"America may never be the same after Hollywood's favorite couple, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, take you aboard their home on wheels for a wacky cross-country honeymoon." [MGM Synopsis]

RUNNING TIME
    103m's

YEAR OF RELEASE
    1954

STUDIO
    Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)

COLOR/BW
    Technicolor

DIRECTOR
    Vincente Minnelli

WRITERS
    Frances Goodrich
    Albert Hackett
    Clinton Twiss (author)

CINEMATOGRAPHER
    Robert Surtees

MUSIC
    Adolph Deutsch
    Richard A. Whiting

FILM EDITING
    Ferris Webster

PRODUCER
    Pandro S. Berman

LYRICISTS
    Haven Gillespie
    Seymour Simmons
    Richard A. Whiting

ART DIRECTORS
    Edward C. Carfagno
    Cedric Gibbons

SET DIRECTORS
    F. Keogh Gleason
    Edwin B. Willis

SPECIAL EFFECTS
    A. Arnold Gillespie
    Warren Newcombe 

Desi had become interested in Clinton Twiss' The Long, Long Trailer as early as May 1952, but MGM producer Pandro S. Berman outbid him.

Berman, however, though Lucy and Desi would be great in the film, but MGM honchos weren't sure.  Berman later recalled, "Metro wanted no part of it.  They subscribed to the theory that the audience wouldn't pay to see actors they could get at home free.  But I insisted these were different parts, and Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz could make the picture hillarious.  If the picture was funny enough, I had no worries that enough people wouldn't pay to see it."

On February 4, 1953, Lucy and Desi were signed to make the film at MGM for $250,000.  Vincente Minnelli was chosen to direct a week later.

Lucy and Desi began production a week after "I Love Lucy" ended production on its second season.  The production wrapped on July 16.

In February 1954, two "I Love Lucy" episodes were produced back-to-back so that Lucy and Desi could attend the film's New York premiere.

The movie was a major part of MGM's Thirtieth Anniversary Jubilee, and they spent a huge amount of money on the film's marketing campaign.

Trailer premiered at the world-famous Radio City Music Hall to fantastic reviews and eventually became MGM's top-grossing comedy film of all-time, eclipsing Spencer Tracy and Elizabeth Taylor's Father of the Bride.

Trailer is also the reason there is no "I Love Lucy" feature film.  Other than a preview in Bakersfield, California, the film was never released because MGM did not want extra competition for Trailer.  If anyone has any information on the whereabouts of a copy of this film, please e-mail me.

Trailer is available on videotape from MGM/UA Home Video (202112).  You can buy the video online from Ted's Lucille Ball Bookstore (in association with Amazon.com).  Click here to order.

"We took three days of from ["I Love Lucy] and then went directly into production of MGM's The Long, Long Trailer.  We did this movie for my old friend producer Pandro Berman.  My former studio, MGM, paid us $250,000, and fortunately the show was a big moneymaker.  I had Lana Turner's old dressing room and Desi was in Clark Gable's....We knew that MGM had a few things lined up for us to promote The Long, Long Trailer, which was having its New York premiere, but mainly our idea was a short vacation from the daily grind.  The trip started one Wednesday night in February 1954...we flew toward New York so fast that I never had time to get my girdle off.  We sat up all night.  The plane's water pipes froze, making it impossible to freshen up before getting off.  We landed at Idlewild at seven a.m. and were flabbergasted to be met by a huge crowd, a host of dignitaries, and a sixteen-piece German marching band.  Desi and I mugged and hugged, then kissed and waved before sashaying down a red carpet stretching from the plane to the terminal....[The morning after the premiere] we learned that The Long, Long Trailer was definitely a hit.  The Radio City Music Hall had enjoyed the biggest Sunday and Washington's Birthday in its entire history, with lines stretching from the theater clear to Fifth Avenue.  Metro booked an additional $1.5 million of showings across the country following the news." [Love Lucy]

"Pleasant vehicle for Lucy and Desi, on honeymoon with cumbersome trailer that creates havoc for the duo. Plenty of slapstick." [Leonard Maltin]

"...a wonderfully slaphappy farce..." [Time]

"...hilarious..." [Newsweek, Commonwealth and American Magazine]

"...[a] very funny movie..." [Saturday Review]

"It is an hour and a half of the sort of nonsense you might get in one good, fast Lucy show...the wife is still a nitwit...and the spouse is still a good sport with more patience than passion -- or brains." [The New York Times]

"This may be my favorite film of Lucy's, it's definitely my favorite of the three she made with Desi." - Ted Nesi

"The Long Long Trailer was a great movie which stared both Lucy and Desi in it. I think it was well-written, and takes place in beautiful Yosemite National Park, and it's the best Lucy/Desi movie I've seen. (Ok, ok, so it's tied with Forever Darling, another Lucy/Desi film)" - Matthew Lewis

"The Long, Long Trailer is my favorite movie. Lucy and Desi are just great in it. It's great for any Lucy or Desi fan. Everyone will enjoy this great movie. Worth watching." - Anonymous

"I think this was a hiliarous movie. Although the names sounded a little too much like their counterparts in I Love Lucy, it was still a new and exciting adventure." - Jake Frasch

"This is my absolute all-time favorite movie. I laugh just thinking about some of the scenes." - Shonna Owens

"The best Lucy-Desi movie!!! 4 Stars all the way. GREAT GREAT GREAT GREAT!!!!!!!!" - R. Taylor

"This is THE BEST Lucy video that I have ever seen. I am so happy that I was able to purchase this video. I watch it all the time!!!!" - Michael Blackford

"I think The Long, Long Trailer is the bomb!  It is my favorite movie and Lucy is my favorite actress!  I give it four stars 'cause it has a great plot, cast and is just plain ol' great!" - Amber

"I love to watch The Long, Long Trailer...I particularly like the part where [Tracy] is walking through the trailer and then is thrown into the mud." - Jason

"The Long, Long Trailer was a wonderful movie....  I bought the movie and I watch it almost every so often.  It's a really great movie." - Ben