Leave It to Beaver (TV Series) Beaver Gets 'Spelled' (1957) User Reviews

Leave it to Cleaver!

[gattonero975 · 9/10 · 10 August 2020]

In this "official" 1st episode, Hugh Beaumont took over permanently the role of Ward Cleaver over Max Showalter who had played Ward on the pilot episode. And Tony Dow took over permanently the role of Wally Cleaver over Paul Sullivan who also played Wally in the original pilot.

And thank goodness that the show's producers decided to change the casting of Max Showalter and replace him with Hugh Beaumont. I couldn't think of any other actor other than Hugh to play Ward Cleaver. and I feel the same way Tony Dow replacing Paul Sullivan in the role of Wally Cleaver I can't imagine anyone else but Dow playing Wally.

it would have been interesting to keep Paul Sullivan and Max Showalter for other roles in the series but I guess it would have been weird since they appeared in the pilot as said main characters, I would have introduced them later on at the end of season 1 or maybe season two or three and add them around there for episodes around but I guess it just wasn't meant for them to be for them.

Barbara Billingsley, Hugh Beaumont, Tony Dow and Jerry Mathers became the fabulous unit that made the show such a hit. Together they had chemistry, together they had magic and forever cemented in our minds as the ideal family of the late 50s

Long Live the Cleavers!

A Beaver, a note, some exaggeration and a six year journey begins

[pensman · 8/10 · 14 June 2017]

Ward does a voice-over narration at the start setting up the plot line: a teacher and a note to be brought home. Miss Canfield is the new classroom teacher, Mrs. Rayburn has been promoted to principal. Miss Canfield gives Theodore a note for his parents and there is Judy telling Beaver that means he is being thrown out of school.

At dinner, Beaver seems off, and he explains to Wally during their "bath" that he is being thrown out of second grade. That's what the note means, right? Beaver tries to figure out what he could have done, Wally can't figure out what Beaver could have done either.

Next day, Miss Canfield finds the note she gave Beaver. He gives a rather incredible story as to why he didn't hand the note to his parents. So incredible that Mrs. Rayburn sends flowers to a recovering Ward. What's in the note? A permission slip for Beaver to play Smokey the Bear in a school play. And June wants to know why Mrs. Rayburn sent Ward flowers.

Wally types a note explaining that Miss Canfield should not worry. Both Ward and June whipped Theodore and he won't be a problem anymore. Miss Canfield is concerned that Theodore was punished for being asked to play Smokey the Bear. Mrs. Rayburn is somewhat surprised at Miss Canfield's naiveté; regardless, she will have June in for a talk to help get everything straighten out.

As the boys head off to school, Beaver finds out June is headed off to school to meet with Mrs. Rayburn. While June is there, she discovers Beaver is AWOL. Wally and Ward and June set off to find the missing Beaver. The more they look, the faster Beaver moves to elude them. They finally find him up a tree, literally. He refuses to come down and he will die up there, because he will get hit if he comes down. Soon a crowd of observers begins to watch. Ward says then fine, stay up the tree. What? What will happen to me if it rains? Beaver decides to come down so he can get his raincoat.

Next day Beaver is back at school. Miss Canfield wants to know why Beaver thought there was something bad in the note. You're a teacher, and that's reason enough. Miss Canfield has a nice talk with Beaver, no more Theodore, and it looks like things will improve.

Next day and everyone is off to school. Beaver is taking Miss Canfield his shrunken head, she might like it.

An episode with a lot of exposition. We see a strong relationship between brothers, caring parents, and a gullible little boy. None of that ever changes over the series' six-year run. Especially the gullibility of Beaver.

A great first episode

[AlsExGal · 8/10 · 1 January 2024]

The first episode of Leave It To Beaver finds the cast knowing exactly who they are supposed to be. There is not an awkward period of time over a couple of months where they do things out of character as we have come to know them and gradually find their own lane. That could be due to the steady hand of the initial director, Norman Tolkar, who directed 31 episodes of Leave It To Beaver and later directed quite a few episodes of Walt Disney television shows, back when Walt, who knew what audiences wanted, was still alive. But I digress.

The episode finds Beaver getting a note from his second grade teacher Miss Canfield that is addressed to his mother. The other kids speak of children who got such notes and then were expelled. Beaver, determined to keep bad news away from his parents, comes up with a wild story of a house fire and a hospitalized dad to give Miss Canfield. The day after that, Wally, who will not open the letter because he considers that to be dishonest, has no problem crafting a hilarious letter for Miss Canfield that is supposed to cover all of the bases - assuming Beaver has done something bad. Instead, it just ends up looking very odd to both Miss Canfield and the principal. Complications ensue.

This show did a great job of getting inside the mind of a child, both with the exxageration of the trouble they might get into and the hilarious ideas they had for trying to get out of this imagined trouble.

Nostalgia on steroids

[lor_ · 14 June 2017]

Revisiting this premiere episode of the beloved family series 60 years after first watching it broadcast (courtesy of ME TV) certainly brought back memories, and reacquainted me with the quaintness of the show's initial approach. Beaver's malapropisms and childishness are laid on with a trowel, but it's certainly fun to see both Mathers and Dow as pint-sized versions of the characters they created and that linger in the memory.

