Product Details

• Actors: Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, Ruth Hussey, Don DeFore, Louis Nye
• Format: THX, Digital Sound, Widescreen, Dolby, DTS Surround Sound, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: MGM (Video & DVD)
• VHS Release Date: May 27, 1997
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (15 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6304466471
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #219,601 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars My Favorite Lucy Movie!, July 23, 1999

By 

Ashleigh ([e-mail]) (Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Facts of Life [VHS] (VHS Tape)

I've seen many many movies with Lucy in them and I have to say this is my alltime favorite! Maybe because Bob Hope is in it too.... This movie is about two married couples, the two girls are friends and the two guys are friends. They spend all their vacations together. But the married guy Bob Hope and the married girl Lucy can't stand each other. But then when they are about to go on vacation both Lucy's husband and Bob's wife cant go so they have to go alone. Thats how it all begins with them falling in love. It's a hilarious and romantic movie. A must see for all Bob Hope, Lucille Ball, or just old time movie fans.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A "Non Typical" Vehicle For Comedy Greats Hope And Ball, June 30, 2004

By 

Simon Davis (Melbourne, Australia) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Facts of Life [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Anyone coming to a viewing of "The Facts of Life", thinking that they will see a zany Lucy and a fast quipping Bob Hope are liable to come away a bit let down here as these two comedy legends take on relatively "straight" characters in a most interesting social comedy/drama about the pitfalls of infidelity and marital commitments. Seen through the thoughts of Lucille Ball's character of "happily married" Kitty Weaver, "The Facts of Life", marks a most pleasing change of pace for the two leads who handle the very "adult" subject matter (at least for 1960!), with great expertise. Lucille Ball in particular in a performance far removed from lovable Lucy Ricardo is superb and her strong dramatic moments here really illustrate a part of her acting expertise seldom seen before.

"The Facts of Life", focuses on life in a tightly knit upper middle class suburban community, and as Lucy's character of Kitty informs us everyone knows each other, socialises with each others and knows what is in store for them probably for the rest of their lives. Kitty is married to Jack Weaver (Don DeFore),a workaholic who really hasn't been spending the proper amount of time with his wife and children. Larry Gilbert (Bob Hope) is another "branch", of the extended social network in the community who is married to "perfect" wife Mary (Ruth Hussey). Even though the families socialise together and even vacation together every year Kitty always views Larry as a pain in the neck who delivers unfunny comedy sketches at the local club and really isn't someone she wants around alot of the time despite the families being friends. When the groups annual vacation time comes up they all plan to travel to Acapulco however through a series of circumstances Kitty and Larry find themselves not only "spouseless", on the holiday but thrown together as company for the entire vacation. Both circle each other carefully for the first few days trying not to be in each others way however on a planned fishing boat trip the two suddenly begin to realise the other is not the horror they had thought. A rapport begins in particular after they realise they went to the same school and know some of the same past students. Common ground develops into some genuine laughs between the two and then a true love blossoms between them. The time comes however for the two to face reality and return to the United States and their normal lives. Back at home the two try to avoid each other but both find the going tough as the find their marriages empty and the need for each other still strong. The two have an aborted attempt to stay in a motel over night together and then a diseasterous attempt at a weekend away which concludes in a equally horrendous air flight home,sours their thoughts of a life together. The two realise that their families do need them and that the "facts of life", for each are that what they had in Acapulco is something that isn't possible at the stage they are at in their lives. The conclusion sees the couple back with their respective spouses returning to the "normal", existence they had before they "discovered", each other.

Considered "racy", stuff for 1960's audiences "The Facts of Life", handles the issues of adultery and temptation in a surprisingly tasteful manner. The characters of Kitty and Larry never come across as unlikeable characters and it's a real credit to the playing of Lucille Ball and Bob Hope that this quite delicate subject matter is handled so well. Lucille Ball I feel really came of age as an actress here and her Kitty is a wonderful combination of someone wanting to be a free spirit but who is still troubled with a sound conscience about the reprecussions of what she feels tempted to do with Larry. Of course there are a number of very amusing scenes for Lucy to shine in, namely the hilarious drive in scene and the action on board the ship where she fights a giant marlin for hours which are sure to have you laughing at Lucy's supreme comedy talent. Being slightly older of course than when she had her golden comedy time as Lucy Ricardo also helps and she definately displays a new maturity with a serious character to work with. Lucille Ball and Bob Hope always combined well on screen and the pair did a number of highly successful comedy films together. However in alot of ways "The Facts of Life", is one of the more interesting as both are forced by the screenplay (written by writer/director Melvin Frank and Norman Panama) to actually stretch themselves as actors with real characters to work with that aren't all laughs and comedy high jinks.

One doesn't normally associate Lucy or Bob Hope with warm romantic stories with characters in a moral dilemma however this is what makes "The Facts of Life", recommended viewing and despite many saying Bob Hope in particular was miscast I personally feel it reveals much pleasing work by the comedian who has as always a magical chemistry with his leading lady. For more bittersweet moments than huge belly laughs try and view "The Facts of Life", soon it shows a pleasingly different Bob Hope and Lucille Ball that I believe you will find most appealing.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hilarious!, March 31, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Facts of Life [VHS] (VHS Tape)

This movie is VERY good. I didn't want it to end! Lucy was AWESOME in this movie. She handles the material very well considering just before this movie was filmed she went through a divorce (because of Desi's affairs). The ending is a little twisted. But this movie is WORTH EVERY PENNY!