Customer Reviews

With Six You Get Eggroll [VHS]

5 star:		(48)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

"With Six You get Eggroll" bowed in the nation's theatres in August of 1968. It quickly became a popular success at the box-office thanks, in large part, to the enduring popularity of the film's star, Doris Day. Although some critics compared it, unfairly, to another comedy success, "Yours Mine, and Ours", "Eggroll" can more than stand on it's own merits.

The story about a widow with three children who falls in love with a widower with one daughter, is not new or original. However, thanks to a charming script, smooth direction by Howard Morris and the cast headed by Day and Brian Keith, who have a great onscreen chemistry, it's a delight. By the film's conclusion, audiences have shed a few tears and had more than a few laughs.

Doris Day plays the 40ish widow with charm, sex appeal, and a great deal of warmth. She is completely convincing and it's in her small touches that she especially proves her mettle as one of the most natural screen actresses ever. Keith is manly and real, and the supporting cast which includes Pat Carroll, Alice Ghostley, George Carlin, Barbara Hershey, Jamie Farr, and the popular rock group, The Grass Roots, lend credible support.

While the film, the first production of the CBS film wing, may betray it's television roots, seeming at times like a pilot for a sitcom, it is ultimately a fine working of a winning formula.

This was Day's cinema swan song, after two decades of enormous popularity, and it's a film that none of the participants need feel anything but pride in.

"With Six You Get Eggroll" marks rather sadly the farewell performance of Doris Day before she ventured into television and while this film is not as well known as some of her classic films like "Pillow Talk" or "Lover Come Back" really she could not have chosen a better film vechicle for her last performance.

"Eggroll" is a delightful , fun film which is often unfairly labelled solely as a "Family Film" and not much else. Certainly it is that, but there is also alot for the adults to enjoy as well. It is one of my favourite Doris Day performances and she does a wonderful job as the widow raising 3 boys who meets, falls in love with, and then marries a widower with one teenage girl. The resulting chaos produces many highly amusing situations that all of us can identify with. The whole issue of "us" and "them", "home territory" and how to protect it from "outsiders" is beautifully handled.

Doris Day plays her role with the smooth ease that her years of experience has taught her. In "Eggroll" she is sexy, and handles her role in a most realistic manner. She is at times loving, caring and warm, at other times frustrated and angry and just plan fed up with the whole situation which adds a truthful air to the whole proceedings. She is aided very well by Brian Keith who rather unexpectedly displays a terrific chemistry on screen with Doris. Theirs is a very honest and realistic coupling and they make "Eggroll" a super viewing experience.

The film benefits from its terrific supporting cast from Pat Carroll as Doris's match making sister to the wacky Alice Ghostley as the maid who always has a comment on each situation. The film boasts appearances by Jamie Farr (pre M*A*S*H)and William Christopher also pre M*A*S*H. The film also marked the feature film debut of Barbara Hershey and most of the dramatic tension in the story revolves around her characters ajustment to the merging of the two families. She delivers a wonderful performance for someone of her age and it isn't hard to see why she had such a great future ahead of her in films.

"With Six You Get Eggroll" is a fitting finish to Doris Day's film career. With times changing in the late 60's her style of sophisticated movie making was sadly going out and it is nice that she has left such a wonderful legacy on film. I strongly recommend this film to you and like me I'm sure you will enjoy it time and time again and see that it forever remains fresh and is first class entertainment.

Released in August of 1968, this fast and funny comedy turned out to be Doris Day's cinema swan song, after twenty years as a major star in the Hollywood firmament. Luckily, it'll be remembered for being a notable success at the box-office and on many other fronts including it's sterling cast headed by Day, Brian Keith, Barbara Hershey. George Carlin, Pat Carroll, Alice Ghostley, Vic Tayback, Jamie Farr and other capable character actors and actresses.

