Yours, Mine and Ours (1968) parents guide

Yours, Mine and Ours (1968) Parent Guide

This exceptionally large family presents an equally exceptional example of what make a real marriage work.

Overall B+

When Helen Beardsley (Lucille Ball), a widow with eight children, falls in love with Frank North (Henry Fonda) a widower with ten children, there are at least eighteen good reasons why they should never marry! Tying the knot anyway, the newlyweds attempt to unify their respective clans into one happy family, which requires all of them to redefine what things are Yours, Mine and Ours.

Release date May 24, 1968

Violence B+
Sexual Content C+
Profanity B+
Substance Use C+

Why is Yours, Mine and Ours (1968) rated Not Rated? The MPAA rated Yours, Mine and Ours (1968) Not Rated

Run Time: 111 minutes

Parent Movie Review

How do you describe true love to an adolescent with surging hormones? Frank Beardsley (Henry Fonda) explains it this way: “It’s not going to bed with a man that proves you love him. It’s getting up with him in the morning and facing the drab, miserable, wonderful, everyday world with him that counts.”

As mundane as that may sound, his wise words come from practical application. A father of ten children, Frank affirms his affection for his family when his wife passes away suddenly. Resigning from a job he thoroughly enjoys, the naval officer takes a less-appealing position that guarantees he can stay in his homeport. Although a little ill-prepared to manage his large crew all alone, this dad knows where he is needed most - whether or not his offspring appreciate his sacrifice.

Not far away, another parent encountering stormy seas is demonstrating her devotion. In the wake of her husband’s death, Helen North (Lucille Ball) gathers her gaggle of eight kids and moves to San Francisco to start a new life. Juggling childcare, housework, and nursing shifts at the nearby navy base, the busy mom hardly even has time to feel lonely—until the day her over-burdened grocery cart collides with Frank’s.

This chance meeting arouses feelings the widow and widower have been trying to forget—but there are at least eighteen obstacles preventing them from perusing a relationship. Despite the obvious problems sure to arise from trying to blend their two large families together, romance wins over reason.

Now, the newlyweds get up each morning at 4:00 A.M (or at least Helen does) to face such tedious tasks as cooking gallons of porridge, washing mountains of laundry, and making sure everyone has enough footwear. Frank employs his military training to keep the troops in line, for everything from preparing lunches assembly-line style, to making bedroom and bathroom assignments.

Unfortunately, not all of the family members are as quick to say “I do” as the parents. Consequentially, the usual challenges of sibling rivalries and rebellious teens are compounded by continued grieving for their lost parent, lack of acceptance of their stepparent, and questions about their new identity. If Frank and Helen ever hope to unify the Norths and Beardsleys into one clan, they will need to redefine what things are Yours, Mine and Ours.

This classic 1968 movie is based on the real life experiences of Helen North Beardsley, as recounted in her aptly titled book, Who Gets The Drumstick? The scriptwriter’s adaptation includes a few mild swear words, a couple of boys brawling over a girls virtue, a child punished with a spanking, and some social drinking. There is also a scene where three youths spitefully spike an unsuspecting woman’s cocktail, resulting in her behaving drunkenly.

For families, the greatest concern may be the frequent sexual innuendos sprinkled throughout, that reflect the swinging sixties era in which this film was produced. However, the commitment of Frank and Helen to their unusually large family stands in stark contrast to the prevalent attitudes of free love and promiscuity—philosophies their older children are wrestling with. As these teens observe examples of service and selflessness, they grow to appreciate, respect and understand what really constitutes true love. Amidst the movies’ physical comedy and gentle humor, most viewers will too.

Directed by Melville Shavelson. Starring Lucille Ball, Henry Fonda. Running time: 111 minutes. Theatrical release May 24, 1968. Updated

Yours, Mine and Ours (1968) Parents' Guide

After Frank and Helen go grocery shopping, they are aghast when their bill totals $126. How much money does it cost your family to bring home the bacon? What creative budgeting techniques would you have to employ to provide for 20 people?

When Frank talks to Helen’s oldest daughter, he tries to explain the responsibilities accompanying intimate relationships. Although not everyone will end up caring for 18 (or more) children, what obligations does he mention that apply to everyone? What are the rewards of investing in these commitments?

News About "Yours, Mine and Ours (1968)"

This movie is based on the book Who Gets The Drumstick?, by Helen Beardsley.

Home Video

The most recent home video release of Yours, Mine and Ours (1968) movie is September 13, 2016. Here are some details…

Home Video Notes: Yours, Mine and Ours
Release Date: 13 September 2016
Yours, Mine and Ours releases on Home video (DVD or Blu-ray) on 13 September 2016

 

Home Video Notes: Yours, Mine and Ours
Release Date: 6 March 2001
This home video release of Yours, Mine and Ours does not come with any bonus extras, except the movie’s trailer. Audio tracks are available in English (mono), French (mono), and Spanish (mono), with subtitles in French and Spanish.

Related home video titles:

A remake of Yours, Mine and Ours was released in 2005.  Cheaper by the Dozen tells the comedic tale of another large family. An aspiring nun meets the challenges of caring for seven children, first as a governess and then as a stepmother in The Sound of Music. Tim Matheson (credited as Tim Matthieson), who plays Frank Beardsley’s oldest son, continued his career in show business. You can find him playing the role of the handsome hero in The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again.