Original subtitles

[♪♪♪]

Hey, kids. Hollywood boulevard.

[Children chatter indistinctly]

There's graumann's Chinese.

Is he on TV?

Keith: Look at all the stars in the sidewalk.

All right, kids. This is vine street.

Battle stations, everyone.

Shirley: If anyone had told me four months ago

that I'd be driving an old school bus

filled with my five children and a large dog

through Hollywood,

I'd have thought they were crazy.

If they'd told me why we'd be here,

I'd have been sure of it.

Ladies and gentlemen, america's latest success story,

the partridge family.

♪ ...look at all the smiling faces ♪

♪ doing things ♪

♪ look at all the smiling faces singing ♪

♪ having a ball doing their numbers ♪

♪ having a ball getting it on ♪

♪ together, together together ♪

♪ having a ball yeah, we're having a ball ♪

♪ having a ball, yeah we're having a ball ♪

♪ town to town we've found the sound ♪

♪ that's happening ♪

♪ and what we've found is what we play and sing ♪

♪ yeah, having a ball just doing our numbers ♪

♪ having a ball just getting it on ♪

♪ together, together together ♪

♪ having a ball together having a ball ♪

♪ yeah, having a ball together having a ball ♪

♪ yeah, having a ball ♪ yeah, having a ball ♪

♪ yeah, having a ball yeah, having a ball ♪

♪ yeah, having a ball yeah, having a ball... ♪♪

[Applause]

Shirley: If I look a little stunned,

it's because, until recently,

the only bow I'd ever taken

was for an occasional well-cooked roast.

You see, we're not your average showbiz family.

So how come we're on national television?

It all started three months ago

in our home in a small town in California.

My husband had died suddenly six months previously,

and I was working at a local bank,

trying to support the family.

While I was working,

the kids all pitched in and ran the house.

Mom, I want to talk to you

about some new stock I've been researching.

Not now, honey.

I'm trying to get these bills paid.

It has fantastic growth potential

and very little downside risk.

All I need is a little capital, mom,

and I can make you a very wealthy woman.

Danny, I'd be very happy

if we just had enough to pay this bill for peanut butter.

It looks like the national debt.

I'm worried about you, mom.

You're too old to be working.

Thank you, honey. You've just made my day.

Aren't you supposed to be rehearsing

in the garage?

I'm waiting for Gloria steineman to show up.

She's our new lead singer.

Does she have a nice voice?

No, but she has a body that won't quit.

I decided the group needs a little sex appeal.

Also, her father's a rabbi.

I Don't get the connection.

Maybe he can get us some bar mitzvahs.

Listen, when you're in show business,

you've got to work all the angles.

Take it easy, mom.

[Telephone rings]

Hello?

No, this is Mrs. Partridge speaking.

Oh, yes.

Oh, I'm sorry to hear that, rabbi.

Yes, of course I'll tell them.

Thank you for calling.

Bye-bye.

[Discordant music]

Quiet.

[Shouts] Quiet!

Mom, I wish you wouldn't stuff your ears

every time we play.

It's very discouraging.

Can I help it if I'm a music lover?

I just wanted to tell you...

Tracy!

Don't put that drumstick up your nose.

Why not?

You Don't know where it's been.

Gloria's father phoned to say that she has the mumps.

She can't come.

Oh no. Oh, come on.

Oh, terrific.

Well that means we can't make the recording.

Well, can't you do it without some other time?

No. I could only borrow the equipment for one night.

It has to be back in the school auditorium

by tomorrow morning.

Can't you do it without Gloria?

No. It's written for five voices.

We're dead.

Oh, before you die, would you give me a hand?

Wait a minute.

Why Don't we let mom sing Gloria's part?

Mom? Have you flipped?

Look, she's better than nothing.

Oh, thanks for the vote of confidence.

I'm afraid I'm going to have to turn you down.

All: Why?

Well, I can think of a lot of reasons,

but there's one very good one... I'm tone deaf.

Oh, but that's not true. You have a very sweet voice.

Oh, look, mom.

What do you have to lose?

I Don't know how to sing, honey...

Don't worry if you're lousy. Come on.

We'll show you how. Just sit down.

Keith, I Don't... I Don't...

I Don't even know the tune.

It's the one I've been playing around the house lately.

You said it was seared into your mind.

Oh, come on.

Please, mom. Oh, mom. Just this once.

[In unison] Come on, mom, please.

