Lucy at the Movies: The Complete Films of Lucille Ball [Hardcover]

Cindy De La Hoz (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2007

The world knows her as the First Lady of Television, but Lucille Ball’s talent also shone brightly on the cinema screen in over eighty films spanning five decades, most from Hollywood’s glamorous golden age of the 1930s and ’40s. Lucy at the Movies is a long overdue showcase for this area of the star’s career, offering behind-the-scenes stories and essential information for every film in which she appeared. The pages are filled with rare photos of the beautiful young actress, many from her own first scrapbooks. Explored from her days as a showgirl through blonde, brunette, and “Tango Red” incarnations, from black-and-white through glorious Technicolor, this is a complete reference guide and a tribute to a star and an era. “Lucy at the Movies was an enormous undertaking. But it’s clear that it was also a labor of love. My mother would be very impressed and flattered . . . The value in this encyclopedia is the information on, not only the film career of Lucille Ball, but the way films were made. It’s an invaluable history of the motion picture industry and those who first created it.”--Lucie Arnaz

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Before Lucille Ball became the first lady of television in 1951, she had made 75 motion pictures in 18 years. She traded her moniker of RKO's Queen of the Bs for TV's Queen of Comedy. Between 1954 and 1985, she made just eight more films. This overview of Ball's film career highlights each movie with its cast and credits; a lengthy synopsis; and behind-the-scenes notes about the production and its critical reception. Visually stunning and beautifully designed, this book is printed on thick, glossy paper and boasts large, crisp (and seldom seen) photos from each film. Some of De La Hoz's backstories are fascinating (Frank Sinatra originally wanted her to play his mother in The Manchurian Candidate before Angela Lansbury was cast; Ball outsmarted Columbia chief Harry Cohen by agreeing to star in 1951's The Magic Carpet: she kept her pregnancy a secret, pocketed $85,000 for one week's work and fulfilled her contract). While Ball excelled in comedies (The Facts of Life; Fancy Pants; The Long, Long Trailer; Yours, Mine and Ours), this book may point fans toward Ball's excellent but atypical work in such dramas as The Dark Corner; Lured; and Five Came Back. Photos. (Oct.)
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Review

"...a beautifully produced coffee-table size volume." -- In the Groove, November 2007

"...visually stunning...a book that should find a hero's welcome among the countless biographies and character studies that have been done in the past. It's a strong look at a fresh angle and a beautiful way to remember the blue-eyed Jamestown, New York native." -- www.midnightpalace.com

"Lucy at the Movies is a downright fabulous look at Lucille Ball's movie career with lush studio photography and candid shot on every page along with stories and movie reviews." -- Rage Monthly, December 2007

"Lucy at the Movies is comprehensive and enlightening....The book is worth the price just for the biography, but the photos make it even more special. ...A must-have for any Ball fan." -- The Advocate, December 16, 2007

"There's much more to Lucille Ball than "I Love Lucy," and this volume will keep her fans enthralled." -- Chicago Tribune, December 1, 2007

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 320 pages
• Publisher: Running Press (October 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 076242706X
• ISBN-13: 978-0762427062
• Product Dimensions: 12.3 x 9.3 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.7 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #851,269 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #23 in Books > Biographies & Memoirs > People, A-Z > ( B ) > Ball, Lucille

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous photos and fascinating reading!, October 11, 2007

By 

Classic Gent (Rochester, NY United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lucy at the Movies: The Complete Films of Lucille Ball (Hardcover)

This is a large "coffee table" type volume that delivers much more than many in this category. It is absolutely brimming with high quality black and white and color photos many of which will be new to both film and Lucy fans. Most impressively, it covers all of Lucille Ball's films (including the shorts) and offers back-stories and little known facts. On pages 74-75, for example, the reader is shown where to spot the young Miss Ball as a chorus dancer in "Murder at the Vanities" (1934).
I congratulate the author and everyone responsible for producing this outstanding work. What a perfect gift for anyone interested in Lucy and classic films!

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lucy At The Movies is a visual tribute to Lucille Ball's movie career., November 5, 2007

By 

Joanne Nardone "Joanne Nardone nostalgic buff" - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lucy at the Movies: The Complete Films of Lucille Ball (Hardcover)

"Lucy at the Movies" by Cindy De La Hoz is a coffee table sized visual treat displaying the varied movie career of America's beloved red headed comedienne. It spans Lucy's 5 decade career in movies. The text is easy to read and gives the full cast and credits of all her movies. It includes the synopis,notes and comments, and even the reviews of each movie. There are many pictures from her movies dispersed throughout the book. Also, to the delight of her many fans, there are numerous behind the scenes and other personal pictures of Lucy and her castmates.
This book is worth every penny and if you're a Lucy fan it belongs in your collection. Buy it. You'll treasure it always.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lucille Ball, October 26, 2007

By 

M. Bell "Boycott 54th Grammys. JILL SCOTT GOT... (Atlanta, GA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Lucy at the Movies: The Complete Films of Lucille Ball (Hardcover)

Great large and loaded coffee table book. The photos are gorgeous! Lucille Ball had a real long career. I am in awe of the volume of work Ball had already experienced before "I Love Lucy". She was no doubt a workaholic. From Chorus girl to extra to supporting role to leading lady!
My all time favorite lady of Hollywood did it all. The author of this affordable book, Cindy De La Hoz deserves an award for putting this mother load of Ball's cinema work. Good job!