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The Long, Long Trailer | |
---|---|
Directed by | Vincente Minnelli |
Produced by | Pandro S. Berman |
Screenplay by | Albert Hackett Frances Goodrich |
Based on | The Long, Long Trailer 1951 novel by Clinton Twiss |
Starring | Lucille Ball Desi Arnaz Marjorie Main Keenan Wynn |
Music by | Adolph Deutsch |
Cinematography | Robert Surtees |
Edited by | Ferris Webster |
Distributed by | Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer |
| |
96 min | |
Language | English |
Budget | $1,534,000[1] |
Box office | $4,985,000[2] |
The Long, Long Trailer is a 1954 American Anscocolorroadcomedy film based on a novel of the same name written by Clinton Twiss in 1951 about a couple who buy a new travel trailer home and spend a year traveling across the United States.[3]
The film stars Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. It also features Marjorie Main, Keenan Wynn, Bert Freed, Moroni Olsen, Gladys Hurlbut, Madge Blake, Howard McNear, and Walter Baldwin. The picture was directed by Vincente Minnelli, working from a screenplay by Albert Hackett and Frances Goodrich.
Plot[edit]
As Nicholas Collini (Desi Arnaz) takes a new job as a civil engineer, his new bride Tacy (Lucille Ball) comes up with an idea to buy a trailer to travel around the USA to various work projects on which Nicky is employed, as well as to save money that would otherwise be spent on a house. Tacy also hopes to haul the trailer themselves to Nicky's new place of work in Colorado, as part of their honeymoon trip to the Sierra Nevada mountains. But the honeymoon trip, as well as happenings leading up to it, rapidly becomes a series of disasters.
Shortly after arriving at the trailer show, Tacy and Nicky come across a large trailer home, which Tacy instantly falls in love with. To tow the trailer, the Collinis end up buying a new car and trailer hitch, and the money spent starts to mount up.
Early in the trip, after being swamped by friendly trailer park neighbors their first night, Tacy decides to camp back in the woods the next night. But after turning on an old logging road, the trailer falls on its side into the mud during a rainstorm, which Nicky tries to level. The next day, the Collinis go to visit Tacy's relatives. But upon arriving at the home of her aunt and uncle, with other relatives and neighbors who are gathered watching, Nicky accidentally backs the trailer into their hosts' carport, partly destroying it as well as a prized rose bush. As Tacy and Nicky continue traveling, Tacy is determined to make their trailer home, collecting fruits and vegetables to can for winter, as well as rocks to decorate their front patio when they arrive at their ultimate destination in Colorado. Soon Tacy wants to learn how to drive the car, but after being constantly criticized by Nicky about her driving skills, Tacy gets out and jumps in the back, furious. After having another fight that evening over who was sleeping where for the night, they make up again.
The following afternoon, Tacy attempts to cook dinner while Nicky drives, hoping to have dinner ready once he parks the trailer at their next stop. It goes awry, as the trailer moves and rocks, causing the dinner to be ruined and Tacy getting severely bruised. Afterwards, Nicky decides to take an offer on the trailer, hoping he and Tacy can move into an actual house. But Tacy is still determined to keep the trailer, and refuses to sell it. That evening, Nicky orders Tacy to get rid of all the rocks and canned foods she has collected before they make a cliffhanging ride on a narrow road through the mountains. But Tacy feels they are throwing away precious memories of their honeymoon, and decides to keep them hidden, so Nicky wouldn't find them. But as Nicky and Tacy drive up and down the mountain, everything Tacy has hidden rolls around inside the trailer, causing a big mess. Finally, when they reach the top of the 8,000 feet (2,400 m) mountain, the trailer falls over again, weighed down by all of the possessions. In a rage, Nicky takes everything Tacy has collected and throws it off the mountain. Tacy later storms off in a huff.
As their marriage deteriorates, Nicky meets up with Tacy as she prepares to sell the trailer and move back home. Nicky attempts to apologize, but doesn't know where to start and instead leaves. As Nicky starts driving off in the pouring rain, Tacy runs to catch up with him. The two finally forgive each other, and tearfully reconcile.
