MovieChat Forums > Here's Lucy (1968) Discussion > Lucie Arnaz is Terrible on This Show

Lucie Arnaz is Terrible on This Show

posted 14 years ago by HarlowMGM
22 replies | jump to latest

Watching the DVD's of HERE'S LUCY I am struck anew by how really bad Lucie Arnaz is on this show. She reads every line so dramatically and heavy with emphasis, she just ruins any humor that might be had by this slight comedy. Desi Jr isn't perfect but he is much more natural in his delivery. Lucie never for a moment seems to be having a real conversation, she's just reading her lines on cue. This show was only a hit because America still loved Lucy who still gave 100 percent even when she had mediocre material, it's too bad she was so determined to help her kids in their showbiz careers that she almost wrecked her own.

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] christopherbkk 14 years ago

HarlowMGM, I am right with you. You have explained Lucie Arnaz's acting abilities perfectly. That voice was like fingernails down a blackboard. Desi Jnr., on the other hand, I didn't really have a problem with.

Do you have the "Best of I Love Lucy" DVD? By far the best episode was the one where Lucy tears Harry's living room to pieces. Hilarious. Until Kim (Lucie) walks in near the end of the episode and her delivery must be the worst sitcom acting ever (second worst would have to be Joyce Randolph of the Honeymooners but as it was the early days of TV one tries not to be too harsh).

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] HarlowMGM 14 years ago

I do have that set - do you remember what episode it's in? I haven't watched them all - but Lucie's been bad in every one I've seen!

[–] VacuumMouse 13 years ago

hmmm It's like as if the director tells her, "Don't be shy. Be sure to project. Your mother's fans in Maine need to hear you."

Lucie really reaches her element in drama. Her performance on "Murder, She Wrote" is not to be missed!

"Murder, She Wrote" Wearing of the Green (TV episode 1988)

Angela Lansbury ... Jessica Fletcher
Lucie Arnaz ... Det. Bess Stacey
Barbara Bosson ... Diane Raymond
Michael Constantine ... Laszlo Dolby
Erin Gray ... Andrea Dean
Patty McCormack ... Det. Kathleen Chadwick
John McMartin ... Hudson Blackthorn
David Naughton ... Ken Parrish
Jean Peters ... Siobhan O'Dea
David Sheiner ... Leo Selkirk
Barry Dennen ... Sheldon Persky

It has a beautiful cast and great story with Lucie as a Brooklyn larceny detective who gets swept into a homicide when Angela Lansbury and John McMartin discover the body.

They usually have fumbling cops on the show - but Lucie really knows her stuff. It's her blonde partner who gets to play the ditzy one.

Mellow Salutations!

[–] HarlowMGM 13 years ago

hmmm It's like as if the director tells her, "Don't be shy. Be sure to project. Your mother's fans in Maine need to hear you."

Or maybe she came up with that theory herself. I would imagine she would be a better dramatic actress than a comedienne, there are a lot of actresses who just cannot do comedy, even excellent ones (Susan Hayward and Olivia De Havilland are just two I can think of off-hand, I agree with the critic who once wrote Susan's lightest comic touch "could stun a horse" and Olivia is one of those women who play comedy just too self-consciously cutesy.)

[–] clarkx 13 years ago

No, it was Lucy's method. All the books say so. She told everyone to talk LOUD, even during the first reading. Many people argued with her, but to no avail. On all her series, she owned the production company, so she had the last word.

[–] madetwolast 13 years ago

I wondered why Lucie yelled her lines most of the time.

[–] robert4770 13 years ago

Was there any truth in the story I heard that if Lucie's pilot was picked up for a series that Vivian was going to become a regular cast member?

[–] SelenaQP 8 years ago

No, it was Lucy's method. All the books say so. She told everyone to talk LOUD, even during the first reading. Many people argued with her, but to no avail. On all her series, she owned the production company, so she had the last word.

I think it's easy to concur that Lucy was just a very loud person, in general. In all of her shows she had done, she did talked very loudly.

Don't play games with a girl who can play better.

[–] InherentlyYours 8 years ago

I think it's easy to concur that Lucy was just a very loud person, in general. In all of her shows she had done, she did talked very loudly

She didn't speak overly loud on I Love Lucy. Why not just turn the stage=-microphones down if they all spoke loud, or did Lucy actually want TV audiences to hear the loudness. When Lucy watched the show at home she heard what we were hearing, so I don't know what her reasoning was. Come to think of it, The Lucy SHow was not as loud either.

[–] Kassie24 13 years ago

Her voice is like nails on a chalkboard, awful

[–] Kassie24 13 years ago

However her clothes and shoes were super cute

[–] singjohn 11 years ago

In the DVD extras, Lucie makes mention of her acting inexperience at this point. She was only 17 years old and had very few acting credits at this point.

[–] cliffcarson-502-470231 9 years ago

The WHOLE SHOW is AWFUL. Embarrassing to watch all that screaming. NO chemistry with Lucy and her real life kids

[–] monterey59 8 years ago

I agree.

Even larks and katydids are, supposed by some, to dream

[–] monterey59 8 years ago

Agreed.

Even larks and katydids are, supposed by some, to dream

[–] ryken_2001 9 years ago

I really enjoyed Lucie Arnaz in this series. I thought she was very good and especially liked the musical numbers where she was showcased. Just my opinion.

[–] toycoon-too 9 years ago

All I can truly enjoy is on this show the outrageous 70's TV technicolor. love to see Lucy in lurid color. Next are the weird costumes and wild wardrobe that the characters wear; they make me crazy. I thought this show was so hilarious as a kid! The jokes are so obscure and usually land with a thud but I still like it. I just can't get over it.

The most important thing is being sincere, even if you have to fake it. - Cesar Romero

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