MovieChat Forums > I Love Lucy (1951) Discussion > MARCO

MARCO

posted 8 years ago by snsurone
7 replies | jump to latest

He was the Venetian gondolier who dropped by the Ricardos' apartment on his way to visit his brother, who, they thought, lived in San Francisco.
Ricky got him a job as a busboy at his club, where he was quickly fired for his mishaps.
Well, we learn of what happened when Ricky related the events to Lucy.
Wouldn't it have been funnier if we had actually SEEN Marco's goof-ups?
Was there not enough money in the budget for such a scene?
Or was it a common belief that only Lucy could play slapstick scenes?
All in all, I think this was a pretty weak episode.

BTW, the proprietor of the pizza place where Marco eventually worked was played by Eduardo Cianelli, who achieved a modest fame playing gangsters in Warner Bros. crime melodramas.
Probably his greatest role was as Johnny Vanning in MARKED WOMAN, with Bette Davis and Humphrey Bogart.

[–] Mukta-3 8 years ago

Mario was his name.

I don't think seeing the scenes would have been funnier. I like Ricky telling us instead.

[–] snsurone 8 years ago

That's right; I forgot.
Marco was Ricky's assistant at the Tropicana.
He was the only person who could communicate with Ricky in Spanish.

[–] kpetnews 8 years ago

There was Alberto as well, in the episode where Lucy and Ethel sell the guys' clothes. He talks to Ricky in Spanish, and somehow Fred seems to understand everything. Marco Rizo was supposed to be in that scene, but couldn't make it for some reason.

Marco Rizo is actually a very talented pianist. There's a scene on the ship to Europe where Ricky tells Marco to play while he takes a break. Marco begins a very nice jazz piano number as Lucy leaves the scene.

[–] snsurone 8 years ago

I'm afraid you're mistaken.
The proprietor of the old clothes store spoke to Ricky entirely in English.
Marco was present, and he and Ricky conversed in Spanish as Fred looked on.
A minute later, Fred said, "...I just spoke Spanish!".
Funny scene.

[–] Ken1260 8 years ago

I agree that's it better the just telling us the story.

The same is true with Lucy's ride on the lawn mower, it's so much funnier with her describing it then to actually see it happen since they can really exaggerate on the events and don't have to make them something that would be easily filmed.

[–] snsurone 8 years ago

Sorry, but I disagree.
I think it would have been much funner to see Lucy running amok with that lawnmower than to hear about it secondhand.
After all, that's what slapstick comedy is all about.

[–] 8 years ago

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