Aventuras de Pablito Beaver and Andy (1957–1963) watch online HD

This rather daring episode about alcoholism is one of LEAVE IT TO BEAVER's greatest segments. It is certainly one of the episodes ("Beaver's House Guest" also comes to mind) that put the lie to the conventional view that LITB "played it safe" in terms of subject matter.

Ward has hired old acquaintance Andy Hadlock to paint the trim on the Cleaver house. But Andy has a "problem": he is addicted to alcohol. Ward puts his faith in Andy, who does all right - until something happens to make him "fall off the wagon" again.

At the center of the episode is Wendell Holmes' touchingly realistic portrayal of Andy. Holmes was a skilled character actor who appeared in two other roles on LITB, both times as teachers. Sadly, Holmes died in 1962 (just three years after this episode was filmed) at the age of 47 of a heart attack.

The episode speaks to the dangers of parents keeping secrets from their children, speaking in vague innuendos instead of bringing difficult topics out into the open.

An interesting touch of symbolism: Andy has paint splattered on his clothes for most of the episode, but appears in the final scene cleaned up, suggesting his moral redemption.

Beaver meets the man who gave Ward a silver dollar on a ribbon when Beaver was born: Andy Hadlock. Currently Andy is looking for a job painting the trim on Ward's house, but June is reluctant to hire Andy for anything because of his "trouble." Wally recalls Andy from when he was a boy, and Andy used to come around and do work on the old house, and then he just stopped coming over. Both Ward and June are not willing to tell the boys that Andy's problem is drinking, they just say Andy has troubles. While doing his painting, Andy entertains Beaver with his stories of being a sailor. Beaver likes Andy and when Andy leaves one day, Beaver is cleaning up the empty paint cans and he finds an empty bottle in the bushes. Wally says it is an empty bottle of whiskey and figures someone just tossed it there coming home.

When June got home early from shopping she tells Ward she found Andy already gone and wonders if they should tell Beaver and Wally about his drinking problem. Ward knows Beaver looks up to Andy right now so he would like to keep the problem quiet for now.

Beaver gets home from school and plans to tell Andy that he can't watch him paint today as he will be playing at his friend Larry's. June has to run off to pick Ward up at the office and she leaves Beaver alone. When Andy knocks on the door he tells Beaver he has been painting and feels a little shaky and wonders is Beaver could get him a drink. Beaver isn't sure what Andy means but gets him a glass of water. Andy hints around and finally asks if Beaver's dad has any whiskey in the house. Beaver says no but there is a bottle of brandy that Uncle Billy sent him and Ward uses it on Christmas to pour a bit over a cake. Andy says that would be fine and Beaver gives Andy the bottle. Latter Andy calls Ward and apologizes for what happened. Andy suggests Ward find someone else to finish the painting.

When Beaver gets home from school he finds Andy gone. Wally is told not to say anything to Beaver but Wally says Andy fell off the ladder because he was drinking. Beaver asks Wally if brandy is like whiskey. At dinner, Beaver comments that it was too bad Andy fell off the ladder because of drinking whiskey. Ward starts to get upset, first at Wally for talking to Beaver; and second at the person who gave Andy a drink. Beaver says he gave Andy the brandy. Beaver didn't know what Andy's problem was; if he had known he wouldn't have given him the brandy. Ward realizes he should have been upfront with both boys instead of trying to protect them.

Next day Beaver is on his way home from school when he sits down on the curb to clean some mud off his shoes. Andy comes by to apologize to Beaver for getting Beaver in trouble. But Andy also thanks Beaver for teaching him a lesson: an empty bottle and an empty life go together. Andy has resolved to try and get himself together and tells Beaver to tell his dad that he will be there tomorrow to finish the job.

Did Beaver have an effect on Andy and will he show up to finish the job? We don't know and the writers leave it up to the viewers own optimism or pessimism to find an answer.

Just how much should parents tell their children about the "bad" things in life and when is not an easy question to answer. Most parents want to protect their children from the harsher realities of life but at the same time do we want college age children who need safe rooms and teddy bears at twenty when they find their world views challenged?

Wendell Holmes guest stars as "Andy," an old friend of the family who has had years of fighting alcoholism, a topic Ward and June are afraid to bring up to their sons, not realizing hiding the truth is not the way to go, that the kids are capable of handling this "situation." Andy had come buy to offer his services to paint the house, or rather give it a nice trim. Holmes does a spectacular job of portraying a wonderful-but-haunted by his demons man, whom Beaver soon loves to talk to since Andy has great adventure stories.

What happens and how it's handled is interesting and a sign of the different times because it appears, at least with Ward and June, that there is little knowledge about alcohol or drug "problems" being addictions. Also, "Andy" seems a bit unrealistic but nice to see, and you can't help but really feel sorry for him. Anyway, Beaver and Wally are very mature about this whole thing, as the parents find out.

Overall, this was a different kind of story for this show, but another good one, and a memorable one. I recall seeing this many years ago.