[Dog growls]

[Barks]

Well... all right.

Oh, great. Yeah.

But Don't expect dinah shore.

[In unison] Who?

I can see I'm going to have to start

hanging out with an older crowd.

Just let me look over the words for a minute.

You know,

I've been thinking about these lyrics.

Yeah? What about them?

Well, do you think they're really relevant?

Relevant?

One lousy sit-in,

and suddenly she's Joan baez.

Look, Don't put me down

just because I have a social conscience.

I simply can't make an honest commitment

to... to anything that's not...

Relevant!

Well, this song is very relevant.

To what?

To eating.

With the right promotion,

this record could make a million.

Okay, I'm ready.

Oh, okay. Groovy.

Now, you're going to come in

when I point, okay?

Chris, will you put down the baseball mitt?

And while you're at it,

why Don't you push the tape?

We're ready to start.

Okay, you ready?

One, two...

Three, four.

♪ Let the good times in ♪

♪ good times in ♪

♪ the leaves of life are falling ♪

♪ down around you, girl ♪

♪ nothing's so bad ♪

♪ that it can't be a-changing ♪

♪ start rearranging life on a shelf ♪

♪ life on a shelf ♪

♪ nothing's as sad as missing out on the fun ♪

♪ 'cause you're having none alone by yourself ♪

♪ alone by yourself ♪

♪ look through the tears that fill your eyes ♪

♪ yeah ♪

♪ just throw off your troubles ♪

♪ and leave them behind ♪

♪ you can let... ♪

♪ The good times in ♪

♪ da-da-la-la-la-ba-ba ♪

♪ let love shine through ♪

♪ you'll see how happy we can be together ♪

♪ let... ♪

♪ The good times in ♪

♪ the leaves of life are falling down around you ♪

♪ girl... ♪

♪ How does it feel with your feet in the water? ♪

♪ Now is the time you ought to get wet ♪

♪ you ought to get wet ♪

♪ what would you do if I told you I loved you? ♪

♪ Would you believe me? ♪♪

Shirley: Three days later,

Danny learned that a representative

from a large recording company was in town

visiting some local disc jockeys.

My number two son,

who could never be accused of lacking initiative,

was soon hot on the trail

and quickly had the room number he wanted.

There it is.

[Knocking]

You've got the wrong room, kids.

No, Mr. Kincaid. We're looking for you.

If you'll just give us

a few minutes of your time,

it could change your whole life.

You members of some flaky religious group?

No, sir. I'm here to represent the partridges.

The birds?

The family.

I'm Danny partridge, their business manager.

This is my sister, Tracy,

who has perfect pitch and plays tambourine.

Terrific.

Next time I see Ted mack, I'll tell him.

Why are you wearing the lone ranger's mask?

Tracy, will you let me do the talking?

I wouldn't have brought her, but I'm babysitting.

Look, gang. I'm very tired.

I'm hyper tense.

I have to catch a plane in three hours,

and my knuckles are already beginning to whiten up,

so what... what's this all about?

We want you to listen to a recording

made by our family.

Honest, Mr. Kincaid.

We've got a sound that will knock your eyeballs out.

Yeah, I'm sure you have.

Look, you go home and practice.

Come back and see me in about 10 years, okay?

Ten years!

We'll be a show business legend by then.

Terrific.

I'll listen to you

on the oldies but goodies.

But I read in billboard

that your company was interested in new groups.

Not when they're sold door to door.

Why is he wearing his pajamas in the middle of the day?

He's in show business.

Come on, Danny. Let's go home.

Tracy, if we give up now, we're washed up

in the recording industry.

[Telephone rings]

[Groans]

Hello?

Danny partridge here, Mr. Kincaid.

You Don't even have to move.

Just lie back, close your eyes,

and listen.

♪ Let the good times in ♪

♪ the leaves of life ♪

♪ are falling down around you, girl ♪

What do you think?

Now, look, kid, listen, and listen close.

♪ Start rearranging life on a shelf ♪

♪ stop feeling sad as... ♪

[Click]

What did he say?

He said if we Don't stop bothering him,

he's going to send over a man with an ax

to chop us up into little pieces.

Ooh. Do you think he means it?

No, I'm pretty sure he's bluffing.

I hope so.

Voice over pa: Your attention, please.

Flight 32, flight 3-2 from Chicago

now arriving at gate 11.

You stay out here.

Mr. Kincaid?

Mister...

Mr. Kincaid?

Mr. Kincaid?

