American
American(s) may refer to:
* American, something of, from, or related to the United States of America, commonly known as the "United States" or "America"
** Americans, citizens and nationals of the United States of America
** American ancestry, pe ...
comedy film
A comedy film is a category of film which emphasizes humor. These films are designed to make the audience laugh through amusement. Films in this style traditionally have a happy ending (black comedy being an exception). Comedy is one of the ol ...
starring
Rick Nelson
Rick may refer to:
People
*Rick (given name), a list of people with the given name
*Alan Rick (born 1976), Brazilian politician, journalist, pastor and television personality
*Johannes Rick (1869–1946), Austrian-born Brazilian priest and mycol ...
(formerly "Ricky Nelson") as a young man who tries to grow up and emancipate himself from his middle-class parents by getting married. Based on the 1963 stage play of the same name by Anita Rowe Block, the film was written, produced and directed by Nelson's father,
Ozzie Nelson
Oswald George Nelson (March 20, 1906 – June 3, 1975) was an American actor, director, producer, screenwriter, musician, composer, conductor and bandleader. He originated and starred in '' The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet'', a radio and te ...
.
Plot
On the day he graduates from high school, Buzzy Pringle (Ricky Nelson, Rick Nelson) secretly marries his girlfriend Rosemary (Kristin Nelson), whom he met at school and who still has to do another year because she has failed French. Buzzy's family are horrified on hearing the news of their wedding, especially as Buzzy, unable to care for Rosemary, suggests that for the time being he and his wife live in his old room in the Pringles' suburban home. At first Buzzy's parents suspect that Rosemary must be pregnant, but it soon turns out that neither of them has had sex before. It falls on Buzzy's father ( Jack Kelly) to have a man-to-man talk with his son on the latter's wedding night and to tell him all there is to know about the birds and the bees.
The newlyweds' first marital crisis arises after only a few weeks when Rosemary, while her husband is away doing a summer job at the company his father works for, attempts to be a housewife but in fact lacks the necessary skills. The situation escalates when Buzzy finds out that it is his father rather than the company who is paying him. His confidence is temporarily shattered, but Buzzy quickly recovers and eventually is able to make some important decisions. He finds a real job and rents a small apartment and in the end is reunited with Rosemary.
Cast
*
Rick Nelson
Rick may refer to:
People
*Rick (given name), a list of people with the given name
*Alan Rick (born 1976), Brazilian politician, journalist, pastor and television personality
*Johannes Rick (1869–1946), Austrian-born Brazilian priest and mycol ...
Jerry Van Dyke
Jerry McCord Van Dyke (July 27, 1931 – January 5, 2018) was an American actor and comedian. He was the younger brother of Dick Van Dyke.
Van Dyke had a long and successful career mostly as a character actor in supporting and guest roles on pop ...
Howard McNear
Howard Terbell McNear (January 27, 1905 – January 3, 1969) was an American stage, screen, and radio character actor. McNear is best remembered as the original voice of Doc Adams in the radio version of ''Gunsmoke'' and as Floyd Lawson, the ...
as Mr. Frisby
*
Barry Livingston
Barry Gordon Livingston (born December 17, 1953) is an American television and film actor, known for his role as Ernie Douglas on the television series ''My Three Sons'' (1963–72). He is the younger brother of actor/director Stanley Livings ...
as Bobby
* Alvy Moore as Officer Jones
* Madelyn Himes as Carol Pringle
* Sheilah Wells as Elizabeth Pringle
* Ivan Bonar as Assemblyman Potter
Production notes
Ozzie Nelson bought the rights to Anita Rowe Block's 1963 stage play ''Love and Kisses'', with the intention of adapting it for the screen as a vehicle for his son Rick. He then made a deal with
Universal Pictures
Universal Pictures (legally Universal City Studios LLC, also known as Universal Studios, or simply Universal; common metonym: Uni, and formerly named Universal Film Manufacturing Company and Universal-International Pictures Inc.) is an Ameri ...
to write, produce and direct the feature. Nelson also cast Rick's then-wife Kristin as the love interest (Kristen also appeared as Rick's wife after they married in 1963 on ''
The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet
''The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet'' is an American television sitcom that aired on ABC from October 3, 1952, to April 23, 1966, and starred the real-life Nelson family. After a long run on radio, the show was brought to television, where it ...
'').
Singer-songwriter
Sonny Curtis
Sonny Curtis (born May 9, 1937) is an American singer and songwriter. Known for his collaborations with Buddy Holly, he was a member of the Crickets and continued with the band after Holly's death. Curtis's best known compositions include " Wa ...
was hired to write two songs for the film, "Love and Kisses" and "Say You Love Me" with Kristen Nelson in mind. Rick Nelson recorded the songs which were released as a single. To promote the film and the songs, Nelson performed them on the television series ''
Shindig!
''Shindig!'' is an American musical variety series which aired on ABC from September 16, 1964 to January 8, 1966. The show was hosted by Jimmy O'Neill, a disc jockey in Los Angeles,List of American films of 1965