One and Only, Genuine, Original Family Band, The (1968) – Nostalgia Central

It’s 1888, and the 10-member midwestern Bower family has – under the leadership of Grandpa Bower (Walter Brennan) – become a top-rate family band.

Grandpa and his kin are also true-blue Democrats (in the US political party sense), and the family is invited to play at the Democratic Presidential Convention in St Louis – which, to them, is better than Carnegie Hall.

Their plans are disrupted when Joe Carder (John Davidson) – the longtime boyfriend of the oldest Bower daughter, Alice (Lesley Ann Warren) and a staunch Republican – shows up with rather confused ideas about moving the family from their Nebraska farm to Dakota.

The family pile all their belongings onto two wagons and set off. In their new home town, however, the Bowers find themselves the only Democrats in a hive of Republicans. This is not good.

And so we follow the family through the trials and tribulations of a general election.

Grandpa Bower makes a general nuisance of himself and nearly loses Alice her job as a schoolteacher.

When the election is over, Grandpa must honour an unusual bet he has made with Joe.

Despite a rather patriotic brawl and slapstick finale, all is forgiven and forgotten in the true spirit of democracy.

The music was provided by the Oscar-winning Sherman Brothers (of Mary Poppins fame), but the film was a critical and box office flop.

Lesley Ann Warren’s high-kicks must be seen to be believed!

Grandpa Bower
Walter Brennan
Calvin Bower
Buddy Ebsen
Katie Bower
Janet Blair
Alice Bower
Lesley Ann Warren
Joe Carder
John Davidson
Sidney Bower
Kurt Russell
Mayo Bower
Bobby Riha
Quinn Bower
Jon Walmsley
Nettie Bower
Smith Wordes (as Smitty Wordes)
Rose Bower
Heidi Rook
Lulu Bower
Debbie Smith
Laura Bower
Pamelyn Ferdin
Mr Wampler
Wally Cox
Charlie Wrenn
Richard Deacon
Ernie Stubbins
Steve Harmon
Giggly Girl
Goldie Hawn
Frank
John Craig
Telegrapher
Jonathan Kidd

Director
Michael O’Herlihy