C L A U D E Posted March 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2013 So here is my more detailed analysis of Dark Corner and Lured. These are two of my most favorite Lucy movies. Both of these films are considered film noir. On the Dark Corner DVD two film noir writers do a nice commentary. It’s actually very good and you learn a lot of film noir techniques. Some things to mention from this commentary: In the apartment scene after they have hid the body and the Lucy character kisses Bradley, the commentators talk about the setup of this shot, how we can see both characters by using the mirror and that this is a much used shot in other film noirs. The one commentator also makes an observation that he likes Lucy in this part and never really cared for in her famous “Lucy” character. I think he was making the point that she was good at this stuff and wished she did more like it. I agree on part 2, but will not take offense to part one. Overall in Dark Corner I think the general tone of Lucy’s performance I would characterize as “quite, strength”. The strength comes in the persistence to help at all turns, but she is never really loud or demanding. I particularly like the scene in the coffee shop where Brad is telling her his back story. It’s rare to see Lucy actually cry (not fake cry) on screen but she does in this scene (guess they didn’t have waterproof mascara back then, as you can see it starts to run). Some of my other favorite small moments are: the beautiful shot behind the desk of her legs as she is putting on the nylons Brad scores for her. The other is one that I never noticed until the commentators mentioned it. As Lucy is paying the milk man Brad takes the newspaper from under her arm. The milkman gives her a look like “Oh, so we had a man over last night?” Another reason I like this one is the on screen chemistry between our two leads. It’s much better chemistry then in Lured. On to Lured. I found this one before Dark Corner and fell in love with it, partly because it was noir, but mainly because Lucy was playing something so different than I had seen her in before. The acting in this is different as it is not the “quite, strength” as Dark Corner but more of a woman on a mission. I think Lucy is able to show more of a range in this role and she is the lead, not just the woman on the side helping. Some of my favorite moments are: the walk through the club after she leaves the manager’s office towards the beginning of the film. When that guy bumps into her, she gives him such a look, but is also so familiar. The cab scene where she gives the gun back to her bodyguard guy. The eye look she does is such a mannerism of Lucy’s that I have seen it countless times over decades of work. I also think she is particularly good in the climatic ending too. Lured gives Lucy some of her best (non MGM) clothing ever in film. This is credited to Eloise Jensen and the first time she works with Lucy. It’s no wonder that Lucy hired her for ILL, she knows how to make some gorgeous stuff. The music hall dress is stunning and perfection when you put the fur with it. I always wonder what that looked like in color. My other favorite is that engagement party dress. I got obsessed with that thing and wanted the bottom of my wedding dress to look like that. That wasn’t too hard now days with the current wedding dress styles. The dress was a light blue by the way. Many years ago on Ebay I came across an article on Eloise and this movie. Lucy in that dress was featured. I never know why I didn't pick that thing up, but hopefully it will turn up again someday. Now the backstage stories on these two movies. Dark Corner’s is particular interesting. Lucy talks about it in her book. She was still under contract to MGM at this time and apparently had a really bad agent with this contract. She got loaned out to another studio for this movie without her knowing about it and was not too happy. The only way Lucy could get away from this agent was to leave the MGM contract, which we know that she did. The director for Dark Corner was also notorious at being really horrible to work for and Lucy was not happy to be working with him. As with many times in the 40’s things were not happy at home either. So with personal and professional stress Lucy says she about had a nervous breakdown doing this movie and couldn't watch it and doesn't remember much about making it. In my initial viewings I thought that she seemed sort of “in a fog” in this role. The commentators even mention this story but think she did a good job in this role. Over repeated viewings I’ve come to see more of the acting as a style and not so much of her walking through it. Lured’s backstory we’ve talked about before. For someone she apparently had a rumored fling with, Lucy and George Sanders have the least amount of on-screen chemistry I have seen from a male co-star of