Lucy is a 2003 American biographical comedy-drama television film directed by Glenn Jordan and written by Katie Ford and T. S. Cook. It is based on the life and career of actress and comedian Lucille Ball, and her turbulent relationship with her husband and co-star Desi Arnaz. It stars Rachel York as Ball and Danny Pino as Arnaz, with Ann Dowd, LaChanze, and Madeline Zima in supporting roles.
The film premiered on May 4, 2003, on CBS.
Contents
Plot
In 1960, moments before filming the final episode of The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz send scathing messages to each other through a pageboy. Co-stars Vivian Vance and William Frawley comment on the tense situation, but everyone puts on their best front as Desi introduces them for the final time and Lucy emerges to a warm welcome from the studio audience.
In 1925, a young Lucille lives with her family in Celoron, New York. Her desire to be a performer prompts her to enroll in acting school, where encounters with a condescending Bette Davis and an unreceptive acting coach result in her quitting. Shortly after, Lucy's grandfather is sued by the family of a neighborhood boy who was accidentally shot and paralyzed by someone target shooting under his supervision. Left penniless by the lawsuit, Lucy and her family move into an apartment in Jamestown. She finds work as a model and a cigarette girl in New York City before landing a job as a Goldwyn Girl and eventually moving to Hollywood to pursue a film career.
After earning several minor roles as a contract player for RKO Radio Pictures, she befriends Carole Lombard, convinces the rest of her family to move to California, hires an African-American maid named Harriet and develops a romantic relationship with fellow contract player Desi Arnaz before eloping with him in November 1940. Lucy later signs with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer and stars alongside comedian Red Skelton in Du Barry Was a Lady. Meanwhile, rumors of Desi being unfaithful put a strain on their marriage, which is further strained following a devastating miscarriage. After being released from MGM, Lucy meets silent movie legend Buster Keaton, who is convinced of her talent as a clown and takes her under his wing. Her comedic skills further gestate on the radio program My Favorite Husband, which leaves her more convinced of her comedic abilities.
Gathering the radio team together, the idea for I Love Lucy is formed and pitched to CBS. When studio executives prove to be skeptical of the public's readiness, Lucy sets out to prove them wrong by performing several comedy routines. The network gives in but remains convinced that the show will flop. It proves to be a huge success, remaining a fan favorite for six years and forever changing the shape of television. The couple build their studio, Desilu Productions, from the ground up, and are hailed as pioneers in television. However, as their empire grows, Lucy and Desi's marriage quickly deteriorates due to his alcoholism and womanizing, and her commitment to her craft. The two decide it would be best if they end their marriage.
In the present day, moments after the filming ends, Lucy and Desi hold hands as they leave the studio, content with remaining friends and proud of what they have accomplished.
Production
The film was shot in and around Auckland, New Zealand, and featured many New Zealand actors in supporting roles.
Cast
Rachel York as Lucille Ball
Madeline Zima as Teen Lucy
Danny Pino as Desi Arnaz
Ann Dowd as DeDe Hunt-Ball
LaChanze as Harriett
Rebecca Hobbs as Vivian Vance
Merv Smith as Fred Hunt
Russell Newman as William Frawley
Zoe Carides as Lolita De Acha
Chris Brougham as Fred Ball
Ray Woolf as Edward Sedgwick
Peter Mochrie as Don Sharpe
Andrew Mitchell as Bob Carroll Jr.
Lachlan MacDonald as Jess Oppenheimer
Theresa Healey as Madelyn Pugh
Mark Clare as Red Skelton
Vanessa Gray as Carole Lombard
Ian Mune as Buster Keaton
Bart John as Hubbell Robinson
Charles Pierard as Alexander Hall (uncredited)
Peter Rowley as Marc Daniels (uncredited)
Priscilla Bonnet as Bette Davis
Laurie Dee as Congressman Jackson
Historical inaccuracies
Desi Arnaz tells the audience that the night's episode would be the final episode of The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour, but the show was not given this title until it entered syndication; during its original run, it was known as The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show. In addition, due to tensions on the set, the final season was taped without a studio audience.
Harriett is a composite character based on several maids Lucille had over the years, and also takes the place of her cousin, Cleo Morgan.
In the first flashback scene, the establishing shot of Celoron Park, as well as the on-screen subtitle are both misspelled as "Celeron Park" and "Celeron, New York,1925" respectively.
Lucille suffers only one miscarriage instead of three.
Jess Oppenheimer is portrayed as being hired specifically to produce I Love Lucy, ignoring his involvement with My Favorite Husband beginning in 1948.
Grape is shown as being a Jell-O flavor, when at the time only six flavors - strawberry, raspberry, cherry, orange, lemon, and lime - existed in 1949.
The I Love Lucy set omits the Ricardo's bedroom and has the first scene from "Lucy Thinks Ricky Is Trying to Murder Her" be the kitchen scene with Ethel.
The second season Tropicana set is shown to be in use during production of the first season.
The Ricardos' wall is painted light blue instead of pale pink.
The "Pioneer Women" "13 cakes" conversation takes place in the living room set instead of the kitchen.
The Ricardos' second apartment is not used; the film shows the first one as lasting the entire series.
Cut Scenes
Following its release on Amazon Prime, nearly 30 minutes worth of scenes from the film have been cut or reduced. Such as Lucy's time at acting school with Bette Davis, her scenes with Carole Lombard, and her being accused of being a communist were removed from syndication.