Leave It to Beaver (TV Series) Beaver's Library Book (1960) User Reviews

Similar Lessons, But Always Done Well

[ccthemovieman-1 · 9/10 · 27 November 2010]

A major storyline in this memorable TV series - but always done in different ways - is Beaver getting in trouble and learning a lesson in the process because many times it is his fault.

Beaver either lies, or covers something up, or takes bad advice from his friend Larry....but all is well in the end thanks to a kid who basically good at heart and has very understanding parents. "Ward Cleaver," played fantastically by Hugh Beaumont, can be stern but he always fair and nobody gives a better lecture to his boys than he. Such is the case again here.

Also, as everyone who follows this show knows, Beaver is often losing things. In this story, he borrows his father's library card, takes out a book, loses it, hides late notices sent to his house, and then gets scared silly when "Eddie Haskell" tells him the "library police" will come and put his father in jail!!! Speaking of memorable, who was more so in his day as an occasional guest actor, than Ken Osmond as "Eddie?" Fifty years later, I still get as much a kick out of Osmond's character as I did when I first watched him.

Beaver was usually lucky in that other older adults treated him kindly. In this episode, it's a fairly elderly man who runs the local library. He - Theodore Newton as "Mr. Davenport" has a nice scene in this story.

C'est si bon, Eddie is a big liar.

[pensman · 8/10 · 23 August 2017]

Beaver needs a book to read for a book report and he is prowling through the books in Ward's den using a variation the time-tested method of "eeny, meeny, miny moe" and pulls out The Conquest of Mexico. Ward suggests Treasure Island would be more appropriate. But Ward can't locate his copy so he loans Beaver his library card with the admonition not to lose it as Beaver has already lost a jacket and a baseball glove.

Larry accompanies Beaver to the library. Both boys are amazed at all the books, Larry says they pay people to read all the books in case one might be good enough to make into a movie. Beaver says that his father claimed he used to read four books a week. Beaver finds the book and it has pictures in it. Beaver is told the book is a one week book and has a fine of five cents a day. On the way out of the library, Beaver leaves the book behind and has to be called back. We already know what will happen, the book will be lost.

Time passes and Beaver has his book report done and Wally agrees to listen to it. The book report is pretty crummy by Wally's standards; the reason is simple, Beaver only read thirty pages then he lost the book. Wally tells Beaver he better find that book before the fines pile up; he had an overdue book and it cost him twenty cents, and dad was angry about it.

Eddie is visiting and finds four overdue book notices in Beaver room: it has been twenty days and Beaver owes a dollar in fines. Eddie hands the notices to Wally and thinks there will be fireworks when their dad finds out. Maybe Eddie well be lucky to be there when Ward explodes. Wally is just upset his brother might be in trouble.

Eddie and Wally are coming down stairs to leave when Beaver and Larry come in the front door, Wally tells Beaver he better do something about those notices. When Wally walks off to the kitchen, Eddie says a library cop will come to the house and throw Beaver in jail. But it's not even Beaver's card says Larry. Eddie then says that they will just but Beaver's father in jail. Beaver finally figures out that he is in big trouble.

Beaver asks June what would she do if Ward didn't come home for a few weeks. June is puzzled but says that would be bad as Ward is really important to the family. Larry and Beaver goes to the library because Beaver needs to speak with whoever is in charge, that would be Mr. Davenport. Beaver goes into Mr. Davenport's office alone; Beaver has a request that Mr. Davenport not put his father in jail. Mr. Davenport wants to know what the story is, but he does say after a time they would have sent an investigator. However, Mr. Davenport says they don't put people in jail but Beaver needs to tell his father because the book has to be replaced.

Back at home, Ward is in the den waiting for Beaver to tell him he lost Treasure Island; Mr. Davenport called and gave Ward the details. Up in his room, Beaver is practicing a speech to give to Ward about the lost book. Beaver comes down to talk with Ward; and Beaver gives out his prepared speech. Ward isn't upset but isn't happy about Beaver's hoping that things would just work out if he just told enough lies: lying just isn't an acceptable plan. Beaver acknowledges it's better to tell the truth, but I suspect in his heart that Beaver still has some hopes for lying.

Beaver was able to return Treasure Island. His school has a new rule, no food in lockers. When Larry cleaned out his locker, there was the book. And Beaver paid the fine using the two silver dollars Uncle Billy had given him.

