MovieChat Forums > Mame (1974) Discussion > Prestons feelings about Lucille Ball...

Prestons feelings about Lucille Ball...

posted 14 years ago by photoenthusiast
24 replies | jump to latest

On a different message board, there are a few comments about Robert Preston disliking Lucille Ball. I'd never heard that before, and I've read a lot of material over the years about the making of this movie. Interesting, if it is true, but I did not detect any negative vibes in his performance. To me his character seemed like someone who didn't really know what to make of her character, but found something fascinating anyway, which is how it has always been played. He wasn't especially comical, like the character was in AUNTIE MAME, but as we all know, this version of the story was trying to present the characters as a little more realistic and less wacky (whether or not you agree that it worked). I've never read any biographies of Preston himself, so maybe something was revealed in one that I missed.

I did read in one book that Lucy inadvertently may have offended him at the start of rehearsals by suggesting he get shoes with lifts (or maybe she actually gave him some, now that I think about it), but I'm unaware of any genuine hostilities on either actor's part. Most critics thought Preston was definitely an asset to the film, and I agree. I suppose most of the fans on this board know this already, but when Preston was honored at the Thalians Ball (1983 I think), one of the highlights during the tributes was Lucille Ball in her MAME costume performing the title number with Stuart Damon in Preston's Beauregard role. I doubt she would have bothered had she been aware that he disliked her either then or while making the movie.

"Holy one-track Bat-computer mind!"

[–] BoMar5353 14 years ago

She may have tried to ignore the fact that he DID NOT hold her in the same regard that he held his other leading ladies and thus participated in the Thalians tribute. She often appeared convinced of her own superiority. The leading ladies he truly reponded warmly to and respected, he treated with the great charm that he was known for. Otherwise, he was just respectful toward the few that he had some problems with ( Susan Hayward, etc.)Although, later in his life he did make a few negative comments about a couple of them. A few of his leading ladies he was especially warm toward (Glynis Johns; his leading lady in 'Franklin' from Sweden,etc.). He did "like" the Ladies- a LOT.

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] Harold_Robbins 14 years ago

I can think of another reason Lucy would have favored Preston - he was only 7 years her junior, whereas Hudson was 14 years younger. She knew when she signed for the role that her age would be a major hurdle.

"In my case, self-absorption is completely justified."

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] BoMar5353 14 years ago

He made three movies with her AND was a beginner at Paramount when she was starting out- enough said. He did wait until she was dead before he made negative comments that he allowed to be published. As to the previous comment about him possibly not "liking" redheads- the man was a womanizer. He liked women- both professionally and personally- with a few exceptions.

[–] thehair100 14 years ago

And, to get Preston to dislike you took some doing. He notoriously loved... and fell in love with his leading ladies, and they loved him. He even loved Loretta Young, even though she had the bizarre habit of working with a full-length mirror during a scene. He later said, he didn't know whether to play to the Loretta who was with him, or the one in the mirror, lol. Many actors AND actresses disliked Hayward, so he was not alone, but he DID respect her talent and professionalism, even if he didn't like her personally. It looked like Lucy turned his stomach. I don't think he liked Bernadette Peters much either, his leading lady in "Mack & Mabel," on Broadway. I have personally talked with several people who have worked with Peters, and they detest her, period. Dislike of Lucy, Hayward, and Peters runs rampant through the business. Pres at least TRIED to be civil when working with them, something a lot of others were hard-pressed to do.

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] thehair100 14 years ago

That's her problem, she THINKS, she's a star, but Mary Martin or Ethel Merman, she ain't. According to one of my friends, she has a breast fetish, meaning she is obsessed about making her breasts look bigger, lol, and was royally nasty to EVERYONE. Another friend said she was a first-class whore, and lies at least six years about her age. Go figure.

[–] fchilds 14 years ago

She has a great voice though.....her version of Not a Day Goes By always breaks my heart. Especially when you consider her husband died tragically in a helicopter accident only a few years ago. Sorry, that's my opinion and this is a board about Mame and not Bernadette Peters. :)

[–] thehair100 14 years ago

We aren't talking about Peters's voice, we are talking about what a vile wretch of a person she is. Looks like Lucy could be vile, too if you want to stay on topic.

[–] jac91604 14 years ago

Exactly. Peters has her own board.

[–] Miro101 12 years ago

There really is no evidence that Robert Preston disliked Lucille Ball. Read any of her biographies (there are many of them, and I've read them all), and you'll find nothing. I've also read the many accounts of the making of the film version of "Mame." None mention that Preston had *any* negative feelings about his co-star.

[–] BoMar5353 12 years ago

You might not read anything in any of her biographies but he REALLY disliked her asking him to wear lifts. That most charming and convivial of leading men refused to socialize with her between scenes during filming or at all until the early 80's when he and Catharine moved to Santa Barbara from Grenwich.