Mr. Kincaid?

Reuben: What is it?

Danny partridge here, Mr. Kincaid.

You Don't have to do a thing. Just listen.

♪ Look through the tears that fill your eyes, yeah ♪

♪ just throw off your troubles... ♪

I Don't believe it.

I just Don't believe it.

♪ Let love shine through... ♪

Voice over pa: Flight 57, flight 5-7.

Well, what do you think, Mr. Darrow?

I'm sorry, Mr. Kincaid,

but naturally I have to look over the fine print.

After all, we've both agreed

that our record will gross millions.

Oh, no, we didn't. No, we didn't.

I said it was a cute little tune

and maybe... Maybe...

It had a chance.

It was the washroom attendant

who said it would make a million.

Well, this looks okay.

Of course, my mother is the one who'll have to sign it.

However, there are some legal points

I'd like to go over.

How old is he?

Ten. Why?

I keep getting this funny feeling

that I'm dealing with a 40-year-old midget.

Shirley: Danny told me about the record contract,

but I didn't really pay much attention to it

since he came up with at least three get-rich-quick schemes

every week.

This time, I should have listened.

Thank you, mom.

During the next few weeks, I was kept very busy,

and since I wasn't exactly a devotee of the top 40,

the impact on me was somewhat delayed.

♪ The leaves of life are falling down around you ♪

♪ girl ♪

[Clears throat]

♪ How does it feel with your feet in the water♪♪

They're playing our song. Please, lady,

not in front of my wife.

I've never seen her before.

But... but it is our song.

It's the chance of a lifetime, mom.

With that sort of capital and the right investments,

I could make you rich beyond your wildest dreams.

Also, it would be a great way

for us all to be together this summer.

I mean, you wouldn't have to worry

about us running wild while you're working

and we're out of school.

Chris: Right.

The family that plays together

stays together.

And it would be a groovy way

to find out exactly what's wrong with this country.

What?

Well, I'd be able to see all the injustices firsthand.

Look, kids,

everything you say makes sense,

and it would be marvelous if we could go,

but there's one very good reason why we can't.

What's that?

We have no talent.

It's one thing singing a song in the back of a garage,

but it's another doing a whole show

for a paying audience.

Mom, look,

we have a couple of weeks before the tour.

That's plenty of time to put an act together.

Sure. We'll rehearse 24 hours a day.

Won't we, kids?

Right. Yeah. We can do it.

Look, I'm older than you.

I know my limitations.

If I had to sing in front of an audience,

I'd faint.

Honestly, I just couldn't do it.

Oh, but, mom...

Forget it, Laurie.

I guess mom's just no trooper.

Danny, I never claimed to be Sophie Tucker.

[In unison] Who?

Annette funicello?

Ah... [clears throat]

Mom...

There is one other

very important reason why you should go.

Oh? What's that?

Well, it would give you enough money

to put us through college.

I know you've been worried about that.

And what makes you so sure I've been worried about that?

Well, I'm a sensitive, aware teenager.

Look, you Don't want to be a mother

to a bunch of illiterate bums, do you?

He's right, mom.

Do you want Chris

to pump gas all his life,

and Tracy to wait on tables in some sleazy strip joint

while I work as a garbage collector

just because you were chicken?

Well, I do think

you're exaggerating a bit, Danny,

but I see your point. Then you'll do it?

[Sighs]

Are you all quite sure

you're willing to work that hard?

All: Oh, yeah.

All: Yeah. Laurie: Really.

All right.

On one condition...

When I faint,

you'll make sure

there's someone around to catch me

before I hit the floor.

♪ Seeing people, doing things ♪

♪ and showing off their smiling faces ♪

♪ taking care of big and small and no business at all ♪

♪ having a ball being together ♪

♪ having a ball getting it all ♪

♪ together, together together ♪

♪ having a ball getting all together ♪

♪ having a ball getting all together ♪

♪ everybody's going places ♪

♪ seeing people, doing things ♪

♪ and taking care of big and small ♪

♪ and no business at all ♪

♪ having a ball being together ♪

♪ having a ball just getting it all together ♪

♪ together ♪

♪ together having a ball ♪

♪ together yeah, having a ball together ♪

♪ yeah having a ball together ♪

♪ yeah having a ball together ♪

♪ yeah having a ball together ♪♪

Laurie: This is Las Vegas?

Keith: Wow, this is terrific.

Hey, look at that hotel over there.

