Customer Reviews

Here Come the Nelsons [VHS]

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

"Here Come the Nelsons" stars Ozzie, Harriet, Ricky and David as well as Rock Hudson, legendary screen heavy and TV producer Sheldon Leonard, Jim Backus ("Mister Magoo") and Gale Gordon ("Here's Lucy").

This movie is co-scripted by the great and tragic comedy writer William Davenport. Here Come the Nelsons gets off slowly but soon has enough plot twists to maintain interest until the hilarious finale.

On the way there's a rodeo with Ozzie riding a wild bronc, a visit to a carnival astrologer, an impromptu dance contest in Ozzie's living room and a holdup.

This is classic 50s family fare but not insipid. There's a fair amount of romantic tension and many clever plot twists, including the kidnapping of Ricky. The film is well-lit, directed and acted and highlights the unique savoir faire of Ozzie Nelson who would soon begin his television sitcom reign.

There are a couple of hokey sequences that don't work well (especially Ozzie's ad-man office angst) but these are amply countered by the many scenes that provoke laugh-out-loud hilarity.

A great film for the kids and Nelson fans and a reasonably enjoyable outing for everyone else.

Mike Hoffman

Ozzie wanted to see if the Nelson humor would make the transition from radio to TV and this movie was made to give him the answer. It is a very mellow movie, much in the same vein as the TV show that it led to. All four Nelsons are personable and the action is fast enough to keep you interested. A very young Rock Hudson makes his first (I think)movie appearance here. Rick was 12 and Dave in his teens when the movie was made, four years before Rick would begin his astounding Rock 'n' Roll career. Ozzie and Harriet are the parents we all wish we'd had. The villains aren't really all that bad but the Nelsons foil them anyway.
Barbara J. Olexer