MovieChat Forums > I Love Lucy (1951) Discussion > I Loved Lucy

I Loved Lucy

posted 2 years ago by Garyandfilm (513)
5 replies | jump to latest

Just finished this incredibly fascinating book by writer Lee Tannen, who was possibly Lucy's best friend in the last decade of her life. He was a much younger gay man, and he and his partner visited Lucy often, playing backgammon, traveling, going to premieres, etc.

Ball was very lonely much of the time, and a REAL homebody. She wasn't particularly close with either of her children, especially Desi Jr. Gary appreciated these two guys, as all he wanted to do was play golf and hang out with his cronies. One doesn't come away from this book respecting Gary much, but I never really did after witnessing him in action after being backstage after seeing the filming of one of Lucy's last "Life With Lucy" eps.

The book is highly entertaining, at times sad, but mostly insightful. I checked it out from the library. Highly recommended for Lucy fans. And Lucie Arnaz did the foreword.

Oh, and the list!! According to Tannen, the following ILL eps were Ball's all-time faves:

"Lucy Goes to the Hospital", "L.A. at Last", "Lucy Does a TV Commercial", "Lucy's Italian Movie", "Ethel's Hometown." Also, two head-scratchers made her favorite list: "Lucy's Last Birthday" and the Don Loper show.

The last two certainly aren't faves of mine, with "Birthday", in particular, one of my truly least faves.

[–] steven1660 (140) 2 years ago

I heard about that book, sounds like a fascinating read!

[–] [email protected] (5486) 2 years ago

I have that book. I'll have to pull it out and read some more of it. I've read parts of the book.

In some ways it comes across as sad. Maybe Lucille Ball wasn't sad, but I felt sad for her! I know she was a backgammon fiend and loved to play a lot. I've often thought that with her wealth the possibilities were limitless. But she seemed content to stay home, cook and play board games.

Of course I haven't read the whole book! But as Gary wrote, she travelled with her friend Lee and his partner. I hope she had fun.

[–] Garyandfilm (513) 2 years ago

"Money can't buy happiness." Clichéd, but so true.

Pj, I thought you'd feel vindicated knowing Lucy thought of "The Fashion Show" as one of her faves, as I know you adore that episode.

[–] [email protected] (5486) 2 years ago

AHA! I do feel vindicated. (chuckle). I always had a feeling that she liked it because it was Lucy's idea to have her friend Sheila MacRae in it. The MacRaes and the Arnazes were good friends.

Sheila MacRae wrote about the episode in her autobiography, another good read. Share Incorporated was her charity and movie star wives did help her with it.

One tantalizing bit is she wrote that one of the star's wives was VERY nervous during taping and had way too much to drink. Whenever I watch the episode I try to figure out which one is tipsy. I can never tell.

[–] steven1660 (140) 2 years ago

Very interesting! Maybe the drunk one was the woman who almost fell down the stairs. In the scene one of the stars wives is about to dash away when Don Loper stopped her to show off the inside of her jacket. It could have been her. But that's just a guess obviously haha.