MovieChat Forums > I Love Lucy (1951) Discussion > What Happened to Ricky's Movie?? (And ot...

What Happened to Ricky's Movie?? (And other LA Episode issues)

posted 7 years ago by jasonmovieguy (182)
7 replies | jump to latest

Love the show, but one thing that bothered me about this series was the inconsistencies of the plot developments. The biggest one being Ricky's Don Juan film, which took the Ricardos and Mertzes to Hollywood for almost 2 SEASONS. The moment they return to New York, they have a celebration party ("Homecoming") and are asked about the release of the picture. Then it's never mentioned again. Which is a shame, because the writer's could have had a lot of fun with adding episodes of the movie's premiere, the critics possibly hating Ricky's performance (or loving it), Lucy getting jealous and wanting attention, an Oscar nomination, etc. So a few questions---

1) Why was Ricky's movie tossed aside? In "Don Juan is Shelved", he thinks it's over but then Dory Sherry says they're putting him in another film. Later in an episode called "Face to Face", they explain there's some premiere for it- but its a one line explanation. We never hear about it afterwards.

2) In "Lucy Gets in Pictures", the Mertzes are ALSO offered roles in a Hollywood film from their old vaudeville colleague. According to Ethel, they are to film "2 whole weeks." So we assume they have speaking lines. This is never mentioned after the episode. It's more of a device to get Ricky feeling sorry for Lucy since "everyone else is getting into the movies"; even Bobby the bellboy.

3) In "Don Juan and the Starlets", random women show up to Lucy's hotel and ask if this is where Ricky Ricardo is taking pictures. When the models talk amongst themselves, one says "It's supposed to be a photo shoot with Ricky Ricardo. Who ever HE is." Later, Ricky tells Lucy the women that showed up are playing the ladies "in love with me in the picture." Wouldn't they then KNOW why they were attending a photo shoot if they were the ACTORS?? Horrible writing.

4) Lucy's mother was AWFUL. Just an annoying character and presence over all. Always calling Ricky "Mickey" - got old and tired fast. Nobody is that stupid to forget a name. She was only added on as a reason to get Little Ricky out of the picture so the "adults could have their fun". But it was a tiresome character and none of her scenes worked for me. When she made fun of Ricky's movie career, I would have kicked the old bat out. She was extra baggage.

[–] [email protected] (5501) 7 years ago

You addressed some of my pet peeves about the Hollywood arc! First the positive, it WAS a clever way to get the characters out of the confines of the brownstone and have star struck Lucy meet celebrities and try to get into show biz. And the buildup was realistic, a visit from a talent scout, a screen test, waiting for word from MGM, getting ready, the trip out west, etc.

The negative, 1. The studio shelved the picture and put an article in Variety BEFORE telling Ricky? Not very professional. And why would the studio head himself, Dore Schary, be the one to tell Ricky? Hardly his job. Like the CEO of Wal Mart visiting a local store to say that it was closing because of lack of business. The scene with Lucy hiring Dore Schary to play an important producer from back east was funny.
But it was so illogical. Ricky didn't believe the Variety article because he was scheduled to do screen tests with actresses that very day. But he had been going to the studio every day for weeks, to do WHAT? He still didn't have a co-star?

2. The starlets. Yes, they WOULD know they were doing publicity pictures for a film. And why do the photo shoot in the hotel room except to make Lucy jealous? She KNEW he was making Don Juan and he'd have female co-stars. He wasn't making a war movie!

3.Lucy's mom calling Ricky 'Mickey'. Well she wasn't too bright but it seemed more passive aggressive on her part. She didn't like Ricky and what better way to insult someone than by refusing to get their name right? As Ricky once remarked, " HE'S little Ricky, but I'm big Mickey." And yes, they needed a babysitter. They could hardly take Mrs. Trumbull along on the trip.

I dislike the way the "picture" was finished and we never learn the title or what type of film it was. After all the big buildup, the story arc fizzled out. Ricky made a movie. "Let's go home and never speak of it again." LOL They were on " Face to Face" , but Ricky never says the name of the film!

[–] [email protected] (1732) 7 years ago

Can't say I share the opinions of you guys, but then, perhaps the OP is too young to understand MGM 1950's.

