Widow Amy Martin (Shirley Jones) is a devoted mother to three young boys, Grover (Peter Robbins), Alex (Bill Mumy), and Luke (Bryan Russell). One day, her boys, playing with a blinker light given to them by their Uncle Simon (Red Buttons), send a distress signal to the nearby Naval base. Commander Key Weedon (Gig Young) is sent to investigate, finds nothing wrong, and even helps Amy with a few things around the house.
The kids adore Key and Amy is attracted to him, but she hasn’t dated since her husband’s death and she knows what comes with being involved with a Navy man. She’s trying to create a stable environment for her children and doesn’t want to be moving them all over the place. But with encouragement from her children and her sister-in-law Tandy (Carolyn Jones), she starts seeing Key. All is going well until the inevitable happens and Key receives orders to go to Italy. He wants to take marry Amy and bring her and the kids to Italy, but she refuses to move.
Amy’s kids like to play a game with their Uncle Simon called “moon walking.” Simon attaches the kids to large helium filled balloons and holds on to them with a tether so it’s like walking on the moon. But while moon walking one day, Grover’s tether snaps and he goes floating over the San Diego area and guess who is able to save him? Of course it’s Key! Key rescues Grover and Amy is so thrilled that she decides she wants a life with Key after all.
A Ticklish Affair is a cute, wholesome little movie, but ultimately it’s nothing to write home about. Very predictable, but it’s likeable and pleasant enough to sit through. It’s one of those good Sunday afternoon movies or something to watch if you’re watching a movie with young children. One thing I really do love about A Ticklish Affair is its poster, which is absolutely adorable and whimsical.