[–] Miro101 12 years ago

But what is the source for the claim you're making, BoMar? Can you provide one? It's admittedly an interesting story--the idea that Preston hated Lucy because she insisted that he wear lifts. But you are merely asserting that this story is true. On the Internet, and particularly on message boards like this one, there is a great deal of unsubstantiated stuff written about Lucille Ball (and other stars, of course). Can you please supply the evidence?

[–] BoMar5353 12 years ago

It was stated in the original text of Jerry Herman's autobio and in another bio of Herman. There's never been any definitive bio of Preston that I'm aware of and I'm not sure if it was mentioned in "Queen Bee".I,myself, have a paper napkin Preston autographed in '83 while he was having brunch with Ms. Ball,her husband, Catherine Preston, and the Robert Mitchums in Santa Barbara.So feelings must have been softened.

[–] photoenthusiast 8 years ago

I was pretty sure the lifts incident was true, as I read variations on the story in a couple of places. Apparently, Ball was either just being businesslike, telling him he would need to wear them, or she was being generous but misguided, by actually presenting him with elevator shoes. I believe he politely declined the shoes, informing her that he had his own, (which indicates he at least agreed he should wear them). So this probably caused very minor awkward feelings that didn't linger throughout the production.

On the other hand, I recall a similar mis-step on Ball's part (but I can't remember which book it was in). It is said that Preston bristled when he heard Lucy was advising Jerry Herman that Donald O'Connor would be perfect for the role of Mack in the upcoming musical MACK AND MABEL. Preston was, I gather, under consideration or even already cast in the role, so his being irritated would be totally understandable!

Even so, it seems he always carried himself professionally, which I'm happy to hear. His scenes with Lucy in MAME remain a highlight for me and many fans. Lucy could be a little tactless, bordering on rude, though this never affects what you see on screen. But if she were seriously concerned about how they appeared together, the proper way to address it would surely be through the costume designer, who would make the suggestion to the director or the actor. But I suppose Lucy just said whatever was on her mind, for better or worse.

"He likes his tea stirred anti-clockwise..."

[–] ricknelson53 11 years ago

How could Preston have "waited" until Lucille Ball was dead to make negative remarks about her; he died in 1987 and she didn't die until 1989. You are mistaken.

[–] BoMar5353 11 years ago

Pretty sure he didn't "say" anything directly about her. HOWEVER, he refused, during filming, to socialize at all with her. Absolutely no backgammon games . He was, at best, extremely non-committal in all statements. This was very unusual behavior from an actor considered to be one of the MOST charming and convivial in the business at the time. But then, in the early 80's obviously feelings had changed as he & Mrs. Preston went to brunch with Ms. Ball, her husband, and the Robert Mitchums. I think it might have been when he & his wife were relocating to the West Coast from Conn. Most actual comments were related in others' bios or auto-bios.

[–] KerryAnderson1203 11 years ago

"Glynis Johns; his leading lady in 'Franklin' from Sweden"

Are you mistakenly referring to Swedish actress Ulla Sallert who was his leading lady (and rumored to be his lover during the run) in the Broadway musical, "Ben Franklin In Paris"? And Glynis Johns was about as British as they come (though she was actually born in South Africa while her parents were on tour there) and took great pride in her Welsh roots.

[–] Itsamoomoo 13 years ago

I'm not saying it's true or not but I find it rather hard to believe that Preston disliked Lucy. I know there are some who don't like Lucille Ball period (very few). But when you are lucky enough to stand, not to mention working alongside Miss Ball, it becomes an honor. Lucille was such a big star because she knew exactly what she was doing. If Preston was offended by the way she worked on a set, that's just unfortunate.

[–] Harold_Robbins 13 years ago

Lucille Ball could be extremely wearing on co-workers.

"In my case, self-absorption is completely justified."

[–] MyMovieTVRomance 13 years ago

Lucille Ball could be extremely wearing on co-workers.

But, to be fair, she was also very generous, worried a lot about her close workers, and was loyal to a fault a lot of the time!

Her problem, I would wager to say, was not a lack of caring or a cold heart with the intent to upset others. It was simply a certain lack of tact and self-awareness. She also struggled with ego and the green-eyed monster. But, those were her personal demons that others just happened to bare some of the brunt of. She actually was as hard or harder on herself than she was on anyone else, by several accounts.

I am the movies I love! (^_^)

[–] nycruise-1 11 years ago

Lucy could be quite controlling on the set.

She made Joan Crawford - of all people - cry when Joan guest-starred on "The Lucy Show."

"Don't call me 'honey', mac."
"Don't call me 'mac'... HONEY!"

[–] randy605 10 years ago

I've always heard she and long-time co-star Vivian Vance were never particularly close.