic in their actions and motivations. Young Shea as Phillip stands out among the children in his narrative exploring the downside of being a younger child, eventually getting into a fight in school over his insistance that he's now a Beardsley.

However, Frank's words to his step-daughter as getting his in-labor wife to the hospital are timeless. Sleeping with a guy isn't love; waking up to the same guy in the morning with 18 kids is love. And hope. And faith.

What's Bad

Well, the film does seem a bit dated as it was made in 1968. But that really doesn't bother me as I do enjoy older movies. It was quite a trip down nostalgia lane for me. Also, it might be difficult to keep in mind whose kids are who, however, that might have been difficult in real life for the North-Beardsley family to do, as well. So, in reality and with the right perspective, there aren't any real cons.

The DVD features

The DVD was only $9.99 at Kroger's (Yes, it was me waiting to pick up drugs that caused me to stumble over this movie... actually, I ran the electric cart into the display). It features the theatrical trailer; scene selection; and your choice of languages with subtitles in another language. For a movie that is 36 years old, that's not too chintzy.

Lisa's Final Word

I own this movie on DVD and I think it bears re-watching when a good, light-hearted family comedy is indicated.

I would give my usual stars and their explanation, however, this movie has no real cons. It is dated, but still relevant and enjoyable. 5 stars without hesitation.

Recommended:
Yes

Viewing Format: DVD
Video Occasion: Good for a Rainy Day
Suitability For Children: Suitable for Children up Ages 8