It was very realistic to have MGM drop "Don Juan." By 1955, MGM's Dore Schary was wrapping things up in
the musical department. Gene Kelly, even Astaire, were scrambling at this point. It's easy to buy MGM casting
thirty-something Ricky Ricardo in a musical remake of "Don Juan." It's also easily believable that it would be
dropped. Ricky WASN'T 24, and the musicals were out. It's very believable that he was stuck in some minor,
frothy, Technicolor bon-bon, produced by Joe Pasternak, and starring, say, Ann Blythe. If he was a last-minute
fill-in, he could've completed his wardrobe, pre-recordings and shooting in a month (they worked six days then).

I Love Lucy made no bones about the fact that Ricky had a ONE-contract film, and that he was contracted to
the Tropicana. In Face-to-Face, he said "the picture" (it makes no difference to us viewers what the name of
it was) would be released in February. Ricky got the tour to Europe, and was able to take Lucy along, and Fred
as band manager by singing for free on the boat. This was obviously to help promo the film. Also, on the boat,
Lucy and Ricky overhear his new hit for the film, "Forever Darling" (this was name of Lucy and Desi's new film,
and more than likely, the name of Ricky's film).

"Horrible writing?" Hardly. The story arc for the Hollywood/Europe shows were very well thought out. We know
that Ricky failed to become a big Hollywood star, but why dwell on that in a happy, joyous sitcom, for heaven's
sake? We know Little Ricky POOPED, as Lucy was shown washing his laundry. Maybe YOU needed to see the poop
in the diapers; I didn't. Uh, I GOT it. You should do likewise.

[–] jasonmovieguy (182) 7 years ago

You didn't understand all of my post. I made it clear that Don Juan was shelved in one episode; but then he's put in another movie. The point is, we never hear about it afterwards. 2 Seasons of Hollywood episodes should equate to more then just a few filler lines for future episodes. I've been watching this series for a while, so I'm not trashing it; it's great and full of physical comedy and fun characters. I'm making a point.

Also since you know the MGM system so well, explain why those starlets didn't know why they were taking photos. THEY WOULD have known if they were going to star in the film, as Ricky makes clear to Lucy minutes later.

The Hollywood episodes were funny, but needed more polish in the writing department.

[–] [email protected] (5501) 7 years ago

Once again, interesting insights, can't say I agree with all of them, but I enjoy the discussion!

I can understand dropping 'Don Juan', never liked the way they TOLD Ricky the news. I confess, I'm not up on the details of MGM musicals. My love of movies reflected my mom's. We watched her old faves on TV like Bogie, Bette Davis, Hepburn, etc,. NO musicals. The only time she went to see a musical was The Wizard of Oz with a friend. And she was mad that she wasted a quarter! I loved Oz and the Disney musicals, but I've never seen a Gene Kelly film or Fred Astaire.

Hadn't even considered that they were starring Ricky in a big budget, lavish musical. Maybe someone like Kelly or Astaire. But Ricky was an unknown outside of New York. I didn't even think in terms of "big musical" because Lucy told her mother that the studio was building Ricky up as the next Valentino. He was a SILENT screen star (lol). I assumed 'Don Juan' was a light romantic comedy with a few numbers for Ricky.

Re: OP comments about the Mertz's film role. I think it would've been funny to have an episode "The Ricardos and Mertzes Attend the Premieres". Both films had their premieres on the same day and the two couples argue over which one to see. The show had no desire to continue the Hollywood arc. It was over. Just something I like to think about, maybe for a fan fic!
As far as the Mertz movie role, maybe it got cut from the film. I've read about actors who said that their part in a film was cut. "I was IN that movie. But they told me my part was cut during editing."
I didn't need to learn the film title, but I WANTED to! Sure, they did housework, showered, ate, etc. We didn't see ALL they did. I didn't need to know the songs Ricky sang at the Tropicana every night. But the Hollywood arc was a season and a half. The fans invested a lot of time in it. I think the writers owed the audience a title. Still love the Hollywood episodes though!

[–] [email protected] (1732) 7 years ago

You have to know show business well enough to know the writers handled it the way Hollywood often does/did:
COLDLY. There are countless times in history where the actor was the last to know. Many times actors drive
into the lot, only to be told by the guard, "Sorry, that's been cancelled" (TV show/movie). This happened
to Judy Garland, and many, many stars. Agnes Moorehead learned of the cancellation of "Bewitched" by MAIL -
no call from Bill Asher, nothing from Liz (who orchestrated cancelling at the very last minute). And these are
people Moorehead worked with for eight years!!! Ricky was a total newcomer. He was not sophisticated to
the ruthless dealings in Hollywood. If anything, this aspect to the show gave it a strong dose of reality, only
grounding the lighthearted comedy. It is completely believable that "Don Juan's" cancellation would hit the news
before Ricky was officially told later that day.

