MovieChat Forums > I Love Lucy (1951) Discussion > If You Had to Pick ONE European Favorite

If You Had to Pick ONE European Favorite

posted 6 years ago by [email protected] (1732)
3 replies | jump to latest

Although I enjoy both the Hollywood and European storylines, I do like the former slightly
more. But there's no denying that there are some great shows here. And if pushed to
pick a European fave, it IS a struggle, if we go with just one.

As a young person, I would've picked either Lucy's missing the ship (which, incidentally,
was the most expensive episode ever filmed), or the Switzerland offering. Neither are
super faves anymore, although I do still like them. If push came to shove, I'd have to
go with the predictable: "Lucy's Italian Movie." When I was young, I never particularly
loved this episode, but I now recognize that not only is it hilarious, it's hilarious from
start to finish.

Certainly the classic grape sequence "borrows" quite a bit from the Candy-making
sequence in the equally famous "Job Switching." But when Lucy gets into the fight with
the lady in the candy factory, it's much shorter, and happens just before the close of
act one. Furthermore, the producers chose (foolishly) to hire a non-professional actor
and go with a professional candy-maker. Sure, her scenes are effective as she rolls
the candy into perfect chocolate balls. But, let's face it, when the showdown comes
after Lucy slaps her face (in an effort to get the fly), the woman is nothing short of
DREADFUL. Asher keeps her out of a closeup for as much as possible, but she's still
so embarrassingly unconvincing.

In "Lucy's Italian Movie", they got a SPITFIRE to play opposite Lucy, and their catfight
is astonishing to watch. I also marvel at how the entire scene is played with Lucy barely
uttering a single word! Everything is done from her physical genius.

A truly remarkable offering that gets my number one vote for the European shows.

[–] [email protected] (5854) 6 years ago

"Lucy Meets the Queen" is my favorite European episode. It's not the funniest of the episodes, but I can understand Lucy wanting to meet the young,glamorous Queen.

The episode that I like almost as much is "The Fox Hunt." Even though half the episode takes place in their hotel suite, Lucy is her best scheming self trying to wangle an invitation from Sir Clive. Then later she is at her jealous best when the charming Angela Randall pays TOO much attention to Ricky.

Angela: Ricky is a prize.

Lucy: That prize belongs in MY box of Crackerjacks.

And Lucy on Danny Boy, the gentle horse, always makes me laugh.

Lucy asking the groom: Haven't you got a large lamb?

The grape stomping scene in "Lucy's Italian Movie" is a classic. But for some reason, I don't care that much for the episode. Oh it is funny. It's not bad at all. But for some reason the rest of the episode seems to be an excuse to set up that one scene. A classic scene of course, but I just don't love the rest of the episode.

In contrast, I find the "Job Switching" episode to be hilarious from start to finish.

And for me, the blank look on the face of the professional candy maker seemed perfect. She had the bored, almost robotic look of someone who had spent years working on an assembly line. She could practically do her job in her sleep. And she probably saw a lot of would-be candy makers come and go. She felt no need to interact with Lucy.

I thought her behavior was a perfect contrast to Lucy's antics. The comedy was pure Ball genius. She didn't need any competition.

I also thought it was interesting that the candy maker really WAS unimpressed by Lucy. She was not familiar with the show. She told Lucille Ball that she watched wrestling on Monday nights.

[–] [email protected] (1732) 6 years ago

Hmn, if you're angry enough to get a chocolate slap that your RETURN the chocolate slap, I'd think would at LEAST looked
peeved. The woman's blank face is awful to me, and it's ILL's worst guest "performance." Ever.

For me, one that comes close to "Lucy's Italian Movie" is "Return Home From Europe." A truly hilarious offering, and a
great episode to end the season and European storyline with.

[–] AndrewHNPX (42) 6 years ago

I'd say Paris at Last! was probably my favorite of the Europe episodes. That translation scene alone was classic ILL.