Typical episode where one hopes Beaver has learned a lesson but we know he hasn't. Regardless it is still worth while to try and get kids to understand actions have consequences. I got a kick out of Beaver paying the fine with silver dollars. Those dollars were a prized reward to get from uncles and aunts when they learned of something you had done was not only praiseworthy but deserved a monetary reward. Frequently that translated into a silver dollar. And not one of the puny specimens we currently have but no one uses.

Fear and Forgiveness

[MichaelMartinDeSapio · 10/10 · 17 November 2015]

LEAVE IT TO BEAVER often dealt with the fears and embarrassments of childhood - events which though small and trivial to an adult are magnified tenfold in a the mind of a child. In this episode Beaver, having lost a library book that was checked out under Ward's name, is terrorized by Eddie Haskell's wild stories of "library police" that will come around to arrest Ward if the fines are not paid. (I wonder if Jerry Seinfeld was taking notes from this episode? He had a bit on his TV show about a "library detective," if I recall.) Beaver pays a visit to the head librarian to satisfy himself that his father will not be thrown in jail. The librarian, Mr. Davenport, is a dry-as-dust bow-tie-clad academic type, outwardly a bit forbidding but ultimately approachable and, like most adults on LITB, very wise. He straightens Beaver out on a few points, including the necessity of going to one's father at the first sign of trouble, a point often reinforced in the series.

The point is emphasized again when Beaver visits Ward in his den to confess his wrongdoing. For me, this scene has sacramental resonance, with Ward as the "priest" and the den as the "confessional" (Jerry Mathers, good Catholic boy that he was, would have been familiar with the confession format.) Like God Himself, Ward knows what the penitent is going to say before he says it and is waiting patiently for him to arrive. There is nothing stern here, just a tender and understanding conference or therapy session, highlighting LITB's equitable and indeed progressive approach to parenting. Ward calmly explains to Beaver that telling lies is a dead end and that he should come to him at the first sign of trouble. It's a standard LITB lesson, but there is something special about the way it's delivered here with the wonderful chemistry between Hugh Beaumont and Jerry Mathers.

THEY'RE COMING TO GET YOU! BETTER RUN!

[tcchelsey · 10/10 · 29 October 2023]

It's episodes like this that made Eddie Haskell a household name, a relatable character, reminding you of someone you know -- or don't want to know, ya know?

Beave loses a library book, or at least he thinks he has, and the walls come tumbling down. Eddie naturally is the bringer of bad news with horrible consequences. As he tells the tale, the "library police" will soon be knocking at the door to arrest Mr. Cleaver if he does not pay the hefty fine. What a mess!

A lot of us have been in Beaver's shoes, and when you're a kid things MOST DO get lost with amazing frequency. The worst thing, though, is to lose a library book because there are penalities and they will call your mom and dad. OMG.

Yes, I agree with the last reviewer that the writers of SEINFELD probably remembered this famous episode with a story of their own, all about library police. It was hilarious, and a story that never gets old as libraries still charge for late and lost books, and why they want your credit card info. Charge it!

In the spot the veteran actor department. Theodore Newton plays the head librarian, Mr. Davenport. Newton was a familiar face on Alfred Hitchcock's tv show (for all of us mystery buffs) and appeared in scores of movies, first for Warner Brothers in the 30s.

Still fun after all these years. SEASON 3 EPISODE 18 remastered dvd box set.

What's spontaneous?

[sherryp-14911 · 10/10 · 31 July 2023]

"What's spontaneous?" -Beaver "It's like when some old rags in a closet burst into flames."-Wally "What's that got to do with a library book?"-Beaver The things they say are so funny. You understand 'spontaneous' meaning talking more naturally. But 'spontaneous combustion' is another story. And when June tells Beaver he can talk to his father anytime so Beaver tells her that (in that case) he'll wait till tomorrow!

I thought this episode was great. Beaver tells Wally that his friend Eddie Haskell is a real creep. Wally says "Is that something new?" Or words to that effect. This is just a funny episode. But all the episodes are good. But this one really made me laugh.

It's Always Wrong To Tell A Lie

[StrictlyConfidential · 6/10 · 23 March 2021]

(*June quote*) - "Why wouldn't a boy want to ride home with his own father?"

Beaver has to write a book report for school so he borrows his father's library book and checks out "Treasure Island" from the shelves.

Within a few days Beaver loses the book, but he keeps quiet about it.

When Eddie Haskell finds out that Beaver owes late charges on the book he puts the scare into him, telling him that the "library police" will soon be out to arrest his father.