Cast[edit]
- Lucille Ball as Tacy Bolton-Collini
- Desi Arnaz as Nicholas 'Nicky' Collini
- Marjorie Main as Mrs. Hittaway
- Keenan Wynn as Policeman
- Gladys Hurlbut as Mrs. Bolton
- Moroni Olsen as Mr. Tewitt
- Bert Freed as Foreman
- Madge Blake as Aunt Anastacia
- Walter Baldwin as Uncle Edgar
- Emory Parnell as Policeman
- Oliver Blake as Mr. Ludlow
- Perry Sheehan as Bridesmaid
Production[edit]
The trailer used in the film is the 1953 36-foot Redman New Moon model, which sold for US$5,345 (equivalent to $51,077 in 2019). The new car used to tow the trailer is a 1953 Mercury Montereyconvertible with a 125 HPflatheadV8 engine.
Opening scenes were shot on Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Stage 12, the same location at which Arnaz played his first film scene in Bataan, eleven years before.[4]
The dangerous mountain highway featured is Whitney Portal Road, which leads up to Mount Whitney in the Sierra Nevada mountains in California. The hairpin turn offers scenic views of the Owens Valley. During the scenes of Nicky and Tacy pulling their trailer in the mountains, their 1953 Mercury Monterey convertible is replaced with a larger but similar appearing 1953 Lincoln Capri convertible. The distinct Lincoln grille is clearly evident in a shot as the car rounds a curve. The more powerful Lincoln (which is equipped with a 205 HP V8 engine) was needed to pull the heavy New Moon trailer up and over the steep grades of the Sierra Nevada where the scenes were filmed. Other scenes were shot on the Pines to Palms Scenic Byway (State Route 74) in Palm Desert, California.[5]
The residence of Tacy's aunt and uncle (where the porch and rosebush are destroyed by the trailer) is the Meet Me In St. Louis John Truett house on the MGM Backlot, next door to the Smith Family house.
The closing credits thank the National Park Service for permission to film in Yosemite National Park. There is one memorable scene where the car and trailer emerge from a tunnel to a view of Yosemite Valley, complete with a panorama of El Capitan, Half Dome, and Bridalveil Fall. Later, there is a view of a full-flowing Yosemite Falls.
Reception[edit]
According to Turner Classic Movies' host, Robert Osborne, the studio was not sure if this film would be a success because it was thought people would not pay money to see Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz in a movie when they could watch the couple on television for free (I Love Lucy). Arnaz made a $25,000 bet with the studio that the movie would make more money than the current highest grossing comedy at that time (Father of the Bride, starring Spencer Tracy and Elizabeth Taylor and also directed by Vincente Minnelli). Arnaz won the bet. The film gave audiences an opportunity to see Arnaz and Ball in color when I Love Lucy was in black and white. Tacy and Nicky are similar to the characters Lucy and Ricky.
According to MGM records the film earned $3,978,000 in the US and Canada and $1,007,000 elsewhere, resulting in a profit of $1,517,000.[1]
DVD release[edit]
The Long, Long Trailer was released on DVD in 2006 by Warner Home Video[6] in Region 1 coding for the U.S. and Canada. It was released as a single disc and as a part of a 3-DVD set featuring two other Ball/Arnaz movies, Forever, Darling and Too Many Girls. The film was also released in Region 4 coding for Australia.
In popular culture[edit]
The film is referenced in the They Might Be Giants song 'Everything Right Is Wrong Again' which contains the lyrics 'Everything right is wrong again / Just like in The Long, Long Trailer / All the dishes got broken / The car kept driving / And nobody would stop to save her'.
References[edit]
- ^ abThe Eddie Mannix Ledger, Los Angeles: Margaret Herrick Library, Center for Motion Picture Study.
- ^'The Top Box-Office Hits of 1954', Variety Weekly, January 5, 1955
- ^Variety film review; January 6, 1954, page 52.
- ^Archerd, Armand, 'Contrite Studio Welcomes Lucy And Desi Back With Full 'Red Carpet' Treatment', West Florida Daily Globe combined with The Okaloosa News-Journal, Crestview, Florida, Thursday 15 October 1953, Volume 40, Number 172, page 2.
- ^Meeks, Eric G. (2011). P.S. I Love Lucy: The Story of Lucille Ball in Palm Springs. Horotio Limburger Oglethorpe. p. 31. ISBN978-1468098549.
