The Dick Van Dyke Show (TV Series) No Rice at My Wedding (1965) User Reviews

A Flashback To Earlier Rob And Laura

[atlasmb · 8/10 · 4 May 2018]

Garry Marshall is one of the writers of this episode. Most of the episode is a flashback about how Laura might have married another guy.

Van Williams ("Green Hornet") plays the role of Clark Rice, another soldier stationed at the camp where Rob and Laura's relationship blossomed. Clark, a handsome hunk who takes to Laura, wins a date with her through a raffle.

It's a charming story that reveals why Laura chose Rob in the first place.

Rob is eaten up by jealousy.

[planktonrules · 7/10 · 19 December 2023]

This is one of many flashback episodes...most of which are about his years in the Army. In this one, it goes back to a painful period for Rob...when his steady girlfriend, Laura, is raffled off to a lucky soldier. It's not quite as bad as it sounds. This means that Laura has agreed to go out with any man at Camp Crowder as a means to make money for the USO. Laura agreed to do this before she began dating Rob...and she intends to go through with it, though Rob clearly is eaten up with jealousy. In many ways, Rob is a jerk...especially AFTER she goes out with Corporal Clark Rice (Van Williams)...and she likes him so much, she isn't sure if she and Rob should be dating exclusively.

Of course, we all KNOW how it will end...after all, it wasn't seen on "The Clark Rice Show" or "Van Williams Show"! Is it very funny? No. But it is interesting and worth seeing.

Cpl Rice dodged a bullet !

[ronnybee2112 · 8/10 · 23 May 2022]

Here we get to see some of the fickle and selfish aspects of the Mary Richards character that should have been a warning to Rob Petrie. This is supposed to be a flashback to earlier times when Rob was still in the military. Somehow Mary is undecided between Rob and another man.

Another beautifully written script...

[lrrap · 9/10 · 16 December 2021]

..that is impeccably performed and directed.

I thought: "oh, no...another of these "when Rob met Laura back in the army/flashback shows", which I don't particularly enjoy. But this one was as deftly, incisively written with just as much of the brilliant, razor-sharp dialogue and timing as any of their office/home shows. There's also a certain sadness and a hint of pain to it..for any of us guys who've ever experienced this sort of situation in our lives, which is probably most of us.

I would not , however, take it nearly as far as another commentator does here, re: the message of the show.

Once again, the overall viewer rating of this show (7.7) reflects a curious lack of appreciation for the insightful, slyly comic episodes that were the true hallmark of this great series. LR.