We Love Lucy Blogathon: Yours, Mine and Ours (1968)

In honor of Lucille Ball's 109th birthday, Musings of an Introvert is hosting the We Love Lucy Blogathon. I grew up watching Lucille Ball. First with the classic show, I Love Lucy which she starred in with her then husband, Desi Arnez, The Lucy Show which also co-starred her children, Lucie and Desi Jr. Arnez. Two of her most classic movies are some of my favorites, The Long, Long Trailer (which also starred Desi Arnez) and my personal favorite Yours, Mine and Ours which she co-starred with Henry Fonda. 

 Based on the true story of the marriage of widowed father of ten, Frank Beardsley and  widowed mother of eight, Helen North and how they brought together two families and made them one.

     Navy Chief Warrant Officer, Frank Beardsley has no idea what he's getting himself into when he returns home to San Francisco and is greeted by his hostile brood of ten children, Mike, Rusty, Greg, Rosemary, Louise, Susan, Veronica, Mary, Germaine and Joan. His children blame him for the death of their mother and their disdain is only deepened when he sends the two babies to live with his brother and sister-in-law. "The war was on," as Frank puts it as he tries to navigate the single fatherhood life of dealing with incompetent housekeepers, angry teenagers and mischievous little girls.

     Meanwhile, Helen North, a beautiful and newly widowed nurse is just as concerned about her future as she moves to the NAS Almeda Navy Base with her lively crew of eight, Colleen, Nick, Janette, Tommy, Jean, Philip, Gerald and Teresa. Helen's primary issues are her headstrong oldest daughter, Colleen and her new boyfriend, Larry. At a loss to know what to do at times, Helen has no choice but to let the relationship go while she deals with new life as a single mother.

     Little do either Frank or Helen realize that among the chaos of single parenting, an unexpected cart crash in the commissary would be the start of their new lives together as parents to eighteen (eventually nineteen) children.

    Through a series of unexpected meetings, Frank finally gets the courage to ask Helen out on a date. While the two of them enjoy themselves, they are hesitant at first to tell either about their children. When they finally do, both come to the agreement that pursuing a relationship with 18 children between them would be absurd. However, Frank's best friend, Darrell has other plans when he sneakily sets the two of the up for separate blind dates at the same restaurant...on the same night. Afterwards, both Frank and Helen realize their feelings for each other and start seeing one another when they can.

     Meanwhile, the Beardlsey clan are less than thrilled with the idea of a new woman in their father's life and do what they can to get rid of her. Yet, Frank is steadfast in believing that Helen is the right woman for him and the two are strong enough to brings their families together. After their marriage, Frank and Helen launch full speed ahead as they go through the ups and downs, and trials and victories of uniting their two families 

     One of my all time favorite comedies! The fact that it's based on a true story made this film all the more intriguing as well. In many ways you can understand the children's hesitancy to the relationship between Frank and Helen. However, it was great seeing how the children slowly grew to accept their new brothers and sisters. This is especially shown in Philip North's idolization of Mike Beardsley who although wasn't entirely on board with Frank and Helen's relationship, still tried to maintain a sense of stability for his new siblings.

     Yours, Mine and Ours is a classic that never gets old and Lucille Ball was her typical fabulous self playing a no nonsense mother who knows control, order, love and overwhelming understanding of her eight children who needed a father and his ten children who desperately needed a mother.

The real Beardsley/North family

Helen North and her eight children