MovieChat Forums > I Love Lucy (1951) Discussion > Lucy's, Ricky's, Fred's and Ethel's "ism...

Lucy's, Ricky's, Fred's and Ethel's "isms"

posted 4 years ago by [email protected] (1732)
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I've brought up this topic once before. But one of the endearing qualities of repeatedly watching
these four, is picking up on their physical behaviors.

Each character has several, of course, but here are some of my faves from the four:

Lucy sort of stomping her foot and throwing her arms down in frustration (like when she
discovers she's locked out of that empty apartment in the rain in "Lucy and Superman").

Ricky clasping his check with the cup of his hand when he's in shock (seeing Fred and
Ethel suddenly singing in the finale of "Ricky Loses His Voice"; seeing the eggs in Lucy's
blouse).

Ethel's pause 'n shrug. Ethel did this countless times, but it never fails to be effective
(remember when Ricky took away that huge table of French food in "Lucy Wants a Paris
Gown?").

Fred's CRYING. Think about it, in a number of eps, he looks likes he's bursting into tears,
following up with "Oh, noooooo..." (like when Ricky says to him, "This one's YOURS, Fred"
in "The Girls Want to Go to a Nightclub").

Any others?

[–] [email protected] (5497) 4 years ago

Just watched "Lucy writes a Novel" last night. Lucy has a great way of starting to laugh and then bursting into tears. At the end of the episode she finds out that her novel is going to be used to head up the chapter in a textbook, "Don't Let This Happen to You."

She pretends to be amused with a "ha ha" and then follows it with a "waaaah" and starts to cry. She was great at doing a cry that was sad and funny at the same time.

Fred- he often had his hands in his pockets and jingled his change. I think part of that physical maneuver was because Bill Frawley had tremors and he hid his hands a lot. In the Hollywood episode they make fun of each others' habits. I realized that Fred was the only one who actually DID what he was accused of on a regular basis.
Ethel: "I'll tell you as soon as you finish that chorus of Jingle Bells!"

My dad was a coin jingler too. I never noticed it until I saw this episode!

Most of them had certain "go to " phrases that they used a lot. Lucy's was "Well my goodness" or "Good heavens!"

Ethel's was the "Honestly!" delivered in an exasperated tone.

Ricky's phrase however, would have never passed the censor if it was spoken in English. Remember his anger at Cousin Ernie for ruining his maracas? "Aye, Dios mio!"
Ricky said that a number of times. But on TV in the fifties, NOBODY could say "Oh my God!" Somehow it got past the censors since it was in Spanish.

[–] [email protected] (1732) 4 years ago

"Honestly!" is one my favorite expressions from Ethel. In fact, my very favorite time she says it is when she and Fred
are decorating Lucy and Ricky's apartment for their anniversary. Ethel laments that she's never gotten a fur coat like
Lucy did. Fred says, "Now honeybunch, if nature had intended for you to have a fur coat, you'd have been BORN
with one." Love the audience's reaction, while Ethel waits a beat to glare at him, then let's go with the "Oh, hon-est-ly!"

As for Lucy, I think she says "Oh, for heaven's sake!" more than anything else...and in varying tones, moods and speeds.
Sometimes she's delighted, or frustrated, or attempting to be reassuring (in "Housewarming:" "Oh, for heaven's
sake, if you're chicken-pluckers, then WE'RE chicken-pluckers!!")

In the Bart Andrews' book I just finished, Desi Arnaz states that by the third year, he developed a nervous twitch in
his right eye. He says he just incorporated it into Ricky's character, but the twitch was due to all his stress at Desilu.

Yes, the nervous habits in the "Palm Springs" show were mostly contrived (Ethel liked food, but she never SUCKED her fingers
in any other episode. Although, again, maybe she did it OFF CAMERA). Ricky did tap his fingers from time to time, so
that "habit", like Fred's, works within the confines of the script. Lucy's stirring habit is the weakest one, and you'd
think the writers could've come up with something funnier, although I do like that episode.

[–] [email protected] (5497) 4 years ago

I think Lucy had another mannerism that she did a few times. If she was wearing a top with sleeves, sometimes she'd push the sleeves up and fold her arms. Or she'd put her hands on her hips in defiance or to make a strong statement.

[–] [email protected] (1732) 4 years ago

Yes, Lucy rolls up her sleeves and folds her arms after Ethel confirms they knew she was out on the ledge after
Mrs. De Vries calls.

As far as comments, how about Ethel's "oh, no you don't", also spoken in various degrees of anger, speed and mood?

Both Ricky and Ethel were effective with "WHAT??"

Fred: "Have you ever thought of dropping Lucy into a large basket and leaving her on someone's doorstep?" I think
he only said this twice, but it was effective.

Back to facial expressions: Lucy nervously sticking her thumbnail into her mouth when she was uncomfortable or
grappling with something.

There was also Lucy's "weeeellll?", which Elizabeth Montgomery incorporated into Bewitched, although with far
more frequency.

[–] [email protected] (5497) 4 years ago

And how can we forget Ricky's, "Mira que tiene cosa...!!" whenever something set him off. Or his "Aye! Dios mio" or "Por Dios" which always got past the censors.

There's also Ricky's "bug-eyed" expression when Lucy shocked him.