MovieChat Forums > I Love Lucy (1951) Discussion > Lucy Meets the Queen

Lucy Meets the Queen

posted 5 years ago by [email protected] (1732)
6 replies | jump to latest

This has never been a super favorite episode of mine. In fact, it's one I would tend to
ignore when perusing the European shows. I just have zero interest in British Royalty
(I don't even follow it now, and couldn't care less who is married to whom, and so on).

That said, PJ pointed out some of its merits, so I decided to watch again about a year
ago, and enjoyed it, although not loving it. Now, however, after some Hollywood stuff,
I'm back into the Europe eps, and watched it last night. I'd forgotten how cute of a show
it is, and enjoyed it even more. I'd forgotten how funny it is when Lucy is struggling to
get what she thinks is the Queen's autograph (as if she'd sign autographs!!!) only to
wind up with, "Best wishes to one of my British fans...Ricky Ricardo." Lol! Lucy's bit
with her trying to make the guard laugh is cute, and so is Fred's "Just slip her the grip"
line.

One thing I observed last night in the finale. Yes, Lucy has a Charlie horse, and is struggling
to keep the steps, and has to keep signaling to the guy to lower the hoop for her to jump
through. But even without a Charlie horse, Lucy could've NEVER jumped through the
original hoop's level!!! It was way too high, and only a trained professional could've done
that. Like "Lucy and the Dummy", Lucy's mishap is mistaken for a comedy show, and that's
what saves her.

This will never be a super fave, but I now consider it a mid-level episode that I'll always enjoy.

[–] [email protected] (5501) 5 years ago

This is one of my favorite European episodes. I've always been a "royal watcher". I have an entire shelf of books about Princess Diana, her sons, Prince Charles, Henry the eighth and his daughter, the first Queen Elizabeth, etc.

Aside from that, i just like the episode. It makes me laugh the way Lucy keeps missing the Queen. And yes, thinking that her majesty would sign autographs is funny! LOL

I like when Lucy overhears Ricky calling his European agent named Phil and she thinks he is calling the palace and talking to Prince Philip.

And Lucy and Ethel's "curtsy lessons" that the maid gives them...Lucy gets stuck and says, "it's been years since I used my curtsy muscles."

And charley horse or not, Lucy couldn't have jumped through that hoop. But Lucy could turn anything into a comedy routine.

Not the best episode, but I like it. In contrast, i never cared for the Paris gown episode until gb pointed out its merits. That's become a favorite of mine.

[–] [email protected] (1732) 5 years ago

Yes, I far prefer "Gown" to "Hollywood Fashion Show" (is that the title?). I just think the second is far funnier than
the first, which coasts on dresses and the famous wives "of." Also, I just feel PAIN looking at Lucy's sunburn!

[–] [email protected] (5501) 5 years ago

You're close. It was simply called "The Fashion Show." I do love seeing those dresses and famous wives! I guess it's an episode that would appeal more to women.

It's another one of those eps where Lucille Ball employs a friend, Sheila MacRae. Gordon and Sheila MacRae were good friends of the Arnazes.

The charity that Lucy tells Ethel about, Share Incorporated, was a real charity run by Sheila MacRae. It raised money for children's causes.

Sheila MacRae talks about it in her autobiography (she had a very interesting life). She also says that in the fashion show episode one of the celebrity wives was SO nervous that she got really drunk for the taping. I always wonder who it was. I never can tell.

I just watched the Paris gown episode recently and Lucille was so funny with her "hunger strike". Hiding food all over their hotel room...you'd think Ricky would've been more suspicious since he knows how devious Lucy can be!

[–] [email protected] (1732) 5 years ago

Well, Sheila MacRae was married to a "drunk" herself - Gordon MacRae. I found Sheila a rather cold presence in
this episode. She was certainly never a great star.

"Lucy Wants a Paris Gown:" I think it's so funny the way Lucy and Ethel open their boxes, pull out burlap (!) and
think they have on NEXT year's fashions. The gag works so well because that type of ridiculous absurdity in
extreme fashion still works today!! I love the snotty look on Lucy's face when she's walking to the café with a
FEEDBAG on her head, and thinking the stares are because she's so "fashionable!!!"

[–] [email protected] (5501) 5 years ago

..and then the girls find out that they are indeed wearing burlap and they wrap themselves in a tablecloth and try to slink away.

They only thing I can't figure out is later on the dress designer uses the same weird design and Ricky and Fred tell the girls that they have the originals. Lucy and Ethel exclaim, "We burned them!"

Where in the hotel did they find a place to burn clothes?? Don't hotels frown on their guests starting fires? LOL

Sheila MacRae was never a big movie star, but she did have a lot of success in nightclubs with her musical act. I also remember watching her as the replacement Alice Kramden when Jackie Gleason revived The Honeymooners. Audrey meadows was my favorite Alice, but Sheila MacRae did a credible job.

[–] TheUltimateHippo (2250) 5 years ago

I don’t know what it is but the Britain episodes (especially the Scotland one) are TERRIBLE, the rest of the Europe trip I enjoyed though.