Leave It to Beaver (TV Series) Ward's Millions (1961) User Reviews

Steve Eisman, Mereridith Whitney, Gregg Lippmann, and Ward Cleaver

[pensman · 8/10 · 4 April 2017]

Watching Ward writing checks to pay off the monthly bills takes me back. It's interesting to see Beaver begin to wonder about his dad and how money is made to pay off bills. Of course Beaver still confuses life in movies and books and real life. On his way to buy a Red River Sam book, he has nine, he sees a book on How to be a Millionaire and gets it for Ward, Ward makes a fuss over the book and promises to read it. But Ward is pretty sure the book isn't going to make him a millionaire, even if Beaver claims his dad looks smarter than the guy on the dust jacket.

One wonders what Beaver would have made of the myriad of infomercials we accept as background noise for insomniacs. Ward is skimming the book at the breakfast table and asks June to put it away. June places it in a drawer and we can see the conflict coming. Beaver is proud of his dad and is sure he can get rich following the ideas in the book; even if Wally is convinced you can't get rich by reading a dumb book. When Beaver finds the book in the cookie drawer, he feels betrayed by his father.

Ward has a serious talk with Beaver about the culture of "How To" books and we get a resolution about putting too much faith in books as a way to fulfill our dreams. A good episode for our time as even in 2017 we are struggling to put the get rich culture of 2008 behind us. Will that happen? The smart money says to keep pumping out those infomercials as a fool and his credit card are still charging. And the CDO's that did the country in are back, Goldman Sach's now has bespoke trance opportunity. There's a sucker born every minute and if he or its rich enough, then there are tax-payer bailouts.

Beaver has high hopes

[AlsExGal · 7/10 · 1 March 2024]

So self help books of questionable value were around over sixty years ago apparently.

Beaver thinks that Ward is worried about money, so when he sees a book at the bookstore that promises that it teaches the reader how to become a millionaire, Beaver takes his hard-earned money and buys it for his dad.

Ward realizes that the book is probably of dubious value, but he tells Beaver it will have "a valued place in his library". He does read part of it and has a few laughs with June over breakfast about how hokey the advice is. June looks at it and absent mindedly places it in the cookie drawer. Beaver finds it, covered with crumbs, and has hurt feelings over his dad's apparent rejection of his gift.

Beaver seems a little too old to react exactly the way that he does, and Ward does have patience with him and explain to him that if being a millionaire was that easy, everybody would be one. Of course, a million dollars in 2024 is not all it was cracked up to be in 1961.

Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?

[MichaelMartinDeSapio · 9/10 · 18 September 2015]

In this poignant entry from LITB's Fourth Season, Beaver buys Ward a self-help book about becoming a millionaire. With all the naivete of a twelve-year-old, Beaver really believes that Ward will become a millionaire after reading the book. Ward warns Beaver that things aren't so simple, but he promises to read the book and do his best. After breakfast the next day, June has one her not-so-bright moments and absent-mindedly places the book in the cookie drawer, where it gets "all crumbed up." This triggers the climax of the episode, in which Ward must explain life to Beaver in his usual wise way.

This is one of those episodes that almost ends in tears, but not before Ward brings his firm hand of comfort and wisdom upon Beaver's shoulders. Many episodes are about Ward's love for his sons; this episode is also about Beaver's love for Ward. Beaver is concerned about Ward paying the bills and genuinely wants to help him become rich. Here we have Beaver the dreamer, always building castles in the clouds which are then unceremoniously knocked over by Wally.

I would hazard a guess that wildly implausible self-help books were coming into vogue in those days, and this episode taps into that trend. On another note, Whitey Whitney is Beaver's pal in this episode, and he does an amusing job. It's a shame he wasn't used more in the series. For my money, Beaver had much more chemistry with Whitey than with Gilbert, who became Beaver's main pal later on.

While this episode doesn't offer any hilarious shenanigans, it does offer a measure of warmth and wisdom.

HOW TO GET RICH REAL, REAL QUICK!

[tcchelsey · 10/10 · 14 February 2024]

Hugh Beaumont took over the directors duties every once in awhile and he always hit the target. He should have went on to direct other tv shows. This is a very good father and son story that rings true, thanks to his direction.

Every kid wants his dad to be successful --so he can brag to everybody about him, right? Soooo Beave buys a "How to get rich" book and gives it to Ward, firmly believing he will become an overnight millionaire! Ward is impressed with Beave's thoughtfulness, promising he will read the book from cover to cover and treasure it... but it kinda, sorta, winds up in the wrong place (a messy kitchen drawer)?

There's definitely a lot of splainin' to do, and well done in the acting and writing department. Credit Theodore and Mathilde Ferro, who went on to become masters at writing for several soap operas. And, yes, there's a bit of soap opera in this story too.

I totally agree with the last reviwier; its refreshing to see Beave team up with Whitey (Stanley Fafara), who was a good friend. We all loved Whitey, who kept away from scandals, unlike Larry, Gilbert and Richard. In looking back, Whitey was the smartest guy of all, who just minded hus business.

In the gag department, the goofy picture of the author of the book is actually the series assistant director! It would have been a blast if they put Ward's picture on it, with a beard and glasses for kicks! That would've been TOO much, but I'm sure it was considered.

A warm, fuzzy and goofy story you have to see again.

SEASON 3 EPISODE 16 remastered.

An Honored Place In Ward's Library

[StrictlyConfidential · 4/10 · 15 November 2020]

(*Wally to June quote*) - "I guess being in style is more important than being comfortable."

Beaver believes that his father is a really smart guy and so he buys him a book on how to become a millionaire in just 12 months.

Beaver is certain that his father can achieve this goal and that soon enough the whole Cleaver family will be, literally, rolling in dough.

Ward Cleaver makes out that the book Beaver gave to him is a vitally important read. But due to June's carelessness the book is shoved away into a drawer in the kitchen and this upsets Beaver so much that he hides away and sulks about it.

Anyway - Soon enough Ward and Beaver come to a mutual understanding and once again everything is as right as rain.

Tired of watching duds.

[LukeCoolHand · 2/10 · 5 September 2023]

My, , my , my - after watching 2 or 3 episodes of Leave it to Beaver, that were very good, the writers come up with a pair of duds. It seems like they have an ongoing habit of doing that. This episode and the next on were as flat as a piece of typing paper Almost unwatchable. It really seems like there are not many middle of the road episodes of Leave it ot Beaver - mostly either very good ones or really bad ones. My Tv station is showing two back to back episodes and when they show a pair of duds back to back it is very disappointing. I always think if anyone else catches 2 of these duds for the first time they will never watch the show again and that is sad.