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IMDbPro

It's a Great Life

  • TV Series
  • 1954–19561954–1956
  • 30m
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
67
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
36,944
1,681
Frances Bavier, William Bishop, and Michael O'Shea in It's a Great Life (1954)
Comedy
Two ex G.I.'s Denny and Steve return home and take a room at the boarding house of the doting Amy Morgan. Also in the house are the young and beautiful Cathy, and Amy's irrasciable, penny-pi... Read allTwo ex G.I.'s Denny and Steve return home and take a room at the boarding house of the doting Amy Morgan. Also in the house are the young and beautiful Cathy, and Amy's irrasciable, penny-pinching chisler brother Earl. The series follows "the boys'" exploits as they try to get ri... Read allTwo ex G.I.'s Denny and Steve return home and take a room at the boarding house of the doting Amy Morgan. Also in the house are the young and beautiful Cathy, and Amy's irrasciable, penny-pinching chisler brother Earl. The series follows "the boys'" exploits as they try to get rich quick and meet the girls of their dreams while working as vacuum-cleaner salesmen.
IMDb RATING
7.7/10
67
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
36,944
1,681
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Creators
      • Dick Chevillat
      • Ray Singer
    • Stars
      • William Bishop
      • Michael O'Shea
      • Frances Bavier
    Top credits
    • Creators
      • Dick Chevillat
      • Ray Singer
    • Stars
      • William Bishop
      • Michael O'Shea
      • Frances Bavier
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 5User reviews
  • See production, box office & company info
  • Episodes78

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    Top cast

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    William Bishop
    William Bishop
    • Steve Connors…
    77 episodes77 eps • 1954–1956
    Michael O'Shea
    Michael O'Shea
    • Denny Davis…
    76 episodes76 eps • 1954–1956
    Frances Bavier
    Frances Bavier
    • Mrs. Amy Morgan…
    72 episodes72 eps • 1954–1956
    James Dunn
    James Dunn
    • Earl Morgan…
    72 episodes72 eps • 1954–1956
    Barbara Bates
    Barbara Bates
    • Cathy 'Katy' Morgan…
    21 episodes21 eps • 1954–1955
    King Donovan
    King Donovan
    • Chris Norman…
    6 episodes6 eps • 1954–1956
    Bill McLean
    Bill McLean
    • Counterman…
    5 episodes5 eps • 1954–1956
    Harry Harvey
    Harry Harvey
    • Mr. Russell…
    4 episodes4 eps • 1955–1956
    Richard Deacon
    Richard Deacon
    • Clerk #1…
    4 episodes4 eps • 1954–1956
    Herb Vigran
    Herb Vigran
    • Frank Slade…
    4 episodes4 eps • 1954–1956
    Vivi Janiss
    Vivi Janiss
    • Stella…
    4 episodes4 eps • 1954–1956
    Nancy Kulp
    Nancy Kulp
    • Anastasia…
    4 episodes4 eps • 1955–1956
    Madge Blake
    Madge Blake
    • 2nd Customer…
    4 episodes4 eps • 1954–1956
    Tyler McVey
    • Detective…
    4 episodes4 eps • 1954–1956
    James Flavin
    James Flavin
    • Director…
    4 episodes4 eps • 1954–1956
    Arthur Q. Bryan
    • Charlie…
    4 episodes4 eps • 1955–1956
    Gladys Hurlbut
    Gladys Hurlbut
    • Alice…
    4 episodes4 eps • 1954–1956
    Joseph Kearns
    Joseph Kearns
    • Desk Clerk…
    4 episodes4 eps • 1955–1956
    • Creators
      • Dick Chevillat
      • Ray Singer
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

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    Storyline

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    Did you know

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    • Trivia
      The series follows "the boys'" exploits as they try to get rich quick and meet the girls of their dreams while working as vacuum-cleaner salesmen.

    User reviews5

    Review
    Review
    Top review
    5/10
    Didn't these guys hear about the GI bill?
    Before she became Aunt Bee on the Andy Griffith Show, Frances Bavier rented out rooms in her house to William Bishop and Michael O'Shea, a pair of ex-GIs who even by 1954 hadn't settled down to anything. Hadn't these guys heard of or taken advantage of the GI Bill. I have to believe that they could have done better for themselves than just being vacuum cleaner salesmen.

    But that didn't stop them from trying all kinds of get rich quick schemes, usually involving James Dunn who was Bavier's brother and who was essentially a freeloader. Dunn, Bishop, and O'Shea were always involved in some scheme or another, some of them as ridiculous as ones thought up by women named Lucy and Ethel.

    The romantic figure of the show was Bishop who was trying to make it with Bavier's daughter Barbara Bates. Bates left the show halfway through its two season run. In the show she was an aspiring actress and no doubt did not want to be tied down with her deadbeat uncle and his pals.

    It's A Great Life was a moderately successful show, the chemistry was good with the cast, but the premise of the show was thin. I mean at some point reality had to hit these deadbeats.
    helpful•3
    0
    • bkoganbing
    • Apr 6, 2013

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • September 7, 1954 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Language
      • English
    • Also known as
      • The Bachelors
    • Filming locations
      • Hal Roach Studios - 8822 Washington Blvd., Culver City, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Raydic Corporation
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

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    • Runtime
      30 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Aspect ratio
      • 1.33 : 1

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