MovieChat Forums > I Love Lucy (1951) Discussion > Lucy and Ethel Wear the Same Dress

Lucy and Ethel Wear the Same Dress

posted 4 years ago by [email protected] (1732)
3 replies | jump to latest

Am I the only one who thought it would've been okay for both girls to wear the same dress,
ugly as they were? I know this sort of thing was done more between twins, rather than
friends, but due to the nature of the song ("Friendship"), I think Ricky and Fred are right
in their suggestion that they do a sort of "sister act."

I'm not much on fashion, 1950's or otherwise, but I don't see what the big deal would've
been?

Also, I tend to forget that it's ETHEL who is the first to yank off a piece of Lucy's dress (and
Lucy's expression is rather priceless).

Thoughts?

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

I could never see the problem with a "sister act" either. I remember watching Lawrence Welk with my grandmother and the Lennon Sisters always wore the same dress.

There were many professional singing groups who wore the same outfit on stage. So it's not unheard of nor does it look bad in any way.

I never thought of it before, but it was odd that Lucy and Ethel went off separately to shop for their "formals". In other episodes, like the "Dress Shop" script, they shopped together. Since they were going to do an act together it would've made sense for them to buy gowns that complimented each other.

But the inspired lunacy here is the ultimate irony of the two women singing a song about "friendship" while ripping each other's gown to shreds!

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

I could see them shopping separately (there was already a sort of competitive nature to the situation, so it wasn't like
normal shopping).

What I find hard to swallow is that since both girls assumed the other was taking back her dress, I think it's a little
difficult to buy the women not seeing each other until they went on the air.

Also, wouldn't have Charlie Appleby gone berserk when he saw them wreck that time slot??? I guess, as in other
shows, Ricky would've had to have convinced Charlie that it was a comedy routine.

Speaking of dresses, I think it's strange that Lucy is still wearing her (then new) elegant two-piece dress (the one I
feel looks like a chocolate brown top and gold gown) with flats and an apron while doing Little Ricky's laundry! She
changed costumes between scenes a lot on the show, so I think it's weird they didn't have Lucy change into a "house
dress" after the club meeting.

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

I never bought that scenario either. I mean, how would they NOT have seen each other back stage? Did all the women get private dressing rooms?

Ricky probably spent a lot of time convincing people that Lucy was doing a "comedy routine", like when she destroyed their husband/wife show for Phipps department store.