SimonJack This is the first of two films that James Stewart and Maureen O'Hara made together. The other was "The Rare Breed," a 1966 Western. Stewart was 54 when this film was made, and he plays Roger Hobbs, a man about that age. O'Hara was just 42 at the time, a few years below the likely age of Peggy Hobbs. But, she looks the middle-aged mother and young grandmother part quite well. The Hobbs's have four children, including two adult girls who are marred with families. The young teen girl at home, Katey (played by Lauri Peters), is of the generation that thought their parents were so immature. And a younger son, Danny (played by Michael Burns), who is glued to the TV and the daytime black and white Westerns of the day. "Mr. Hobbs Takes a Vacation" is based on a 1954 novel of the same name by Edward Streeter. His 1949 novel, "Father of the Bride," was one of the best of the best sellers of 1949. The next year, it was made into the smash comedy film that starred Spencer Tracy, Joan Bennett and Elizabeth Taylor. "Mr. Hobbs" is a decent comedy about one aspect of family life in the mid-20th century – the family summer vacation. But, anyone who has seen "National Lampoon's Vacation" of 1983, shouldn't expect the same hilarious fare in "Mr. Hobbs." This is much more sedate, and centers around a father and husband who feels put upon by his family members. But, after the grumbling and his fatherly support for different characters, he comes away satisfied. There aren't a lot of laughs here, but it has some funny scenarios and warm humor. The rest of the cast are fine in their roles. Fabian was just 19 when this movie was made, but already he was a singing hit and teen idol. The Hobbs drove from St. Louis to a friend's beach house at Emerald Bay just south of San Francisco. There is a real Emerald Bay but it's south of Los Angeles. The filming was done along the southern California coast. I can't imagine where they found the ancient beach house. I've never seen anything like it anywhere along the California Coast, but it does resemble older beach homes one might see on the Outer Banks or elsewhere along the North Carolina coast. Stewart's Hobbs had planned on a month vacation alone with his wife in Europe or on the Mediterranean. But she had her heart set on a family reunion vacation. So, off they went to meet up with the two daughters out of the nest, and their families. Oh, yes, they also took their maid and cook, Brenda (played by Minerva Urecal), with them. Part of the humor of the film comes from Brenda's leaving the beach house because of the poor plumbing and water problems, and because Roger swore at her (she thought). That led to the funniest lines (repeated) in the film. Peggy, "Did you really swear at hear?" Roger, "I've never sworn at a cook in my life." Peggy, "Well, she said that you did when you came downstairs this morning." Roger, "This morning, when I came … I never even spoke to her. I asked the kids how they'd like a little sun on the beach, and then …."Peggy wanted Roger to get better acquainted with one of their sons-in- law. "I know you haven't got very much in common with him, but couldn't you at least ask him about his work?" she asked. Roger replied, "Well, honey, what can you possibly ask a biophysicist?"The movie opens with Roger dictating a letter to be given to his wife after his death. He recounts the vacation just completed. "There is no man alive who believes more devoutly than I do that the family is the rock upon which civilization is built." At the end of the film, his secretary asks him if she could tear up her dictation now that he has gotten it off his chest. He tells her she might as well because they have already committed to the beach house for a month the next year. Modern audiences may not enjoy this film as much. It may be too slow for some. But, for those who grew up, or were reaching their adult years around then, the film will satisfy any lingering nostalgia about the "good old days."

edwagreen The pitfalls of taking a family vacation are depicted in this 1962 comedy with James Stewart and Maureen O'Hara.The couple trade plans for a vacation in France to a beach house in the west. Everything seems to go wrong from the start. The plumbing stinks and the house is described as being one worse than Dragonwyck.Both grown daughters show up only to bicker with their husbands. John McGiver is perfectly cast as an eccentric guest who rather leads a dull life watching birds. Marie Wilson again shows her comedic gift as a dumb blond when she is locked in the bathroom with the Stewart character.Then there is the teenage daughter who is ashamed of her braces until she finds and falls for Fabian at a dance.The best part of the movie is that Stewart keeps emphasizing the importance of the family structure. The film goes down as it becomes an inane task of predictable situations and outcomes.

Tim Kidner Jimmy Stewart is one of my all-time favourite actors and I could watch and listen to him reciting a recipe, let alone starring alongside the unique Maureen O'Hara.This gentle family comedy is a little Disney-like but as the mild mannered but very much put upon Mr Hobbs, Stewart is perfect, eschewing a decent American wholesomeness but without the sickliness that sometimes accompany such a character from this era.Blending in neatly the Cary Grant turn in Mr Blandings Builds his Dream House, the Hobbs' escape the big city and end up staying at a falling- down old house on the beach; cue broken everything, that usually can't be fixed, at least not without a great deal of comically extended hassle.The family encompasses the two Hobbs' children, who obviously do as all youngsters inevitably do - cause as much trouble for their parents as possible. It's quite a long film and afterward, you might be a little annoyed that you spent so long on watching it; the scenes are often extended almost beyond what is reasonable, but at the time you won't notice, let alone mind.It's quite often shown on Channel/Film 4, where I have just seen it, again.

Chase_Witherspoon Mild account of Stewart, O'Hara an daughters taking a long overdue vacation to a seaside community where they mix (at times uneasily) with locals and entertain visitors in a vast holiday house on the beach. Domestic problems come and go, teenager Lauri Peters takes up with Fabian and his adolescent attempt at a beard, while John McGiver and wife Marie Wilson play a bland couple who spend a chaotic few nights with the Hobbs' with disastrous results.It's passive family fare, the most action you'll see being Stewart and his young son becoming lost in fog while enjoying a defining father-son bonding experience in a sailboat and a pre-dawn bird-spotting adventure. Generally good cast features Natalie Trundy playing one of the Hobbs daughters, while John Saxon has a small supporting role as one of the spouses.The film finishes where it began with Stewart back in the boardroom, but with closer relationships with his children as a result of the experience. Might be a bit dated for the contemporary family, it's very tame, inoffensive viewing ideal for the kids on a wet afternoon.