MovieChat Forums > It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World (1963) Discussion > No Mention of the Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour ...

No Mention of the Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour Uranium Episode?

posted 10 years ago by !!!deleted!!! (49761343)
11 replies | jump to latest

I'm kind of surprised this hasn't been mentioned, but in case anyone doesn't know, the Lucy-Desi Comedy hour had an episode in which the Mertzes, Ricardos and Fred MacMurray go hunting for uranium and find what they think is $10,000 worth. At first they agree to find the uranium together and work as a group. But then at some point, they become paranoid and start thinking that the other "teams" are out to screw then. So what happens? Just like in IAMMMMW, each "team" goes on a madcap car race in the desert to get to the claim station and be the first to claim the uranium and get all the money for themselves. Just like in IAMMMMW, they sabotage each other and get into "jams."

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[–] hammer4 10 years ago

Yes, it is similar to and it came before IAMMMMW.

The basic plot device isn't original, so I'm pretty sure it's also been used elsewhere, in one manner or another before the film and since.

[–] !!!deleted!!! (49761343) 9 years ago

The basic plot device isn't original, so I'm pretty sure it's also been used elsewhere, in one manner or another before the film and since.

There is no other comedy film or TV show besides IAMMMW and the Lucy Desi Hour episode I mentioned that have the plot device of several people scrambling across the highways in their cars in pursuit of a treasure.

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[–] hammer4 9 years ago

I suppose you've seen every comedy film and TV show.

[–] !!!deleted!!! (49761343) 9 years ago

I suppose you've seen every comedy film and TV show.

No, but judging from your juvenile response, it's clear that you never saw the episode I'm talking about. So here's what we're gonna do. You go watch the Lucy-Desi Hour episode in question, then come back to this discussion better prepared to argue with me about whether IAMMMMW was inspired by it. But I'm not going to waste further time with you arguing about something that you clearly never saw and therefore have no basis to contradict me on.

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[–] Doghouse-6 9 years ago

I have no idea whether the premise had ever been used before; if so, I don't recall it. But I've always noted the similarity between Lucy Hunts Uranium and IAMMMMW, and saw them both for the first time within a year of each other in the early '60s.

I'd rank this Comedy Hour episode as the third best of the bunch (after Lucy Makes Room For Danny and The Star Next Door), and it's especially fun to see them out of the studio doing location work, which lends it a more expansive, "epic" feel than the others.

Poe! You are...avenged!

[–] !!!deleted!!! (49761343) 9 years ago

But I've always noted the similarity between Lucy Hunts Uranium and IAMMMMW, and saw them both for the first time within a year of each other in the early '60s.

I think the movie was definitely inspired by that episode. There are just so many similarities. Like I mentioned earlier, the story is more or less the same. At first the Ricardos, Mertzes and MacMurray are all willing to team up and help each other find the uranium. Then, over time, they start becoming suspicious of each other, then decide it's every man for himself and start sabotaging each other. Also, much of the action and comedy revolves around this high speed car chase on the highway, and switches back and forth between each "team."

I'd rank this Comedy Hour episode as the third best of the bunch (after Lucy Makes Room For Danny and The Star Next Door), and it's especially fun to see them out of the studio doing location work, which lends it a more expansive, "epic" feel than the others.

It's one of my top favorite episodes, too, out of all the Lucy shows (I Love Lucy, Lucy-Desi Hour, etc.).

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[–] steely3000 9 years ago

Not quite the same thing and not a comedy, but The Maltese Falcon is a similar plot. Different people are trying to find the falcon filled with jewels, and stop at nothing to get it.

Also the R.L.Stevenson book "Treasure Island" is similar to IAMMMMW. Several people, some working against each other, search for a buried treasure. I think IAMMMMW is loosely based on this story.

[–] hammer4 9 years ago

Good points, and there are many other examples (especially when concentrating on the essential premise: greed and how it drives men and women. Even in such a different film, "The Good, The Bad And The Ugly", the main plot thrust culminates in several characters converging at a grave site where a treasure is buried. Earlier a man dying in the desert reveals details about the buried gold to the stranger that happens upon him.

I recall reading (probably elsewhere on this board) about a fairly recent (at least compared to IAMMMMW) theatrical film which is a reworking of the latter, complete with highway chases, etc.

[–] !!!deleted!!! (49761343) 9 years ago

Not quite the same thing and not a comedy...

Then why mention them?

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[–] steely3000 9 years ago

Because the plots are similar. It seems the argument is whether or not a plot such as in Lucy/Desi or IAMMMMW has been used before. The Maltese Falcon's plot, of people trying to get hold of a treasure, and stopping at nothing to get it, is a similar plot. The movie is different because it really doesn't follow the plights of the characters involved in trying to get the bird, but rather the private eye who is interacting with the characters. But the overall concept is the same: several people after something and trying to stop each other from getting it.

Also I mention them because it is a free board and I can mention whatever I wish.

[–] mamacassfan 8 years ago

The Lucy-Desi Uranium episode contains one of the funniest bits I have ever seen on TV, when Ethel (Vivian Vance) throws a box out of the Mertz car and it lands directly on Fred MacMurray's head. Absolutely hilarious!