Lucy’s. There is just no spark there. Another film I want to mention in this similar genre and done around the same time as the others is Too Smart People. The director on this film went on to do true film noir, but this was his start into it. I think this movie sometimes doesn’t know what it is trying to be. Is it a drama with a few funny moments? A film noir that never quite gets there? It’s not a particularly stellar film, but I keep putting this thing in for repeated viewings. I actually had a copy of this hanging out for a long time in my collection and realized I had never watched it. It’s on DVD so check it out if you haven’t seen it before, and look for cousin Cleo in the Mardi Gras party scene. Part of the reason I like this film so much is the wonderful onscreen chemistry she has with the male lead. The three scenes with the most passion are the two in Mexico, the back of the train, and the private room at the Mardi Gras party. Similar to Dark Corner I describe Lucy’s acting here as “quiet”. It’s a little more playful in the beginning of the movie but really shifts once the train scenes kick in. I think part of that is due to the fact this movie didn’t know what it wanted to be. As with Eloise in Lured, Lucy works with another of her future creative geniuses in this film, Karl Freud. There are two particularly good lighting moments in this film that help to give it the film noir look. The first is in the hotel room in Mexico where Lucy walks into a dark room and then is lit only by match light. The other is when she is being rushed out of the mardi gras party in the dark. Being MGM Lucy still gets some nice clothes in this movie but only two things stand out. The one shoulder dress with the lovely ruffled wrap in Mexico is gorgeous and fits her so well. The first shot of her in it is great. Lucy rarely wears a one shoulder dress in anything. Offhand the only time I can recall her in one-shoulder is the first CBS Opening Night show in 62, where she dances with all the men on CBS (extra on the LS DVD). The Mardi Gras dress and the veil that goes with it is very pretty. Lucy also gets another lovely full length shot when she first appears in it. I think it is Taylor that had that beautiful profile shot of Lucy in that gown on here recently. The only thing that bugs me with her look in this film is Lucy always has her hair up. It’s very pretty up but I like long, loose hair at least once in a film. So if you have never seen any of these three films check them out. They are all available on DVD. Wish you'd post more of these gems of yours, i always get so much out of them. Absolutely stunning post. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvsbway Posted March 11, 2013 Report Share Posted March 11, 2013 I get boarded and in a writing mood. Can't always think of topics though so feel free to suggest some. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C L A U D E Posted March 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2013 I get boarded and in a writing mood. Can't always think of topics though so feel free to suggest some. You got BOARDED, didn#t even know you were a terrorist. Ok, how about Lucy#s outfits in real life, like that beige suit on Joan Rivers and with David Hartman on Good Morning America. The OTHER black coat and skirt for Joan Rivers again, that aluminium foil dress that she wore and you could see her a mile away, i think it was for a tv tribute. I always thought BEIGE was a bad color for her as she was so pale herself but the ouutfit does look quite SPENSIVE and dignified. Not so much teh beige number she wore for the Harvard Hasty Pudding award though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C L A U D E Posted March 11, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 11, 2013 Today, it was Lucy in Paris in the one about getting a Jacues Marcel original. Forgot it had that great I WON#T EAT ANYTHING TILL I GET A DRESS sequence where that chicken was in her camera case. Then the Swiss Alps one came on, never liked that one but for one thing, her eating the crumbs from the sandwhich with her wet fingers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C L A U D E Posted March 12, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 12, 2013 Today, Lucy was in Italy for both shows, first Little Ricky`s birthday and IT`S A MY BIRTHDAY TOO. I forget that little boy was named Braverman and he later went on to co star on Vegas with Robert Urich. So, having just seen Aaron Spelling in First Stop and more recently Cher`s mom in the Fashion sequence of the Paris show, at least i THINK it was that one, but maybe it was The Fashion Show, i dunno, it`s amazing how many people later became stars or a BIG deal in Hollywood after guest starring on ILL. Then it was the Grape Stomping which is of course a classic. I had forgotten the subplot of the stair climbing AND that phone call to little Ricky in the first one and the train ride with the small seat and Vittorio Philippe in the second, seems most shows had two set pieces or subplots or set ups. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvsbway Posted March 13, 2013 Report Share Posted March 13, 2013 Cher's mom was the Paris dress one. Also I like in Italian Movie Lucy quotes a movie she was in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvsbway Posted March 13, 2013 Report Share Posted March 13, 2013 Oh and wasn't't Barbara Eden not known too well when she guested? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C L A U D E Posted March 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2013 Oh and wasn't't Barbara Eden not known too well when she guested? True, forgot about her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C L A U D E Posted March 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2013 Cher's mom was the Paris dress one. Also I like in Italian Movie Lucy quotes a movie she was in. But which model was Cher's mom, there were at least three of them. What movie does Lucy mention? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvsbway Posted March 13, 2013 Report Share Posted March 13, 2013 I knew one time based off a caption which one was her mom, but now I have forgotten. Lucy doesn't mention a movie but the Callallies are in bloom again line is Katherine Hepburn says in the play in Stage Door. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C L A U D E Posted March 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2013 I knew one time based off a caption which one was her mom, but now I have forgotten. Lucy doesn't mention a movie but the Callallies are in bloom again line is Katherine Hepburn says in the play in Stage Door. Oh yeah, should have thought of that because i thought it when i heard her say it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C L A U D E Posted March 13, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 13, 2013 Today, Lucy went bicycling on the border and then gambling in the Monte Carlo Casino. Not the best of Europe but Lucy with a cow. milking it and then winning all that money which caused Fred some tsuris was fun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C L A U D E Posted March 14, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 14, 2013 Today, it's Lucy on the plane with her baby CHESTER er Cheddar and Mary Jane horrified when the baby disapears, of course, she was NOT Mary Jane yet. Then, Bob Hope and the very first ep of the sixth and final season. Was tunned how Little Ricky was barely able to hold the phone in Italy, but now he has lines and is a big part of the baseball show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C L A U D E Posted March 16, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 16, 2013 Today Little Ricky learned to play the drums, BUMP BUMP< bump bump bump! Driving eberyone crazy but showing Lucy cooking on beat. Then, it was the very unfunny Lucy meets Orson fatso Welles. Love the story that he was so huge that they had to sew two tuxedos together to fit him for the show. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C L A U D E Posted March 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 Today's were Little Ricky gets stage fright whihc i thought was more homey and cuddly an episode, certainly not funny in any way. Then Visitor from Italy made up for the last one by showing us Lucy making pizza so that one had a great segment of her slapstick genius at least. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C L A U D E Posted March 18, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 18, 2013 Haven't seen season six in years so was surprised to see Floyd the barber from the Griffith show in Little Ricky gets stage fright. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C L A U D E Posted March 19, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 19, 2013 Ok, Lucy's two movies on TCM were one good and one bad. Hated That's Right, You're Wrong, her talents wasted again with a lousy script, no wonder Bette Davis once stung Lucy with LAST TIME I SAW YOU , YOU WERE WITH KAY KYSER, OUCH for poor Lucy, having to live that one down. Her Husband's Affairs though was pretty good. Lucy acting with Joan Crawford's old hubby, well, one of her many hubbies. Nice to see Edward Everett Horton too in there, he having dated Lucy Ricardo one time. And in court, wasn't that the lady who sold Lucy the dress shop? No wonder she hored all these people later on, she had worked with so many of them, same for Bill Frawley, must have been like old home week sometimes on the set. