#eric shea

Smile (1975)

“Its characters feel distinct in ways players in dark comedies frequently don’t.”

On the Brothers Shea: Who Played Linus, the Whiz Kid, and Much More

I am just the right age to be starstruck by three child stars of a family named Shea who enjoyed high recognition in the late 1960s and early ’70s.  Today is the birthday of the middle brother and the one I knew about first, but it’s worth it to talk about all three, for they are all notable. The brothers were all born in Los Angeles.

Christopher Shea(1958-2010) was the oldest. Christopher’s…

Yours, Mine and Ours - Brought to you by “The Rhythm Method”

While the country is going through incredible changes and upheavals regarding the anti-war movement and the youth movement and free love and the race movement and the british invasion, drugs, etc etc etc -- out comes this movie right in the middle of it and pretends that everything is still like it was in the late 50s or on 'Father Knows Best'. Henry Fonda plays a widower with a whole herd of children, a Navy man, who meets an eligible widow (also with tons of kids) played by Lucille Ball, and they decide to marry and the problems and hilarity that comes from raising a family the size of a typical platoon. Naive and cornball often, but manages to be somewhat entertaining at times.

Was a big favorite around my house when we were growing up (Dad liked this sort of 'family entertainment' and felt obligated to promote it whenever it hit the tube), and when I left the house and got married, I discovered my wife was also a big fan of this sort of movie. So if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.

3 stars out of 5