- ^ISBN978-1419827129ISBN141982712XOCLC68656050
External links[edit]
- The Long, Long Trailer on IMDb
- The Long, Long Trailer at Rotten Tomatoes
- The Long, Long Trailer at AllMovie
- The Long, Long Trailer at the TCM Movie Database
- The Long, Long Trailer at the American Film Institute Catalog
- The Long, Long Trailer at Trailerite.com
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=The_Long,_Long_Trailer&oldid=921981123'
Utility trailer
A boat on a single-axle trailer
A trailer is an unpowered vehicle towed by a powered vehicle. It is commonly used for the transport of goods and materials.
Sometimes recreational vehicles, travel trailers, or mobile homes with limited living facilities where people can camp or stay have been referred to as trailers. In earlier days, many such vehicles were towable trailers.
United States[edit]
A truck pulling a semi-trailer using a trailer dolly
In the United States, the term is sometimes used interchangeably with travel trailer and mobile home, varieties of trailers and manufactured housing designed for human habitation. Their origins lay in utility trailers built in a similar fashion to horse-drawn wagons. A trailer park is an area where mobile homes are placed for habitation.
In the United States trailers ranging in size from single-axle dollies to 6-axle, 13-foot-6-inch (4.11 m) high, 53-foot (16.15 m) long semi-trailers are commonplace. The latter, when towed as part of a tractor-trailer or '18-wheeler', carries a large percentage of the freight that travels over land in North America.
Types of trailers[edit]
ACP Backtracking genset trailer
Some trailers are made for personal (or small business) use with practically any powered vehicle having an appropriate hitch, but some trailers are part of large trucks called semi-trailer trucks for transportation of cargo.
Enclosed toy trailers and motorcycle trailers can be towed by commonly accessible pickup truck or van, which generally require no special permit beyond a regular driver's license. Specialized trailers like open-air motorcycle trailers, bicycle trailers are much smaller, accessible to small automobiles, as are some simple trailers, pulled by a drawbar and riding on a single set of axles. Other trailers, such as utility trailers and travel trailers or campers come in single and multiple axle varieties, to allow for varying sizes of tow vehicles.
There also exist highly specialized trailers, such as genset trailers, pusher trailers and their ilk that are also used to power the towing vehicle. Others are custom-built to hold entire kitchens and other specialized equipment used by carnival vendors. There are also trailers for hauling boats.
Bicycle trailer[edit]
Construction trailer[edit]
Travel trailer[edit]
A custom-made popup camper trailer
Popular campers use lightweight trailers, aerodynamic trailers that can be towed by a small car, such as the BMW Air Camper. They are built to be lower than the tow vehicle, minimizing drag.
Others range from two-axle campers that can be pulled by most mid-sized pickups to trailers that are as long as the host country's law allows for drivers without special permits. Larger campers tend to be fully integrated recreational vehicles, which often are used to tow single-axle dolly trailers to allow the users to bring small cars on their travels.
Semi-trailer[edit]
A semi-trailer is a trailer without a front axle. A large proportion of its weight is supported either by a road tractor or by a detachable front axle assembly known as a dolly. A semi-trailer is normally equipped with legs, called 'landing gear', which can be lowered to support it when it is uncoupled. In the United States, a single trailer cannot exceed a length of 57 ft 0 in (17.37 m) on interstate highways (unless a special permit is granted), although it is possible to link two smaller trailers together to a maximum length of 63 ft 0 in (19.20 m).
Semi-trailers vary considerably in design, ranging from open-topped grain haulers through Tautliners to normal-looking but refrigerated 13 ft 6 in (4.11 m) x 53 ft 0 in (16.15 m) enclosures ('reefers'). Many semi-trailers are part of semi-trailer trucks. Other types of semi-trailers include dry vans, flatbeds and chassis.
Many commercial organizations choose to rent or lease semi-trailer equipment rather than own their own semi-trailers, to free up capital and to keep trailer debt from appearing on their balance sheet.
