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Finding Lucy: Lucille Ball was vastly underrated as a dramatic actress


Just finished watching "Five Came Back" on TCM today. Sent me to the PBS American Masters doc "Finding Lucy" (posted in parts on YouTube and available on VHS). What an awesomely talented person. I guess if the studio types hadn't missed her dramatic talent we would never have had Lucy. On the other hand, I feel so sad that she didn't have the happy ending she deserved for giving us so much of herself.

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She was VASTLY OVERRATED in EVERY way. No talent whatsoever and certainly not funny. The irony is there were FAR better comediennes, but she was such an in your face loudmouth she is remembered while those with far better humor and acting have been forgotten.

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"ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED??!!"

Maximus Decimus Meridius

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Timing, opportunity and a husband that was smarter than he appeared, who invented the multi-camera sit com format and production method.

Overrated? History disagrees with you.

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"Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana."

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History is full of overrated duck heads.

_______________________________________
"ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED??!!"

Maximus Decimus Meridius

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edwstraker:

You should check out Ball in an excellent 1946 film noir called THE DARK CORNER, in which she plays the secretary for a private eye (Mark Stevens) who's just gotten out of a recent jail stretch. After he finds himself in a bit of trouble, she winds up helping hi to solve the case. It was really interesting to see her in a straight dramatic role for a change. The film shows every now and then on the MOVIES network digital channel---it's definitely worth watching if you like old-school mysteries.

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