Customer Reviews

I Love Lucy: The Movie and Other Great Rarities

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I received the "I Love Lucy" complete boxed set for a birthday present, and this "I Love Lucy" movie was included, along with the "lost" pilot, several promos and commentaries, and a colorized version of "Lucy Goes to Scotland". What this is, (and I'm sitting here watching it right now)is three episodes of "I Love Lucy",-- "The Benefit" "Breaking the Lease", and "The Ballet"-- filmed totally separate ( and that you've already seen 1,000 times), "bridged" together with "tag" scenes, filmed at a later date, with the actors doing exposition, such as "remember the time when..." and so forth. For instance: one of the "tag" scenes has "Ethel" sitting at a table in her living room with "Fred", totaling up how much money their Woman's Club made after putting on one of their shows. Ethel wants to give Ricky an "appreciation tea" to thank him for helping them, and she discovers that this severely depletes the profits- which leads her to remember another time she and Lucy needed money.
The highlight of this "movie", to me, is that we actually get to SEE what an "I Love Lucy" audience looks like, as the movie opens with the ticket-holders to the show standing on-line outside, waiting to enter the "Desilu Playhouse." An (obvious) actor couple are ushered in, marveling at the sights. The announcer intros Desi Arnaz, who is as gracious and charming as ever. Desi, in smoking jacket, explains the technical stuff to the audience,cracks a few jokes to put them at their ease, then introduces the cast, ending with his favorite Red-head, (or "Rett- Hett", ala Desi) Lucy. You see the cast take their places, and wait to hear "action!", which, to my recollection, is the only filmed occasion where the actors broke character and acknowledged the audience.
I should add that this "movie" was made before Lucy had "Little Ricky", so all of it takes place during the first season. It's also interesting to see the sets from the audience's point of view. This film WAS intended for nationwide release, but, as the Arnazes were about to sign the contracts for the film "The Long,Long Trailer" (not released until 1954, AFTER Lucy had the baby), Desi Arnaz decided that they would only be competing with themselves at the box office, so this movie was shelved.
If you're a "Lucy" fan, it's a must see if only because it's lost footage of Lucy doing "Lucy". I don't know if I'd have purchased this independently, had it not been included with my boxed set, but it IS an unearthed treasure in the archeological dig for fossils of great pop culture....

I was among the few hundred "Lucy fans" to attend a "Loving Lucy" Convention in Burbank, CA in the late 1990's, when Lucy film editor (among other titles) Dann Cahn surprised everyone by telling (in person) the whole story of how it was made, put on the shelf, mislabled by Paramount or another entity. After our "fan club" had conventions for a year or two, he got thinking about it and was granted access to the vast Paramount vaults.

It was a labor of love...he painstakingly went through many cans of film until he found "The Movie".

Other than the initial showing in the early 50's to Lucy, Desi and studio heads, the film was not shown until it's public unveiling at the "Loving Lucy Convention" on the giant movie screen at the Televsion Acadamy for Arts & Sciences.

It is such thrill to see it is in wide distribution. Contrary to an earlier post...it IS on the complete "I Love Lucy" boxed set. (The boxed set that is heart shaped).

There is such a thing as "institutional memory" and "loyalty", because Dann Cahn remembered the film and found it for us and future generations to enjoy.

To clarify...without re-hashing other reviews... yes, it is 3 episodes we have all seen "cut-together", but the film begins and ends with the audience waiting in line to see a filming of "I Love Lucy"...then you have the 3 episodes...with new material bridging the episodes...then at the end...the TV studio audience leaves.

A nice hidden gem for Lucy fans to enjoy almost 60 years later.

---Ron Middlekauff
Sacramento, CA

Like the other reviewer, I also missed out on getting the "I Love Lucy Movie" because I didn't want to buy the Lucy megaset AFTER purchasing the seasons individually. I was very annoyed that the bonus materials included in the megaset were not offered as a separate disc. Now it appears they are being released and I am really happy.

Just for the record...
The Lucy movie was not made as a sort of pilot for the show. It's actually three episodes (I think it was three) from the first season that were edited together and bridged with extra linking scenes shot only for the film. Remember, when Lucy premiered it was 1951 and many Americans did not have TVs yet and therefore couldn't watch the country's favorite redhead. It wouldn't surprise me if many people got TVs just to see Lucy! After it's initial release the film kind of disappeared and was considered "lost". It's amazing to me with all the fame and popularity of "I Love Lucy" (since it premiered!) that the film was forgotten.

I was very happy to see this is coming out on DVD. I was one of the "losers" who faithfully bought every season of I Love Lucy seperately only to have the Complete Series come out with this as an extra. I'm hoping the colorized episode is included as one of the rarities, but if not I'll still be happy to just have the movie. I even tried getting a bootleg of it with no luck. Glad I am able to have it.

