Anyone who was a misfit as a kid can relate to this episode. A teenager named Dudley McMillan has moved into town, and June asks Wally to befriend him. Dudley's formal attire and polite manners (and his shyness around girls) immediately make him a magnet for sly mockery by Eddie and Lumpy. When Eddie invites Dudley to Christine Staples' birthday party, it's up to Wally to prepare Dudley. Unbeknownst to all, Dudley has a trump card up his sleeve - a talent that no one knows about. Dudley is played by Jimmy Hawkins, who was the child George Bailey in IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE. My only complaint is that the payoff scene could have been stretched out a little longer. Still, this is a memorable episode of LEAVE IT TO BEAVER. It's too bad they couldn't have had Dudley as a regular character.
5 Reviews
John Caples would have loved this episode
pensman10 April 2017
Warning: Spoilers
An old friend of June's, Ruth McMillan, has moved into the neighborhood; and June has offered to have Wally walk her son to school and introduce him around. Ward sees disaster as June's way is the way girls introduce a new girl, not the way a new boy would do it. Of course, June doesn't see it that way.
When June tells Wally her plan, Wally balks, but Eddie is quick to jump in and offers to introduce Dudley around himself. We know he's being totally insincere, but June feels that would be nice of Eddie. Now, June has now missed a double warning.
Then Dudley McMillan arrives, and he's wearing a shirt and tie, a hat, a real hat, and an overcoat. Ward tries to help by asking Dudley if he would, at least, like to leave the hat; but June overrules him. Even Beaver looks at Dudley, and he asks who died.
Wally introduces Dudley to Eddie and Lumpy and they immediately give him the business. They ask if they can call him Dud, and they mean dud. But Dudley doesn't get it and believes they are just being friendly.
After school, Eddie comes over to tell Wally he invited Dud to Christine Staples party. She a popular girl, and Eddie believes everyone will have a chance to laugh at Dud. Let's face it, right now Dudley dresses as though he were a teenage undertaker. Wally tells Ward hoping for advice and Ward suggests Wally "clue-him-in." Wally tries his best. He even tries to teach Dudley how to dance. And he tries to warn him about Eddie and Lumpy, but to no avail. Eddie even introduces Dudley at the party as Dumbly. Things are going badly for Dudley, until the record payer breaks, and then Dudley sits down at the piano and . . . .
Beaver wanted to know how the party went. Beaver is surprised at the news that Dudley was a sensational piano player. His conclusion is that it's funny, there are guys like Dudley who can do something but don't mention or brag about it; and there are guys like Eddie who can't do anything but brag they can do everything. Beaver just hopes that when he grows up there are more guys like Dudley then there are Eddies. Wally announces that Beaver will find there are both guys. And we know all they have to do is look at Ward's boss Fred Rutherford to find an adult Eddie.
I remembered the old advertisements in the comic books back then that had full page ads with the copy, "They laughed when I sat down at the piano but . . .". I don't know if anyone ever learned to play piano by mail back then, but this episode was a living testimonial. Maybe those old comic book ads inspired the writers; or maybe one of them actually learned to play piano because of those little ads.
There's a small subplot about Beaver assigned to sing soprano in the school choir, and he doesn't want to sing a girl's part. Easy resolution when he gets kicked out of choir.
When June tells Wally her plan, Wally balks, but Eddie is quick to jump in and offers to introduce Dudley around himself. We know he's being totally insincere, but June feels that would be nice of Eddie. Now, June has now missed a double warning.
Then Dudley McMillan arrives, and he's wearing a shirt and tie, a hat, a real hat, and an overcoat. Ward tries to help by asking Dudley if he would, at least, like to leave the hat; but June overrules him. Even Beaver looks at Dudley, and he asks who died.
Wally introduces Dudley to Eddie and Lumpy and they immediately give him the business. They ask if they can call him Dud, and they mean dud. But Dudley doesn't get it and believes they are just being friendly.
After school, Eddie comes over to tell Wally he invited Dud to Christine Staples party. She a popular girl, and Eddie believes everyone will have a chance to laugh at Dud. Let's face it, right now Dudley dresses as though he were a teenage undertaker. Wally tells Ward hoping for advice and Ward suggests Wally "clue-him-in." Wally tries his best. He even tries to teach Dudley how to dance. And he tries to warn him about Eddie and Lumpy, but to no avail. Eddie even introduces Dudley at the party as Dumbly. Things are going badly for Dudley, until the record payer breaks, and then Dudley sits down at the piano and . . . .
Beaver wanted to know how the party went. Beaver is surprised at the news that Dudley was a sensational piano player. His conclusion is that it's funny, there are guys like Dudley who can do something but don't mention or brag about it; and there are guys like Eddie who can't do anything but brag they can do everything. Beaver just hopes that when he grows up there are more guys like Dudley then there are Eddies. Wally announces that Beaver will find there are both guys. And we know all they have to do is look at Ward's boss Fred Rutherford to find an adult Eddie.
I remembered the old advertisements in the comic books back then that had full page ads with the copy, "They laughed when I sat down at the piano but . . .". I don't know if anyone ever learned to play piano by mail back then, but this episode was a living testimonial. Maybe those old comic book ads inspired the writers; or maybe one of them actually learned to play piano because of those little ads.
There's a small subplot about Beaver assigned to sing soprano in the school choir, and he doesn't want to sing a girl's part. Easy resolution when he gets kicked out of choir.
Another Moral Lesson from LITB
babarishka23 November 2012
Leave it to Beaver often contained moral messages about how people treat each other in the world and how people SHOULD be treated. This episode in particular touches home, as it shows how kids (especially boys) who are a little different or "geekish," or timid in behavior or appearance are often made fun of by his/her peers. I was that geek as a teenager - a little too gentle, naive and philosophical for some of my peers' tastes.
Maybe I'm getting old and soft, but sometimes LITB makes me a little teary-eyed - god has the world changed in a half a century. Of course, even on the show it was apparent that not all families were as functional as the Cleavers, but going from teen dances where kids dressed formerly to the way kids act today, it's almost like another world.
Maybe I'm getting old and soft, but sometimes LITB makes me a little teary-eyed - god has the world changed in a half a century. Of course, even on the show it was apparent that not all families were as functional as the Cleavers, but going from teen dances where kids dressed formerly to the way kids act today, it's almost like another world.
Dudley's A Fine, Upstanding Boy
StrictlyConfidential13 November 2020
You know, I sure wish that Dudley McMillan had turned out to be a regular character on "Leave It To Beaver" rather than having to repeatedly endure the likes of both Lumpy Rutherford and Eddie Haskell.
Yeah. I think that it was about time that Wally had a new friend who was at least likable instead of those 2 obnoxious creeps that he always chummed around with.
Yeah. I think that it was about time that Wally had a new friend who was at least likable instead of those 2 obnoxious creeps that he always chummed around with.
Squaresville
vitoscotti21 June 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Kids listening to, and dancing to their parents era of music? Dudley is a huge exaggeration. But, so are most LITB characters. Wally shows a lot of class helping his mom's friend's kid. Eddie & Lumpy's dates are way to pretty for them. Stinker episode's one good point is it's strong anti-bullying message.
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