The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet (TV Series) David's 17th Birthday (1953) User Reviews

Baby Pictures

[wes-connors · 7/10 · 8 December 2011]

On his 17th birthday, David (as David Nelson) hopes he looks older, to impress pretty Sally Patterson (Sally Fraser) from Chicago. Word has it the new girl in town "only goes out with older guys." Dave receives a sweater from Harriet (as Harriet Nelson) and a 50-cent check from Ricky (as Ricky Nelson). Ozzie (as Ozzie Nelson) and neighbor Thorny (Don DeFore) mull over an amusing gift idea. With Sally due for a visit, the Nelsons decide to show home movies of Dave swimming and horseback riding, thinking the athletic David Nelson is sure to impress Sally. However, Harriet secretly substitutes film of Dave at age two, including some nudity. Dave is embarrassed and Sally deduces his correct age, but Harriet's plan works wonders...

This popular episode makes great use of Nelson family film footage.

******* David's 17th Birthday (10/23/53) Ozzie Nelson ~ David Nelson, Harriet Nelson, Ozzie Nelson, Ricky Nelson

A Really Nice Show With A Great Older Brother

[ccthemovieman-1 · 10/10 · 4 March 2008]

This was a "cute" episode, the kind of warm-feeling one that marked programs like this and "Leave It To Beaver." Everyone in the show is nice, polite, and funny. When the show is over, you have a smile on your face. To many, this type of show is too old-fashioned and corny, but it beats the sitcom garbage that is out today, by a long shot.

David has just turned 17 and is hoping to impress a new girl in town. It's kind of a blind date, with her coming over for David's birthday. He had heard she dates college men, so Dave is concerned he will appear old enough for her. He assumes she must be at least 18.

The episode is filled with funny wise-guy remarks from Ricky, who was excellent at delivering these lines with a straight face. He gives David the business a lot of times but the latter is so easy-going he never seems to mind. He's a great older brother, like Wally was to Beaver in "Leave It To Beaver."

A humorous bit in this episode was Ozzie and neighbor Thorny going at it over a "wolf whistle" attachment to a car. I wonder if they still have those things available to put on cars?

This was a very entertaining early second-season episode and I can see why they included it in the "The Best Of The Adventures Of Ozzie & Harriet" DVD. This episode can also be played with a commentary track by David, the only member of the family still alive. David is now 71 years old. Wow, that's hard to imagine.