The Long, Long Trailer (Vincente Minnelli, 1954). Image credit: MGM/Photofest © MGM
George Eastman Society members are invited to enjoy a private screening at the Dryden Theatre. Plan to join us for a drink and a quick bite at 6:30 p.m. ahead of a screening of The Long, Long Trailer (Vincente Minnelli, US 1954, 96 min., 35mm) at 7:30 p.m.
In the middle of their successful television run on I Love Lucy, husband-and-wife team Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz purchased the rights to Clinton Twiss’s novel The Long, Long Trailer and produced a film adaptation of it. MGM was not so enthusiastic about releasing a film with stars that the audience could get at home for free, but this was a chance to see Lucy and Desi in color, in a wider aspect ratio, and on the big screen. Arnaz bet production executive Benjamin Thau $25,000 that the film would gross more than the studio’s 1951 hit Father of the Bride. Arnaz won.
Newlyweds Nicky (Arnaz) and Tacy (Ball) take off on their honeymoon towing a trailer behind them as Nicky moves to his next infrastructure project in Colorado. Thinking that they will be able to save money on both rent and hotel rooms, the couple soon realize that they have no experience with trailer life, which leads to hilarious complications, including trying to cook food in the trailer and a nail-biting, cliff-hanging ride through the mountains.
This film will be featured as part of our Hollywood Pairings series (January–March 2023) that looks at films featuring artists who worked together both on screen and off.
Interested in becoming a George Eastman Society member and attending this event? Visit eastman.org/ges or call Katie Adams at (585) 327-4833 to learn more.