For the love of Lucy and Desi
Those who love Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz will have ample opportunity to express their devotion this week as Paramount releases “I Love Lucy: The Complete Sixth Season” ($30) and Warner Home Video showcases the three movies the comedic couple made with its “The Lucy & Desi Collection” ($30).
Sitcoms have come and gone over the decades, but none have endured quite like “I Love Lucy,” which premiered on CBS in 1951. The groundbreaking series revolved around a ditzy redhead, Lucy (Ball), her Cuban-born bandleader husband, Ricky Ricardo (Arnaz), and their landlords and best friends, Ethel (Vivian Vance) and Fred (William Frawley) Mertz.
The set features 27 episodes from the final season, episodes of Ball’s radio show “My Favorite Husband,” original series openings, lost scenes, flubs, the 1956 Christmas show and commentary by Keith Thibodeaux (who played Little Ricky), Barbara Eden, Doris Singleton (who played Caroline Appleby on the series), and writers Madelyn Pugh and Bob Schiller.
On the feature film front, Ball was an established actress at RKO when she met newcomer Arnaz on the set of the 1940 musical “Too Many Girls.” Based on the hit Broadway show by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, “Too Many Girls” finds Ball as the high-spirited daughter of a rich man who decides to attend his alma mater -- a small college in New Mexico. To keep her in line, her father hires four college football players (Arnaz, Richard Carlson, Eddie Bracken and Hal LeRoy) to be her bodyguards. Though Ball and Arnaz don’t have many scenes together, his reaction on meeting her is priceless. The score’s highlight is “I Didn’t Know What Time It Was.” Look for Van Johnson in the chorus. The DVD features a musical short and a cartoon.
While “I Love Lucy” was riding high, the couple starred in the rollicking 1954 romantic comedy “The Long, Long Trailer,” directed by one of MGM’s top filmmakers, Vincente Minnelli. Ball and Arnaz play a newly married couple whose dream honeymoon turns into a nightmare. The DVD features a “Pete Smith Specialty” short and “Droopy” cartoon.
Two years later, Ball and Arnaz teamed for “Forever Darling,” a lumpy romantic comedy. Arnaz plays a chemist working on an insecticide more toxic than DDT. Ball is his high-society wife who doesn’t want to accompany him on a two-year worldwide trip to test the insecticide. James Mason plays her guardian angel. Extras include an excerpt from the TV series “MGM Parade” on the movie and the trailer.
Also new this week
“The Family Stone” (Fox, $30): The exceptional cast for this engaging holiday ’05 release includes Diane Keaton, Sarah Jessica Parker, Craig T. Nelson, Dermot Mulroney, Claire Danes, Luke Wilson and Rachel McAdams. The DVD includes watchable behind-the-scenes featurettes, a recipe for one of the meals served in the film and two snoozy segments that aired on Fox News Channel. Parker and Mulroney’s commentary track is so giggly they sound as if they had a bit too much eggnog. The only other track features pleasant commentary with writer-director Thomas Bezucha, producer Michael London and members of the creative team.
“Hoodwinked” (Weinstein Co., $30): Clever 3-D animated comedy that’s best described as a “Rashomon” version of “Little Red Riding Hood.” Glenn Close, Anne Hathaway and Patrick Warburton are among the voice actors. The nifty DVD includes five deleted and extended scenes, a better-than-average production featurette and droll commentary from filmmakers Todd and Cory Edwards.
“Modern Romance” (Sony, $15): Albert Brooks plays a -- what else? -- neurotic movie editor who can’t stop breaking up with his beautiful, patient girlfriend (Kathryn Harrold) in this sophisticated 1981 comedy, Brooks co-wrote and directed. George Kennedy as himself is a scene-stealer. Unfortunately, the only extra is the theatrical trailer.
“Kate & Allie -- Season One” (Universal, $30): Susan St. James and Jane Curtin had great chemistry in the popular CBS sitcom that premiered as a midseason replacement in early 1984. The two play divorced friends who move in together with their children. Shag hairstyles and some dreadful shoulder-padded dresses date the series, but the comedy still rings true. Look for a very young Kelsey Grammer in the pilot episode. The DVD also includes retrospective interviews with St. James and executive producer Bill Persky and a not-bad gag reel.
“Dinosaurs -- The Complete First and Second Season” (Disney, $40): Ambitious but ultimately disappointing comedy series that aired on ABC in the early 1990s -- sort of a twist on “The Honeymooners” and “All in the Family” set in the dinosaur world. The Jim Henson Co. created the terrific animatronic dinos. The set includes retrospective documentaries.
And: “Last Holiday” (Paramount, $30); “Flight 93” (MTI Video, $20); “The Warrior” (Miramax, $30); “Delicatessen” ($30)
What’s coming
May 9: “Munich,” “The New World,” “Nanny McPhee,” “Rumor Has It
May 16: “The Producers,” “When a Stranger Calls,” “Duma,” “Doogal,” “The White Countess,” “The Ringer,” “Something New,” “Winter Passing.” “Game 6” and “The Great Raid”
May 23: “Cheaper by the Dozen 2,” “Transamerica,” “BloodRayne” and “London”
