History Film / ReturnToMayberry

* GrandFinale: This is essentially the final chapter of the ''Andy Griffith'' world, which resolves the ongoing WillTheyOrWontThey between Barney and Thelma Lou, sees the return of Andy and Helen to Mayberry, Andy's son starting a new life with his wife and son, and the last shot ending on Andy and Barney lowering the town's flag, folding it up, and walking off to have new adventures.

* TheyDo: Barney and Thelma Lou, after many years in question, wed in the final minutes of the movie.

In the film, Andy Taylor (Creator/AndyGriffith) and his wife Helen (Aneta Corsaut) decide to move back to Mayberry, with Andy planning to run for sheriff again. However, he declines when he finds out that Barney Fife (Creator/DonKnotts) is running, as he doesn't want to take that away from him. Meanwhile, hotel owner Wally Butler (Richard Linebacker) has enlisted the help of mountain man Ernest T. Bass (Howard Morris) in order to generate a hoax about a sea monster in order to drum up business. Barney believes the monster is real and tries to investigate, making him the subject of ridicule from his opponent and putting his election at risk, so Andy has to help bail him out by uncovering the truth behind the monster. In the end, Andy helps Barney expose Butler and Bass, saving Barney's reputation. After finding out that Andy was planning to run for sheriff, Barney drops out and endorses Andy, who returns as sheriff of Mayberry, with Barney as his deputy.

* TheEighties: Mentioned by Barney as he describes himself as an "upwardly-mobile yuppie" to Andy.

* ThemeTuneCameo: The school band at Barney's rally performs some of the incidental music used in the series.

* WeddingDay: Barney and Thelma Lou finally get married.

In the film, Andy Taylor (Andy Griffith) and his wife Helen (Aneta Corsaut) decide to move back to Mayberry, with Andy planning to run for sheriff again. However, he declines when he finds out that Barney Fife (Creator/DonKnotts) is running, as he doesn't want to take that away from him. Meanwhile, hotel owner Wally Butler (Richard Linebacker) has enlisted the help of mountain man Ernest T. Bass (Howard Morris) in order to generate a hoax about a sea monster in order to drum up business. Barney believes the monster is real and tries to investigate, making him the subject of ridicule from his opponent and putting his election at risk, so Andy has to help bail him out by uncovering the truth behind the monster. In the end, Andy helps Barney expose Butler and Bass, saving Barney's reputation. After finding out that Andy was planning to run for sheriff, Barney drops out and endorses Andy, who returns as sheriff of Mayberry, with Barney as his deputy.

* BigBad: Wally Butler.

[[quoteright:250:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/rtm.jpeg]]

* TheEighties: Mentioned by Barney as he describes himself as an "upwardly mobile yuppie" to Andy.

** In a very sad and mournful scene, Andy visits the grave of Aunt Bee, who passed away in the 20 years he has been gone. Frances Bavier, the actress who played her, was wrought with illness beyond any hope of ever coming back to reprise her role, making her the only member of the main cast who was gone. All we get is Janet Waldo's impression of her voice as Andy remembers her talking.

* BookEnds: Andy and Helen return to Mayberry while Opie and Eunice and their son leave Mayberry- Andy also remarks how Opie leaving is like the time he raised the orphaned birds and set them free when the time came for them to leave the nest. Also, the movie begins and ends on the iconic series whistling theme.

** In a very sad and mournful scene, Andy visits the grave of Aunt Bee, who passed away in the 20 years he has been gone. Frances Bavier, the actress who played her, was wrought with illness beyond any hope of ever coming back to reprise her role, making her the only member of the main cast who was gone. All we get is an archive snippet of her voice as Andy remembers her talking.

** In a very sad and mournful scene, Andy visits the grave of Aunt Bee, who passed away in the 20 years he has been gone. Frances Bavier, the actress who played her, had no intention of ever coming back to reprise her role due to animosity on set and an ongoing feud against cast members, making her the only member of the main cast who was gone. All we get is an archive snippet of her voice as Andy remembers her talking.

** In a very sad and mournful scene, Andy visits the grave of Aunt Bee, who passed away in the 20 years he has been gone. Frances Bavier, the actress who played her, suffered from health complications brought on by obesity, and had passed away by the time of the reunion, making her the only member of the main cast who was gone. All we get is an archive snippet of her voice as Andy remembers her talking.

** In a very sad and mournful scene, Andy visits the grave of Aunt Bee, who passed away in the 20 years he has been gone. The actor who played her suffered from health complications brought on by obesity and had passed away by the time of the reunion, making her the only member of the main cast who was gone. All we get is an archive snippet of her voice as Andy remembers her talking.

** In a very sad and mournful scene, Andy visits the grave of Aunt Bee, who passed away in the 20 years he has been gone. The actor who played her had passed away by the time of the reunion, making her the only member of the main cast who was gone.

* StatusQuoIsGod: The movie ends with Andy back as sheriff, with Barney as his deputy.

* ThemeTuneCameo: The marching band at Barney's rally performs some of the incidental music used in the series.

In the film, Andy Taylor (Andy Griffith) and his wife Helen (Aneta Corsaut) decide to move back to Mayberry, with Andy planning to run for sheriff again. However, he declines when he finds out that Barney Fife (Creator/DonKnotts) is running, as he doesn't want to take that away from him. Meanwhile, hotel owner Wally Butler (Richard Linebacker) has enlisted the help of mountain man Ernest T. Bass (Howard Morris) in order to generate a hoax about a sea monster in order to drum up business. Barney believes the monster is real and tries to investigate, making him the subject of ridicule from his opponent and putting his election at risk, so Andy has to help bail him out by uncovering the truth behind the monster. In the end, Andy helps Barney expose Butler and Bass, saving Barney's reputation. After finding out that Andy was planning to run for sheriff, Barney drops out and endorses Andy, who returns as sheriff of Mayberry, with Barney as his deputy.