Unlike later seasons, this early version seems to be playing down too much to the audience, with silly exaggeration where later on we got believable antics of youth and a weekly life lesson or two. Certainly Beaumont and Billingsley were already comfortable in the roles, while perhaps having Norman Tokar as director (unlike later helmers of the show like the great Hollywood veteran David Butler or latterly Beaumont himself) was a bit much, as I suffered growing up watching many of his kiddie movies for Disney, none of them ranking among the studio's best achievements.

It was fun seeing character actors, chiefly the aged and ageless Burt Mustin plus Ralph Sanford in supporting bits and the distinctive Doris Packer who spanned the series' lifetime as school principal. All in all, a worthwhile trip down memory lane.

Beaver, what a pretty teacher you have!

[gregorycanfield · 10/10 · 27 April 2024]

This is one of the best "first episodes" I've ever seen. Only a few other TV shows started out on such a strong note. Curiously, how young Theodore came to be called "Beaver" is not explained. In any case, Jerry Mathers was quite effective as Beaver, right off the bat. Tony Dow, as Wally, was a little underwhelming at first. Barbara Billingsley and Hugh Beaumont were just fine as Mr and Mrs Cleaver. In this episode, the story is essentially about Beaver getting a note from his teacher, and assuming the worst. Diana Brewster as Miss Canfield made me instantly happy that I purchased the box set of the series! What an absolutely beautiful, charming lady! Miss Canfield made Beaver nervous, simply because she was his teacher. Just looking at her would have made me lose control! In fact, when I started writing this review, I couldn't think of anything other than Diana Brewster as Miss Canfield! Every teacher should have looked like her! Seriously, the story is done well. It was true to what the series would evolve into. Of course, Beaver worried needlessly about his teacher's note. She only wanted him to play Smokey the Bear. Overall, a very enjoyable episode. I understand that Diana Brewster appeared in subsequent episodes. I can't wait to watch those episodes!

BEAVER AND THE MYSTERIOUS NOTE!

[tcchelsey · 10/10 · 24 April 2024]

Classic first episode, and it's always strange (if not a culture shock) to go right back to the beginning, particularly after you watched the entire series run. You have to admit, aside from Wally and Beave being so young, there's many other changes, foremost clothing and hair styles. Note all the different hair styles Barbara Billinglsey went through over six seasons. And a house that seemed a lot smaller, including a tiny yard and driveway. Times certainly change, even in TV Land.

The story goes that Jerry Mathers, who had quite an acting resume at the time, asked producers Joe Connelly and Bob Mosher how long his audition would take -- because he had to attend an important Boy Scout meeting. They unanimously agreed, that's exactly what Beaver would say, and he got the job.

There's no question, Jerry was the perfect choice for the starring role, especially as this first episode would show.

Connelly and Mosher actually wrote (uncredited) many of the early stories, no doubt from personal family experiences, and they were spot on. This episode the perfect example, all about Beave's teacher, Miss Canfield (played by Diane Brewster), who sends him home with a "note." The note naturally brings the fear of all sorts of terrible things, and the dialogue between Beave and Wally is priceless, what the series would be known for.

The episodes were generally from a kid's point of view, and with it the kind of kooky dialogue you would except, even more outrageous as the series continued.

One exception to the rule, though. As you got older, and I'm sure most other viewers would agree, you suddenly began to take note of the banter between Ward and June, and it's just as hilarious. An amazing observation, if not transformation.

Definitely a first episode winner, replete with some desperate and wacky doings as administered by faithful older brother Wally to get helpless Beave out of his initial "end of the world" big mess.

Popular tv actress Diane Brewster became Beaver's first teacher, albeit brief. Brewster was working at Warner Brothers/ABC tv in both cop shows and westerns, as was Sue Randall, who later replaced her as Miss Landers. Interestingly, when Randall later retired from acting, and the show was revived in the 80s, Brewster returned to the series.

Two veteran actors also making their debut; Burt Mustin as Gus, the wise, old fireman, a close friend and advisor to Beaver, and Doris Packer as Beaver's principal, Mrs. Rayburn, a memorable character throughout the series entire run. Young Stanley Fafara (called Harold here instead of Whitey) and Jeri Weil as Judy also make their debut.

Dedicated to all us forever fans. SEASON 1 EPISODE 1 remastered Universal dvd box set. 3 dvds. 2005 release.

Beaver Worries

[StrictlyConfidential · 5/10 · 22 April 2021]

(*Whitey Whitney quote*) - "A picnic is where you go out in the country and eat food off the dirt."

Beaver's second grade teacher, Miss Canfield hands Beaver a sealed envelope addressed to his mother.

This letter really worries Beaver after his classmates say that there's bad news in it and he's gonna be expelled from school.

Beaver thinks his teacher is being mean, but all she wants is for him to play Smokey the Bear.