While on first glimpse, it might be unfairly compared to "Yours, Mine, and Ours", another 1968 success, or the later television series, "The Brady Bunch", "Eggroll" more than holds it's own by endearingly telling the story of a widow and widower who fall in love and in spite of the machinations of their children, manage to wed and live happily ever after. The film's strengths are in the individual scenes and set pieces that establish the characters and situations with plenty of heart and lots of belly laughs.

Doris Day, playing a role close to her own age at the time, shows why she remained a favorite with audiences for so many years. She is natural, real, wonderful! There isn't a false moment in her portrayal of a 40ish widow and pundits who talk about "The Constant Virgin" roles she allegedly played have obviously never seen one of her films or studied the effortless way in which she lends credibility to every role she plays. She is sexy, warm, womanly and she and Keith have great chemistry.

It's a delightful romp for all concerned, especially the audience, who'll come away happily smiling and asking, "Why don't they make comedies like that anymore". Luckily for us, it's still highly watchable!

WITH SIX YOU GET EGGROLL is a charming family comedy, in the vein of "Yours, Mine and Ours" and "The Brady Bunch". This film marked the last for Doris Day (who then concentrated on her hit television sitcom before gracefully retiring from the spotlight). She plays Abby McClure, a widow with three boys. Her sister (Pat Carroll) pushes her into a date with fellow widower Jake Iverson (Brian Keith), who has a teenage daughter (Barbara Hershey).

Bonding over their collective experiences, Abby and Jake fall in love and get married secretly in Vegas, to the horror of their children! This family comedy zips along nicely, much of the credit goes to Day who turns some fairly ho-hum dialogue and scenes into gold. Brian Keith is ably-partnered and the young Barbara Hershey reveals the acting talent she would successfully hone in later years. Pat Carroll and Alice Ghostley shine in comedic support roles (look closely for Jackie Joseph in the early party scene; she would later be a regular on "The Doris Day Show").

Paramount's DVD offers no extras but the anamorphic image is bright, colourful and remarkably-free from dirt and debris.

If you love the Brady Bunch, this is the movie for you. The movie is very real, down to earth, and busy professional people (especially ladies) could identify with the lead character. Although the Brady Bunch shown an unreal, perfect world, this movie pulls you into real, imperfect situations. The pressure to keep up with a successful business, being a mother of three boys, and dealing with society's expectation to also be in a successful relationship and married are brought to light in this entertaining, super-funny comedy. Brian Keith is also great in his portrayal of a professional dealing with his new-found relationship and super-bratty daughter. The good in everyone shines through by the end, leaving the audience not being able to discriminate between tears of laughter and the couple of sentimental tears. Another great Doris Day comedy.

In With Six You Get Eggroll the audience can experience the many "ups & downs" of marriage/divorce/dating/matchmaking/stepfamilies! This film is funny, tender, romantic, and FUN...you'll want to watch this one over and over again! Even though this (to date) is Doris' last film....you'll find yourself shopping for more of her films....if you don't already have a hefty collection! Other cast members: Brian Keith, Alice Ghostly, Barbara Hershey, and George Carlin...just to name a few, make this ensemble cast seem like "the real thing". The story takes place in the 60's, but still plays well in the 21st century! Anyone who has either been married/divorced/a parent (or knows someone that fits that description) will enjoy & probably laugh-out-loud at the antics portrayed in this film. Doris (as usual) gives a wonderful comedic performance, and her love interest-Brian Keith is very sexy & adorable! Don't just rent this one, BUY IT!

This is another example of Doris Day at her finest!! The movie plot starts with Doris Day as a widow, who falls for a widower- ( Brian Keith ), who happens to be an old friend. As they get to know each other better, be prepared to laugh to tears. As the plot thickens, the kids from both families don't get along. When things get serious, the laughs get better. This is a true family film that you'll love to see again and again. Enjoy!!!