Full trailer[edit]
Full trailer with steered axle
A full trailer is a term used in the United States for a freight trailer supported by front and rear axles and pulled by a drawbar. In Europe this is known as an A-frame drawbar trailer. A commercial freight trailer is 96 or 102 in (2.44 or 2.59 m) wide and 35 or 40 ft (10.67 or 12.19 m) long.As per AIS 053, full trailer is a towed vehicle having at least two axles, and equipped with a towing device which can move vertically in relation to the trailer and controls the direction of the front axle(s), but which transmits no significant static load to the towing vehicle. This style of trailer is also popular for use with farm tractors.
Close-coupled trailer[edit]
A close-coupled trailer
A close-coupled trailer is fitted with a rigid towbar which projects from its front and hooks onto a hook on the tractor. It does not pivot as a drawbar does.
Motorcycle trailer[edit]
Interior of an enclosed motorcycle trailer
A motorcycle trailer may be a trailer designed to haul motorcycles behind an automobile or truck. Such trailers may be open or enclosed, ranging in size from trailers capable of carrying several motorcycles or only one. They may be designed specifically to carry motorcycles, with ramps and tie-downs, or may be a utility trailer adapted permanently or occasionally to haul one or more motorcycles.
Another type of motorcycle trailer is a wheeled frame with a hitch system designed for transporting cargo by motorcycle. Motorcycle trailers are often narrow and styled to match the appearance of the motorcycle they are intended to be towed behind. There are two-wheeled versions and single-wheeled versions. Single-wheeled trailers, such as the Unigo or Pav 40/41, are designed to allow the bike to have all the normal flexibility of a motorcycle, usually using a universal joint to enable the trailer to lean and turn with the motorcycle. No motorcycle manufacturer recommends that its motorcycles be used to tow a trailer because it creates additional safety hazards for motorcyclists.
Livestock trailer[edit]
A horse trailer
There is a number of different styles of trailers used to haul livestock such as cattle and horses. The most common is the stock trailer, a trailer that is enclosed on the bottom, but has openings at approximately the eye level of the animals to allow ventilation. The horse trailer is a more elaborate form of stock trailer. Because horses are usually hauled for the purpose of competition or work, where they must be in peak physical condition, horse trailers are designed for the comfort and safety of the animals. They usually have adjustable vents and windows as well as suspension designed to provide a smooth ride and less stress on the animals. In addition, horse trailers have internal partitions that assist the animal in staying upright during travel and protect horses from injuring each other in transit. Larger horse trailers may incorporate additional storage areas for horse tack and may even include elaborate living quarters with sleeping areas, bathroom and cooking facilities, and other comforts.
Both stock trailers and horse trailers range in size from small units capable of holding one to three animals, able to be pulled by a pickup truck or even an SUV; to large semi-trailers that can haul a significant number of animals.
Boat trailer[edit]
Hitching a trailer[edit]
Trailer-hitch on a large vehicle
A trailer hitch, fifth-wheel coupling or other type of tow hitch is needed to draw a trailer with a car, truck or other traction engine.
Ball and socket[edit]
A trailer coupler is used to secure the trailer to the towing vehicle. The trailer coupler attaches to the trailer ball. This forms a ball and socket connection to allow for relative movement between the towing vehicle and trailer while towing over uneven road surfaces. The trailer ball is mounted to the rear bumper or to a draw bar, which may be removable. The draw bar is secured to the trailer hitch by inserting it into the hitch receiver and pinning it. The three most common types of couplers are straight couplers, A-frame couplers, and adjustable couplers. Bumper-pull hitches and draw bars can exert tremendous leverage on the tow vehicle making it harder to recover from a swerving situation.
