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“I Love Lucy” Friday: When Lucy Ricardo feuded with the movie star next door: Tallulah Bankhead!
I know Tallulah Bankhead was a big movie and Broadway star but if not for her hilarious guest appearance on the funniest of the 13 one-hour I Love Lucy one hour specials, I probably would not be aware of her!
Die-hard I Love Lucy fans like me pretty much know every half-hour episode from the show’s 1951-57 run. Less well-known are these 13 one-hour episodes that followed from 1957-60.
Bankhead plays her movie star self and she and Lucy end up living next door to each other for the summer. Lucy invites her to dinner early on and in order to impress, has the Mertz’s pretend to be servants. They then have a series of misunderstandings that results in them being at war with each other.
Here are links to some of the funniest scenes: SCENE ONE, SCENE TWO, SCENE THREE.
Enjoy!
Comments
(All comments are reviewed before being published, and I review submissions several times per day.)
Max F Grump says:
Thanks Greg….. What a treat! I watched the entire episode and roared. There is only one Tallulah and one Lucille Ball…. but we have to give Vivian Vance props too, she was also hilarious in her part in the episode.
Yes, isn’t it interesting for all her marvelous stage work, Tallulah is better known these days for her work with Lucy and the film Lifeboat. Apparently there were lots of “behind the scenes” turmoil with Bankhead. Legend has it that although she was not sober for the rehearsals and drove Lucy nuts, she came though with flying colors for the actual filming. Did you know that the script was originally planned for Bette Davis, who claimed to be ill and could not participate!
Anyone out there who enjoys colorful show business legends should do research on Miss Bankhead. Her style, personality and life perspectives were truly fascinating and very, very unique.
Guers says:
your post is famous, i like it !!!