[Kids cheering]

Danny: We're going to own this city.

Shirley: Don't all shout. I can't drive the bus.

Keith: There's Caesar's palace.

All: We're here! Yay!

Shirley: We made it!

Keith: Well, mom, how do you feel

seeing your name up in lights?

Shirley: Sick to my stomach.

Laurie: Well, why?

Shirley: I keep seeing this headline in variety:

"Partridges lay an egg."

Hey, Laurie, look at that.

Oh, wow.

Hey, mom, are you all right?

Yeah, and your face really looks green.

It always looks that way just before I faint.

Do you think it was the excitement

of seeing your name up in lights?

No... The terror.

I'm having trouble moving my mouth.

Don't worry about it.

It's perfectly normal.

How can I sing if I can't move my mouth?

Mom, just fake it, okay?

Why are you feeling your knees?

I think they're locked.

Good. That will stop you from falling if you pass out.

Don't worry, mom.

We'll all be here to help you.

Sure. You Don't have to worry

about a thing.

Aren't you kids nervous at all?

No. Why should we be nervous?

We're terrific.

All right, places everyone. We're ready to go.

Come on.

Laurie: Come on, mom.

It's big time. You're going to do great.

You're going to be wonderful.

Nothing to worry about. Just hang loose.

Now, relax, mom.

But just remember

our whole future depends on these next few minutes.

[Moans] Oh...

Emcee: Ladies and gentlemen,

Caesar's palace takes great pride in presenting

america's sensational new recording group

the partridge family.

♪ Let's ride a dream... ♪♪

[Audience murmurs]

Kids... oh.

Ki... I... oh.

[Clears throat]

Ah... ah...

Ladies and gentlemen, I...

I suppose you're...

You're wondering why you've been invited here

to watch this staring contest.

[Audience laughs]

I, uh... i'll have to let you in on a little secret.

Uh, this is our very first public performance,

and I'm afraid my...

My children are slightly overwhelmed.

[Audience laughs]

Why me?

Uh, if you'll excuse me, I...

I think we ought to have a family conference.

[Whispers] Danny. Danny!

Danny, it's me.

Remember me? Your mother?

Doesn't the name ring a bell?

Danny!

Oh, Keith.

Keith! Speak to me.

Uh... oh... Chris...

Chris.

Chris?

You know it's rude to stare in public.

[Audience laughs]

I haven't seen all of you so quiet

since you tried to set fire to the treehouse.

[Audience laughs]

[Whimpers]

Uh... all right, everyone. Look at me. Look at me.

Now... now, listen.

Everyone, close your eyes.

Both eyes, Tracy.

Now, just imagine

that you're in the back of our garage, all five of us,

just having fun.

Hey, unusual opening.

Your idea?

Theirs.

Okay. Good.

Ready?

Play.

One... two...

Three... four.

All: ♪ let's ride a dream that's made for two ♪

[Applause]

♪ Yeah ♪

♪ just hop on a rainbow ♪

♪ it's waiting for you ♪

♪ let the good times in ♪

♪ let love shine through ♪

♪ you'll see how happy we can be together ♪

♪ let the good times in ♪

♪ the leaves of life are falling down around you ♪

♪ girl ♪♪

All right!

♪ Town to town we've found the sound that's ♪

♪ happening ♪

♪ and what we've found is what we play and sing ♪

♪ yeah ♪

♪ having a ball ♪

♪ just being together ♪

♪ having a ball just getting it all ♪

♪ together ♪

♪ together ♪

♪ together having a ball ♪

♪ getting together having a ball ♪

♪ yeah having a ball ♪

♪ yeah having a ball ♪

♪ having a ball ♪

♪ having a ball yeah ♪

♪ having a ball ♪

♪ having a ball yeah, together ♪

♪ yeah having a ball, yeah ♪

♪ having a ball yeah ♪

♪ having a ball yeah ♪♪

[Applause]

Shirley: Well, there we were, on our way

with all our troubles behind us.

At least, that's what I thought.

Chris, what's this I hear

about you not wanting to play with the group anymore?

It's sissy stuff.

But you've always enjoyed playing the drums.

I was just a kid then.

It's because of Debbie, mom.

Well, what's Debbie got to do with it?

Debbie, maybe you'd better show mom

why Chris is so uptight.

Shirley: Yes, the next few months were going to be hectic,

exasperating, frustrating, confusing, and hysterical...

And you know something?

I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

[♪♪♪]