Love & Kisses

Back in the 1960s there were four ways to avoid the Draft and getting sent to Viet Nam. Most people know about the first three which were (1) to mainatain Student status as long as possible (2) by pulling a "Slick Willie" and running off to hide in Canada and by (3) Pulling a "George W" and joining the National Guard. Back in those days the Nationa Guard was NOT getting called up en mass. Although Guardsmen still went through the same initial training just like active service troops, once training was over, they waved good-bye to their former buddies who got sent to Viet Nam while they just went back home to the states where they lived. The 4th way was by getting married and having kids. They still had to register for the Draft, but by havig a family, their Draft Number was so low it would have to take a foreign army invading US soil before they would ever have to go. In order for this to work, the family had to help that young man to get a job to support that young family. In ths movie, THAT was exactly what happened. The Dad sacrificed some of his paycheck so that a job could be created for his son, so hat the on could support his new wife, avoid getting drafted and avoid going to Viet Nam. This strategy actually took place within a large number of middle class American failies, but hs seldom been depicted by Hollywood.

Based on a Broadway play that last about a week and starred Bert Convy, LOVE AND KISSES makes for an uneasy movie vehicle for Rick Nelson.

Reportedly dad Ozzie saw the play and bought the rights. Ozzie wrote and directed this 1965 film that deals with married teens (Rick and Kris Nelson) who live with his parents while they try to grow up fast.

It's not quite a sit-com because a few serious matters crop up, so it plays more like an adult version of the long-running ADVENTURES OF OZZIE AND HARRIET, the TV series on which Rick Nelson grew up.

Maybe the best thing is a dream sequence in which Rick saves Kris (who is a stripper) and fights off the scoundrels. It finally gives Rick something to do other than stand around and talk. At age 25, Rick is a little old to be playing the high school kid but he's good at playing "young." Jack Kelly and Madeline Himes are the harried parents. Jerry Van Dyke plays the sister's boyfriend. Pert Kelton is the housekeeper. A few familiar faces from TV pop up: Howard McNear, David Nelson, Skip Young, Alvy Moore, etc.

And yes Rick Nelson (a hugely underrated singing star of his time) sings a few songs.

Yet another strange film in the `oddballs' Universal canon of the mid to late 60's. This will probably be only of interest to Nelson fans; others might want to stay away. It was a based on a play Ozzie Nelson had seen in New York a few years earlier and he bought the property for the screen. The resulting film is a stage-bound filmization of the play. It plays like sitcom of today (NOT like the Ozzie and Harriet TV series) and it is a bit racy for its time. A real curio.

It opened August 5, 1965 in Houston TX (Universal's distribution boys did a lot of weird things then); other dates included Oct 13, 1965 (Minneapolis, MN), Dec 22 1965 (New York, NY) on a double bill with `Pinocchio In Outer Space' in a wide theatre break. Howard Thompson gave it a negative review in the New York Times, 12/23/65.

Released in theaters in 1965 during last season of his long-running family TV series, Ozzie Nelson's attempt to recast son Ricky and real- life wife Kris as slightly more risqué versions of their sitcom roles is a real weirdie.

Hard to imagine what Oz (who wrote, produced and directed) was thinking; it's almost as if this was his way to use all the story lines he knew would never get past the TV censors.

But did he really believe audience who'd made TV's most wholesome comedy a hit for more than ten years was dying to hear rockin' Ricky use (mild) profanity, see Kris perform a burlesque routine, watch Ozzie-surrogate Jack Kelly awkwardly guide Ricky through a teen-marriage sex talk (in which Ricky, a teen idol of many years and now well into twenties, seems to have biological knowledge of a dim- witted third grader, etc.)?

With cameos by O&H alums David Nelson and Skip "Wally Plumstead" Young as bystanders in a strip joint brawl (!), a creepy scene in which the teen newlyweds consummate their marriage in the groom's bunk bed, lots of exteriors shot on Universal's old Leave It To Beaver back lot set and a crazy ending wherein Rick serenades Kris in a hot rod. . . driven by a giant stuffed rabbit!

May not exactly be the "Rick 'n' Roll Riot!!!" the poster promised but still blandly bizarre in the extreme.