Return to Mayberry (1986)

After being away for awhile, Andy Taylor returns home to Mayberry to visit Opie, now an expectant father. While there, he ends up helping Barney Fife mount a campaign for Sheriff.

Director:

Bob Sweeney

Writers:

Harvey Bullock, Everett Greenbaum

Stars:

Andy Griffith, Ron Howard, Don Knotts

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Andy Griffith	...	Andy Taylor
Ron Howard	...	Opie Taylor
Don Knotts	...	Barney Fife
Jim Nabors	...	Gomer Pyle
Aneta Corsaut	...	Helen Crump Taylor
Jack Dodson	...	Howard Sprague
George Lindsey	...	Goober Pyle
Betty Lynn	...	Thelma Lou
Howard Morris	...	Ernest T. Bass
Maggie Mancuso	...	Charlene Darling (as Maggie Peterson-Mancuso)
Denver Pyle	...	Briscoe Darling
Hal Smith	...	Otis Campbell
Rodney Dillard	...	Rodney Darling
Doug Dillard	...	Doug Darling
Mitch Jayne	...	Mitch Darling

Storyline

This was a reunion bringing back most of the characters from The Andy Griffith Show. It begins with Andy Taylor returning to Mayberry and planning to run for his old job of Sheriff but when he arrives, he discovers that his old deputy and friend, Barney Fife, is planning to run also. So Andy decides to back down. And at the same time there are some strange things going on, and Barney's stumped, so Andy has to help him out. Also Barney's planning to propose to his old girlfriend Thelma Lou, and Opie, Andy's son is about to become a father.

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Plot Keywords:

sheriff | mayberry | actor reprises previous role | rural setting | election | 

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Genres:

Comedy | Romance

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Details

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Release Date:

13 April 1986 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Arroyo Grande, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Strathmore Productions,Viacom Productions

Technical Specs

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

This was only the third time in the show's (and spin-off show's) history that Gomer and Goober appeared on-camera together. The other two times were The Andy Griffith Show (1960) in "The Fun Girls", and Gomer Pyle: USMC (1964) in "A Visit From Cousin Goober".

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Goofs

When Andy first enters the courthouse to surprise Barney, he walks by the window on his way to greet Barney. Visible through the window is a construction project showing a new building being built. When they exit the building at the end of that scene, the scene beyond the window is now that of a completed structure that resembles an office of some type.

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Connections

Follows Goober & the Truckers' Paradise (1978)

User Reviews

A Wonderful Reunion Movie!

When this movie first aired I was 8 yrs. old, now that I'm 23 I can appreciate this movie more. I am a huge fan of Andy Griffith and The Andy Griffith Show and after seeing this movie it was clear that the same magic was still there even 18 yrs. after the original series ended. Andy was still just as wise and sweet as he always was, solving the towns problems and making his deputy look like the hero and Barney was still sweet-talking the unseen Juanita over the phone. The differences were even great to see. Otis had gone sober and was now the ice cream man, Opie was all grown up now married and with a child on the way, and Howard was going through mid life crisis. It was especially great to see that Thelma Lou was now divorced and free for Barney again. There are some things that left me wondering like where was Andy and Helen's child Andrew Jr. that we learned about on RFD? Why didn't Opie marry Mary Alice Carter, the girl he had a crush on since 1st grade? I'm just glad to see all the familiar faces from Mayberry back together again in this outstanding reunion movie! If you ever catch this on t.v. do what I did and tape this movie!!!