By 1968, Doris Day was the 1950s/1960s version of maybe, Mary Tyler Moore in the 1970s/1980s or even, Sarah Jessica Parker today, however Doris Day was made famous more, by using her singing voice and eventually her acting. The similarities between all these actresses, usually fell with the light-hearted, romantic, comedy-type-of films, that all of them appeared in. They were marketable actresses, in both motion pictures and television, who were appealing to most audience members, had a comedic side to them and were likeable, in a cute, romantic, personable way. Doris Day was a queen at it in the 1960s. Also going on in 1968, was the growing competition, or was it, the foreseen merging, between motion pictures and its little brother, television. We also need to remember, that this was still a couple of years before the launching of the MPAA, so family-oriented faire, was the way to go.
By 1968, family-oriented, sitcom television shows, featuring maybe one or two major stars, surrounded by lesser-known, supporting actors, were becoming very popular, so the movie industry needed to compete with these shows. However, in order to do so, major studios, with both television and film production branches, began to share talent. Also, film studios would hire-out, some of the crews from television productions, to save on the budgets for the motion pictures. This was a time when television was still a step-down from the movie theaters, but an ideal way to churn our cheap film productions, to share with the masses. It was something the cinema didn't really want to do, but realized, that this process needed to happen. They had to make some movies, that looked like TV sitcoms, which was a glaring sight, almost immediately noticed, in the beginning credits, to Doris Day's, With Six You Get Eggroll (1968).
This is a simple story about normal people and the headaches of dealing with the family. Day's widowed Abby McClure, begins a relationship with mutually widowed Jake Iverson, that prompts a little bit of outrage from their kids, which leads to the two lovebirds, eloping one night. From here, they manage their lives and repair the kids feelings. It's simple, cut-and-dry, romantic comedy, at its family-oriented, television sitcom, best, albeit in motion picture form. With Six You Get Eggroll (1968), has the total look of a television show, from the opening credits, to the way it is shot, lighted and edited. The sets, the suburban California scenery, costumes and color, all look like a TV sitcom in 1968. Even the transitions, from scene-to-scene, that are used, look like television transitions, with a color-shape crossing the screen between fades.
In fact, With Six You Get Eggroll (1968), is teeming with many TV actors, that pop-up, throughout this film. Cast in the role of Jake Iverson is television star, Brian Keith (Family Affair 1966-1971). Alice Ghostley (Bewitched 1964-1972), Vic Tayback (Alice 1976-1985) and Allan Melvin (Phil Silvers Show 1955-1959), all play supporting rolls in With Six You Get Eggroll (1968). There also are cameos by Jamie Farr, William Christopher and Herb Voland from MASH (1972-1983). On top of all of this, playing drive-in-diner food-server, Herbie Fleck, is legendary stand-up comedian, George Carlin. There also is a cool cameo by late-60s band, the Grassroots, performing their hit song, "Feelings", during a pivotal scene in a disco-tech. Playing Iverson's daughter Stacey, is a young, Barbara Hershey (Beaches - 1988). With Six You Get Eggroll (1968), might be hard for some viewers to enjoy, but if you can put yourself in a 1968 frame-of-mind, grab your date and enjoy some lighthearted, rom-com, late-1960s, pop-culture, cinema fun. Maybe not great, but good enough.
PMTM Grade: 6.8 (C-) = 7 IMDB.
By 1968, family-oriented, sitcom television shows, featuring maybe one or two major stars, surrounded by lesser-known, supporting actors, were becoming very popular, so the movie industry needed to compete with these shows. However, in order to do so, major studios, with both television and film production branches, began to share talent. Also, film studios would hire-out, some of the crews from television productions, to save on the budgets for the motion pictures. This was a time when television was still a step-down from the movie theaters, but an ideal way to churn our cheap film productions, to share with the masses. It was something the cinema didn't really want to do, but realized, that this process needed to happen. They had to make some movies, that looked like TV sitcoms, which was a glaring sight, almost immediately noticed, in the beginning credits, to Doris Day's, With Six You Get Eggroll (1968).
This is a simple story about normal people and the headaches of dealing with the family. Day's widowed Abby McClure, begins a relationship with mutually widowed Jake Iverson, that prompts a little bit of outrage from their kids, which leads to the two lovebirds, eloping one night. From here, they manage their lives and repair the kids feelings. It's simple, cut-and-dry, romantic comedy, at its family-oriented, television sitcom, best, albeit in motion picture form. With Six You Get Eggroll (1968), has the total look of a television show, from the opening credits, to the way it is shot, lighted and edited. The sets, the suburban California scenery, costumes and color, all look like a TV sitcom in 1968. Even the transitions, from scene-to-scene, that are used, look like television transitions, with a color-shape crossing the screen between fades.
In fact, With Six You Get Eggroll (1968), is teeming with many TV actors, that pop-up, throughout this film. Cast in the role of Jake Iverson is television star, Brian Keith (Family Affair 1966-1971). Alice Ghostley (Bewitched 1964-1972), Vic Tayback (Alice 1976-1985) and Allan Melvin (Phil Silvers Show 1955-1959), all play supporting rolls in With Six You Get Eggroll (1968). There also are cameos by Jamie Farr, William Christopher and Herb Voland from MASH (1972-1983). On top of all of this, playing drive-in-diner food-server, Herbie Fleck, is legendary stand-up comedian, George Carlin. There also is a cool cameo by late-60s band, the Grassroots, performing their hit song, "Feelings", during a pivotal scene in a disco-tech. Playing Iverson's daughter Stacey, is a young, Barbara Hershey (Beaches - 1988). With Six You Get Eggroll (1968), might be hard for some viewers to enjoy, but if you can put yourself in a 1968 frame-of-mind, grab your date and enjoy some lighthearted, rom-com, late-1960s, pop-culture, cinema fun. Maybe not great, but good enough.
PMTM Grade: 6.8 (C-) = 7 IMDB.