This is GOOD! I only have it taped from TV a few years back and will eventually order it thru Amazon. I'm starting to see the stretch marks in it now because I watch it over and over again. I just love the part where she's getting ready for a party, comes home and the dog grabs her wig. Next thing you know, her hair is in the oven on "bake", cold cream on her face and the MAN arrives early. The housekeeper is scrambling around as well and adds to the meriment. The house switching is fun, and Pat Carroll is hilarious as her sister. And I just love the scene where Brian Keith is running around the town naked with only a teddy bear after he falls out of the camper! It is definitely a "family" type movie, if you can get your "family" together these days. So, I say.......bring on the buttered popcorn and some soda......sit down and ENJOY this one!

I had no idea when I went to see "With Six You Get Eggroll" in New York that it would be the last film in which Doris Day would appear. From reading the reviews, I was poised to believe that the picture was "kin" to another film called "Yours, Mine and Ours" starring Lucille Ball and Henry Fonda, which was a bawdy, predictable and loud film with too many children.

Much to my surprise and pleasure, "Eggroll" had very little similarity and was quite enjoyable and a satisfying experience.

Doris Day was at the end of her film career. Sex, almost hardcore, had landed on America's screens with films like "Carmen, Baby" and "Fuego", not to mention, Mike Nichols's "The Graduate" which Marty Melcher, Day's husband/manager, turned down for Miss Day because he felt it was "vulgar". Unfortunately, she was not making her own decisions, because "The Graduate" could have saved her film career and carried her through the '70s. But, I don't regret Melcher's vision. Doris Day's image on the screen will always remain youthful and beautiful, like Marilyn Monroe's, for all time.

"With Six You Get Eggroll" was a familiar story with which audiences could relate. Two unmarried people, Abby McClure (Day) and Jake Iversen (Brian Keith) both with children, meet, fall in love and decide to get married. Of course, their offspring are hurt and resentful and inevitably, chaos arises.

Brian Keith, movie actor and star of television's "Family Affair", was chosen as Day's new co-star and he was a wonderful and realistic choice considering the subject matter. He was not "Rock, Garner or Cary Grant handsome", but a rugged, very believable guy that would attract a movie star-type, like Doris Day. They had strange "chemistry" and I liked the fact that he gave the impression that 'she can't be real AND free!' Obviously, Abby McClure didn't like living without a man around the house.

The picture marked the screen debut of Barbara Hershey who plays Keith's rather possessive daughter, Stacey, who is a school-mate of Doris' son, Flip, played with snotty indignation by John Findlater. Day has two other sons, Mitch and Jason (Jimmy Bracken and Richard Steele) who are typically unruly for their young ages.

Alice Ghostley portrays Doris' maid, like Paul Lynde in drag. She is very funny as is Pat Carroll as Miss Day's matchmaking sister, Maxine. The picture really isn't about anything, simply a series of "happenings" that spark arguments, jealousy, slapstick and romance. Doris Day is absoulutely charming in her role and her years of screen acting yielded a first-rate performance. She is a natural. When Abby, fed up with the belligerence of Hershey, orders her to do all of the housework, is confronted by Jake, when he discovers that Abby's son played basketball instead of helping with the chores, blows up. Keith and Day have a knock-down-drag-out fight, leaving Abby physically shaking with anger. They are wonderful in this scene.

I also enjoyed Day's natural air when she was finally alone in her house, getting a snack and walking to her lonely bed. Beautiful and totally unaffected.

There is slapstick, expertly handled by Miss Day, of course, and an array of familiar faces along the way. Vic Tayback ("Alice") as a truck driver, Jackie Joseph ("Doris Day Show"), Allen Melvin ("All in the Family"), George Carlin as "Herbie" and Peter Leeds, a veteran of many Day films added bright moments to the proceedings.

Even Doris Day had no idea that this would be her final film. In real-life, Marty Melcher died, she discovered he had squandered her vast fortune and, without her knowledge, signed Miss Day to star in a television series at CBS. So went her film career.

I thought this movie was very entertaining,and funny. I am very glad that amazon.com is here for me to find my favorite classic movies and new releases.