The Trouble With Father, Vol. 5 (1950) On DVD

Trouble comes in all shapes and sizes in this hilarious situation comedy series starring Stu and June Erwin! The real-life husband and wife team had been acting together for years when they began this series in 1950. Stu plays Principal Erwin of Hamilton High School and does his best to raise daughters Joyce (Ann Todd) and Jackie (Sheila James). Along with handyman Willie (Willie Best), the Erwins discover that it's the little things in life that go from bad to worse.

This collection of early episodes also includes rare vintage commercials, some of which feature the cast themselves!

Telephonitis: June is not pleased when a strange woman keeps calling and asking for Stu.

Jackie Knows All: After studying a book on mind-reading Jackie astounds the family with her new psychic powers.

The Landlord: Stu loves moonlighting as a real estate agent - until he has to evict a widow and her children.

Nothing Like A Friend: Stu is slated to win an award for his "Good Neighbor Policy" but finds that he is unable to prevent the Erwins' long friendship with their neighbors, the Johnsons, from completely unraveling.

A note of explanation: TROUBLE WITH FATHER was actually a syndicated title for THE STU ERWIN SHOW, a situation comedy that ran on ABC from October 1950 through mid-April 1955. Something of a prototype for many later series that featured a goofy, bumbling dad, it starred Erwin as himself, and his real-life wife, comedienne June Collyer, as June Erwin. In addition to his role as a husband and father, the character of Stu also held a job as the principal of suburban Hamilton High School, which routinely pulled him into various civic activities that provided humorous storylines. Other narrative developments took place in and around the house, involving one domestic mishap or another. The Erwins had two daughters: Joyce (Ann Todd, later replaced by Merry Anders) and the primary school-age Jackie (future politician Sheila James), a quintessential tomboy. This collection features four original episodes of the series, supplemented by vintage commercials: TELEPHONITIS, JACKIE KNOWS ALL, THE LANDLORD, and NOTHING LIKE A FRIEND.