Where There's a Will (10 May 1960)

Mr. Gillis dreads signing his will and suffers a nightmare of what his wife and sons would do with his store in his absence.

Director:

Rod Amateau

Writers:

R.S. Allen, Max Shulman (creator)

Stars:

Dwayne Hickman, Frank Faylen, Florida Friebus

Cast

Episode credited cast:
Dwayne Hickman	...	Dobie Gillis
Frank Faylen	...	Herbert T. Gillis
Florida Friebus	...	Winifred Gillis
Bob Denver	...	Maynard G. Krebs
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Arlene Harris	...	Mrs. Lapping
Darryl Hickman	...	Davey Gillis
Ron Howard	...	Little Boy Eating Candy Bar (as Ronny Howard)
Sandy Marsh	...	Cha Cha Girl
Robert Nichols	...	Mr. Martindale
Eduardo Noriega	...	Carlos
Blanche Sweet	...	Mrs. Dowell
Charles Watts	...	Store President

Storyline

Mr. Gillis dreads signing his will and suffers a nightmare of what his wife and sons would do with his store in his absence.

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Genres:

Comedy | Family

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Details

Language:

English

Release Date:

10 May 1960 (USA)

Filming Locations:

20th Century Fox Studios - 10201 Pico Blvd., Century City, Los Angeles, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Martin Manulis Productions, 20th Century Fox Television

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min

Sound Mix:

Mono (RCA Sound Recording)

Color:

Black and White

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

The title is based on the proverb commenting on personal determination, "Where there's a will, there's a way."

User Reviews

Hilarious episode of Dobie Gillis

This episode of The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis is one of my favorites. It starts with Dobey's older brother Davey (played by his real-life older brother Darryl Hickman) being home from school between semesters, and he is just as much a pain in the neck for father Herbert Gillis as other son Dobie is.

First - Dobie wants money from his dad for cha-cha lessons. Mr. Gillis refuses the money and says instead he'll be glad to teach Dobie 'the Kangaroo Jump' ("the dance with which I won your mother's heart") Dobie is dumbfounded at this suggestion and refuses it. He leaves to go bring people to have his dad demonstrate the Kangaroo Jump - at 25 cents per person paid to Dobie. First he returns with Maynard G. Krebs who gets a demonstration of the dance from Mr. Gillis, and says 'Like wow Dobe, I'll never doubt you again! Here's your quarter' and gives Dobie a quarter. When Mr. Gillis realizes that Dobie intends to raise money for cha-cha lessons a quarter at a time by having him demonstrate his 'Kanagroo Jump' he puts a quick end to the plan.

Next, late-rising older brother Davey (home from college during a semester break) comes down from his bedroom and after some give and take with his dad about his school classes, Mr. Gillis mentions that he offered to teach Dobie 'the Kangaroo Jump' and the exchange goes like this:

Davey: The Kangaroo Jump?! You're kidding!

Mr. G: Watch what you say - that's the dance with which I won your mother's heart!

Davey: I just meant it's a very amusing dance, that's all.

Mr. G: (surprised) Where did you learn about the Kangaroo Jump?

Davey: At college.

Mr. G: At college! Oh boy, wait til Dobie hears that they're doing the Kangaroo Jump at college!

Davey: Yeah, I took Folk Dancing last year!

Mr. G flips over the fact that that his beloved dance is considered 'folk dancing'. The dialog really moves and it's very comical.

Anyhow - in this episode, Mr. Gillis is afraid to sign his will because he thinks it will seal his fate, and his sons will never survive if he dies and isn't there to support them. He takes a nap and has a dream that he's passed away and his sons have taken over his grocery store - yet despite the most ridiculous ideas being put in place (such as free cha-cha lessons for the lady customers and an honor-system cash register) the store is making far more money without him than it ever did when he was running it.

It's a great episode, and Darryl Hickman as brother Davey is a welcome visitor to the cast.