Fifth wheel and gooseneck[edit]
A gooseneck trailer attached to a pickup truck
Tandem axle dually pickup truck with gooseneck trailer
These are available for loads between 10,000 and 30,000 pounds (4.5 and 13.6 t).[1][2] Both the hitches are better than a receiver hitch and allow a more efficient and central attachment of a large trailer to the tow vehicle. These hitch types are designed for pickup truck bed. They are able to haul large loads without disrupting the stability of the vehicle.[3] Traditional hitches are connected to the vehicle back but these are attached to the truck bed, which make them better for making sharp turns and cutting tight corners. Both styles have trailers attach to a coupler mounted above the axle within the bed of the tow vehicle such as a flat deck or pickup truck. A fifth-wheel coupling is also referred to as a kingpin hitch and is a smaller version of the semi-trailer 'fifth wheel'. Though a fifth wheel and a gooseneck trailer look much the same, their method for coupling is different. A fifth wheel uses a large horseshoe-shaped coupling device mounted a foot or more above the bed of the tow vehicle. A gooseneck couples to a standard 25⁄16-inch (59 mm) ball mounted on the bed of the tow vehicle. The operational difference between the two is the range of movement in the hitch. The gooseneck is very maneuverable and can tilt in all directions, while the fifth wheel is intended for level roads and limited tilt side to side. Gooseneck mounts are often used for agricultural and industrial trailers. Fifth-wheel mounts are often used for recreational trailers. Standard bumper-hitch trailers typically allow a 10% or 15% hitch load while a fifth wheel and gooseneck can handle 20% or 25% weight transfer.
Trailer jack[edit]
The basic function of a trailer jack is to lift the trailer to a height that allows the trailer to be hitched or unhitched to and from the towing vehicle. Trailer jacks are also used for leveling the trailer during storage. The most common types of trailer jacks are A-frame jacks, swivel jacks, and drop-leg jacks. Some trailers, such as horse trailers, have a built-in jack at the tongue for this purpose.
Electrical components[edit]
Many older cars took the feeds for the trailer's lights directly from the towing vehicles rear light circuits. As bulb-check systems were introduced in the 1990s 'by-pass relays' were introduced. These took a small signal from the rear lights to switch a relay which in turn powered the trailer's lights with its own power feed. Many towing electrical installations, including vehicle-specific kits incorporate some form of bypass relays.
In the US, trailer lights usually have a shared light for brake and turn indicators. If such a trailer is to be connected to a car with separate lamps for turn indicator and brake a trailer light converter is needed.
Nowadays some vehicles are being fitted with CANbus networks, and some of these use the CANbus to connect the tow bar electrics to various safety systems and controls. For vehicles that use the CANbus to activate towing-related safety systems, a wiring kit that can interact appropriately must be used. Without such a towbar wiring kit the vehicle cannot detect the presence of a trailer and can therefore not activate safety features such as trailer stability program which can electronically control a snaking trailer or caravan.
By-pass systems are very cost effective but may not be appropriate on cars with interactive safety features.
Brakes[edit]
Bus trailer
Bus and trailer in Saskatchewan, Canada
Larger trailers are usually fitted with brakes. These can be either electrically operated, air operated, or overrun brakes.
Stability[edit]
Trailer stability can be defined as the tendency of a trailer to dissipate side-to-side motion. The initial motion may be caused by aerodynamic forces, such as from a cross wind or a passing vehicle. One common criterion for stability is the center of mass location with respect to the wheels, which can usually be detected by tongue weight. If the center of mass of the trailer is behind its wheels, therefore having a negative tongue weight, the trailer will likely be unstable. Another parameter which is less commonly a factor is the trailer moment of inertia. Even if the center of mass is forward of the wheels, a trailer with a long load, and thus large moment of inertia, may be unstable.[4]
Some vehicles are equipped with a Trailer Stability Program that may be able to compensate for improper loading.
See also[edit]
List of types of trailers[edit]
- Enclosed cargo trailer
- Flat deck trailer
- Dump trailer
- Solar trailer (for solar vehicles)
References[edit]
- ^'Gooseneck Trailer Hitch Information and Review | etrailer.com'. www.etrailer.com. Retrieved 2017-07-22.
- ^'Hitchesguide.com Is For Sale'. www.hitchesguide.com. Retrieved 2017-07-22.
- ^Carlos, Perry (May 11, 2017). 'Gooseneck Vs 5th Wheel Hitch For Towing Fifth-Wheel Trailer'. outdoorfact.com.
- ^Karnopp, Dean (2004). Vehicle Stability. CRC Press. p. 93. Retrieved 2008-11-29.
External links[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Trailer. |
Look up trailer (vehicle) in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. |
- Trailers at Curlie
- Trailer manufacturers at Curlie
Retrieved from 'https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Trailer_(vehicle)&oldid=927227411'