In 1953, three episodes of the nation's top-rated TV show "I Love Lucy" were edited into a feature film, but never released. Now on DVD for the first time, it is still funny. Great comedy is timeless because it is about our universally human foibles; our dreams and desires run amuck. It's tragedy when it happens to us, but comedy when it happens to others. Lucille Ball knew that and was a brave, bold, self-effacing master of her ancient craft. Here, Ball is her crazy housewife persona with her ever-present show-biz ambitions. From Paramount. (1953, Not-rated, Full Frame, 81 minutes)

I highly recommend the I LOVE LUCY MOVIE DVD for those who bought I Love Lucy - The Complete First Season series, one season at a time, like I did because I couldn't wait. This is the bonus DVD that was included in the complete set I Love Lucy: The Complete Series, according to my friend who purchased that box set.

Since I bought each season, I was kind of miffed that they released the entire seasons as one set, which included this bonus DVD! Anyway, it's great that they allow us fans to buy the DVD separately, rather than buying the entire box set, which would be double-dipping.

This DVD contains a special colorized version of "Lucy Goes To Scotland" and it looks really nice in color. I wish they did more episodes like this, especially "Lucy's Italian Movie," which would be a hoot to see in color. Maybe they'll painstakingly colorize all the episodes as an option for a future Blu-Ray release? That would convince me to buy.

The other offering is the "I Love Lucy Movie," which is three episodes strung together to create one seamless show. Not only does it edit the shows together, but you get to see what it was like for an audience member as you go from outside the DesiLu Studio to inside the sound stage where "I Love Lucy" was being tapped. Desi Arnaz comes out and gives a pep talk and then the show begins!

The extras also make this DVD worth having for "Lucy" fans:

===== EXTRAS ======
* The Ed Wynn Show (02:57-minutes)-- Lucy and Desi make their first television appearance together on Wynn's show, famous for portraying "Uncle Albert" in Disney's Mary Poppins (45th Anniversary Special Edition).

* Emmy Awards (05:30-minutes)-- Footage of the Emmy Awards before they were televised showing Vivian Vance winning for "Best Supporting Actress" and Desi and Lucy accepting for "Best Comedy Show;" William Frawley can be seen in the background at the table. Love this retro stuff.

* On Set Commercial Featuring John Stephenson (02:15-minutes)-- John Stephenson, spokesman for Philip Morris, is seen in the Ricardo's living room set and introduces sponsor "Philip Morris." Second shot (:27-seconds) shows Stephenson at the never-before-seen window by the fireplace in the apartment set. I always wondered what was supposed to be there.

* Johnny Roventini (02:38-minutes)-- Pitchman for Philip Morris Cigarettes. "Call for Philip Morris!" vintage commercial is included. This clip describes Roventini, how he was discovered, and how many times his image and the famous line was used on I Love Lucy.

* Easter Egg-- If you click on the icon that says "I Love Lucy" you'll be treated to the animated opening sequence showing a Christmas theme and the sponsor, and that giving a carton of Philip Morris cigarettes would be the perfect gift.

So this DVD is definitely worth it if you didn't buy the complete box set of "I Love Lucy" and want the bonus disc. But aside from the colorized version of one episode and the movie that shows a little of the audience, plus the bonus extras there isn't anything completely new on this DVD.

As a huge Lucy fan, I was eager to see the I Love Lucy movie and the bonuses on the DVD. While the movie itself is what I expected, and I love getting to see an entire colorized episode of I Love Lucy, I was disappointed that there isn't more bonus material. The title says "I Love Lucy: The Movie and Other Great Rarities," and there are some rarities--just not that many of them! I would recommend purchasing for the serious fan, but would personally like to see more bonus material on such a DVD.

I just purchased this dvd and it is great. The I Love Lucy Movies is three I Love Lucy Episodes, that were edited together with transition scenes. It was really great. But besides that you get the "Lucy Goes To Scotland" episode that has been colorized, and the color is amazing! Also, you get to see Lucy at the emmy awards, where Vivian Vance won an emmy! And many more great Lucy rarities. Purchase this, you won't regret it!

WOW, I love this new "movie" and all that goes with it! I had read that it was available with the "whole enchilada" of the series, but wasn't going to pay for all but one part I already had. But was very excited to learn it would be released on its own. I thoroughly enjoyed (and still do) the colorized Scotland episode. This musical episode has always been a favorite, and to have it in color is excellent! And, the Emmy awards video is priceless!! Love this item!

i can remember watching this on cbs a few years ago it is three episodes put together but the way they did it was great me and my mom are very big fans of i love lucy the lucy show heres lucy and the lucy desi comedy hour wich is just the final episodes of i love lucy