LUCILLE BALL?

It's truly surprising that someone living in America doesn't know who LUCILLE BALL (1911-1989), born Lucille Désirée Ball, is. "I Love Lucy" is the most recognized television show in world. It was the first show to ever be rerun during prime time scheduling and the only show I know that never stopped being rerun. It has never been off the air and is always playing somewhere in the world. It even transmits in outer space. Several space-age fantasy television shows have mentioned having seen or heard "I Love Lucy". Lucille Ball was dubbed the queen of comedy and rightly so. You may know her from television, but she was a well-known actress before television.


Haven't you seen Yours, Mine and Ours (1968)? This is a story about a widow with ten children falling in love with a widower, played by Henry Fonda. There's only one problem. He has eight children. It's a wonderful family film, both funny and endearing.

Watch this and then see these other four films. There are many films from which to choose, but these will get you started.


Fancy Pants (1950) This film is my favorite Bob Hope film. It was the first film my daughter, as a very little girl, loved. She's in her twenties now and this film still makes us laugh, recalling it.
Mame (1974) Lucille Ball stars as Auntie Mame. This is the musical version of the Rosalind Russell film, Auntie Mame.
The Fuller Brush Girl (1950) This is the female equivalent of the Red Skelton film, The Fuller Brush Man. Eddie Albert plays her boyfriend. My favorite part involves Lucy giving home permanents and naughty little boy with a chemistry set interfering.
The Long, Long Trailer (1954) There are so many Lucille Ball films from which to choose. Since I can only choose five by this blog's guidelines, I cannot skip this one. Here Lucy stars opposite her husband at the time, Desi Arnaz, whom we know from "I Love Lucy".


*Contributed by: "Elizabeth Van Cleve Randolph" Date: Wed, Aug 31 2005 / 21:43:00 PST