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MONALISAISMONALUCY Posted March 19, 2013 Report Share Posted March 19, 2013 Ok, Lucy's two movies on TCM were one good and one bad. Hated That's Right, You're Wrong, her talents wasted again with a lousy script, no wonder Bette Davis once stung Lucy with LAST TIME I SAW YOU , YOU WERE WITH KAY KYSER, OUCH for poor Lucy, having to live that one down. Her Husband's Affairs though was pretty good. Lucy acting with Joan Crawford's old hubby, well, one of her many hubbies. Nice to see Edward Everett Horton too in there, he having dated Lucy Ricardo one time. And in court, wasn't that the lady who sold Lucy the dress shop? No wonder she hored all these people later on, she had worked with so many of them, same for Bill Frawley, must have been like old home week sometimes on the set. I thought of the episode "The Moustache" when I was watching "Her Husband Affairs". Didn't Franchot Tone excused Lucy of gluing his beard on his face? LOL!! Also Franchot and Lucy were have insomnia worrying about getting rich. This reminded me of Ricky and Lucy having the homeowner's heebie jeebies in the episode "Lucy Hates to Leave". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C L A U D E Posted March 19, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 19, 2013 I thought of the episode "The Moustache" when I was watching "Her Husband Affairs". Didn't Franchot Tone excused Lucy of gluing his beard on his face? LOL!! Also Franchot and Lucy were have insomnia worrying about getting rich. This reminded me of Ricky and Lucy having the homeowner's heebie jeebies in the episode "Lucy Hates to Leave". Had the exact same thought when they started getting mustaches and beards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C L A U D E Posted March 19, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 19, 2013 Today, it was the trip to Florida with ther hatchet murderess and then Deep Sea Fishing, two very good shows but the highlight for me was Lucy and Ethel chaning a tire. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luvsbway Posted March 20, 2013 Report Share Posted March 20, 2013 I watched Lucy is Homesick in Italy the other night and saw three interesting things. When Lucy calls back to NY and it’s 5am there, her mom is wearing Ethel’s bathrobe. That’s ok because Ethel is wearing Lucy’s coat. When they get to the hotel, the coat with peplum Viv has on was wore 2 seasons earlier by Lucy. It was on a couple episodes but you can see it when she goes to see Tom Henderson at the Fur Store. Third if you want to get a look at Lucy’s recreation aquamarine ring there is a great closeup of it when she is holding the telephone button down and pretending to talk on the phone. It’s clearly a shot that was done at a different time as she is not wearing that ring in the episode anywhere else and when they cut from and to the wider shot she doesn’t have it on. It’s the best close up I’ve seen of it though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C L A U D E Posted March 20, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2013 I watched Lucy is Homesick in Italy the other night and saw three interesting things. When Lucy calls back to NY and it’s 5am there, her mom is wearing Ethel’s bathrobe. That’s ok because Ethel is wearing Lucy’s coat. When they get to the hotel, the coat with peplum Viv has on was wore 2 seasons earlier by Lucy. It was on a couple episodes but you can see it when she goes to see Tom Henderson at the Fur Store. Third if you want to get a look at Lucy’s recreation aquamarine ring there is a great closeup of it when she is holding the telephone button down and pretending to talk on the phone. It’s clearly a shot that was done at a different time as she is not wearing that ring in the episode anywhere else and when they cut from and to the wider shot she doesn’t have it on. It’s the best close up I’ve seen of it though. I was stunned the other day when i saw an extra wearing that coat that Ethel wears over her dress in a few episodes, you know the one that looks like a light long coat to be worn over a dress to make the dress look like a nice outfit, two that go together i mean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C L A U D E Posted March 20, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 20, 2013 Today i missed Desert Island, will catch it tonight, but got home in time for Off to Cuba and i had not seen it in a while so it was nice to see Lucy making cigars. Saw that dress you liked so much, actually she wore THREE that were quite nice in the same episode. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
C L A U D E Posted March 21, 2013 Author Report Share Posted March 21, 2013 Joy Tv is still in Europe so i had to suffer through that Scotland dream sequence, in black and white yet! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brock Posted March 21, 2013 Report Share Posted March 21, 2013 in black and white yet! The way nature intended. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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