That's Hollywood.

It makes NO DIFFERENCE WHAT THE NAME OF THE MOVIE WAS THAT RICKY WAS IN. It's totally beside the
point. And why do you keep saying TWO SEASONS for the HOLLYWOOD arc??? Yes, it fell between seasons,
but it's mentioned in several final Hollywood eps that they were out there THREE MONTHS.

The Hollywood storyline was dealt with realistically without becoming depressing. It's a SITCOM, that focused
on the antics of Lucy first.

I stand by my opinions because genuine Hollywood facts back them up.

[–] [email protected] (5501) 7 years ago

Okay, I see your point, totally believable, but I was only stating MY opinion that it was so mean of the studio! Now that you mention it, I have heard of cast parties that took place at the end of a season, the actors think they are coming back. But they find out in the summer that their show has been cancelled.

But since Ricky's movie WAS cancelled so abruptly and he was a total newcomer to Hollywood and had no clout, how did he manage to merit a visit from the HEAD of the studio? If they shelved Ricky's movie without telling him, I think a message from a boy in the mail room would have been more in keeping with the studios treatment of its actors. (lol)

I never said the show did TWO seasons in Hollywood. But it WAS a long story arc. Ricky's Movie Offer aired Nov.8, 1954. They mixed in a few non Hollywood episodes like when Ricky's mother visited and the Ethel birthday episode. But then it was all Hollywood. The season ended with Ricky STILL not making a movie. In the opening of season 5, he had finished his film. Guess he made it over the summer! lol It was an abrupt end to something that was talked about for almost a whole season. The final episode that referred to Hollywood was the Face to Face interview which aired on Nov.14, 1955.

Maybe YOU didn't need to know the name of the picture, but I SURE DID! ha ha If they had no intentions of giving the film a title, then why bother with the interview and all the talk of the premiere?No actor goes on a show to plug his latest project and doesn't mention the title at least ONCE.

If I was alive back then and a fan, I would've felt cheated that the story arc wasn't given a proper closure.

But heck, maybe most people agree with you and don't care about a title. This is just strictly my feelings about it. And I am sure "Hollywood facts" back up what you said about the manner in which Ricky was informed. It's a cold and ruthless business, glad I don't work in it.

[–] [email protected] (1732) 7 years ago

I will concede that stating "It makes no difference" what the name of Ricky's final movie was is totally
subjective. I guess I can see that it would've been nice if the writers at least gave him a TITLE of
a new film. But, to me, I don't care, as I was ready to see the Hollywood chapter come to a close.

One flaw (although to me, a minor one) is the inconsistency of time. It is mentioned that the trip in
Hollywood is "three months" (originally planned for "one month" - which I found too short). But
when they plan Europe, Ricky says they "just came back from Hollywood" a month before! Huh?
So 1954 became 1956?? Again, I personally don't care, as I'm much more interested in the quality
of individual episodes, and I think they nailed it fairly well with Ricky's time in L.A.

In season six they "jump" a year, bringing Little Ricky from three to four (turning five mid-season).
I know this bugs fans, too, but not me. I just assume it's like a movie, where they jump ahead.

To its credit, many later eps (and even eps of "The Lucy/Desi Comedy Hour") address Ricky's
career frustrations (he even desperately needs the $3,500 for the new furniture by dong a guest
spot sponsored by Ralph Ramsey!). And in the very last outing, Ricky desperately needs that
TV job with Ernie Kovacs. Ricky owned The Tropicana, but, in the end, he WAS a "failed" movie
star. There's some honesty here. And he was nearing 40, heavy, and had that thick accent. And
I'll bet he couldn't act his way out of a paper bag!

Finally, Fred and Ethel's guest shot in the Hollywood movie came up. I never think about that, and
I'll bet their "moment of glory" wound up downsized or on the cutting room floor. But again, it's
all subjective. I know I never need their "Hollywood Premiere." I just want the series to get back
to the basics. And I welcome the Europe shows. In my opinion, the series never "jumped the
shark."