Lucille Ball Specials: Lucy Gets Lucky/Three for Two (1975/MPI DVD/Telefilms)
Picture:
C+ Sound: C+ Extras: A Telefilms: C+
This DVD
is recommended for purchase due to the special material rather than
the main features and features two different TV movies
The radio
broadcasts from Lucy's series, "Let's
Talk To Lucy" and interview with actor, Gino Conforti are worth the
purchase cost. Conforti worked with Lucy
on a very funny installment of "Here's
Lucy" titled, "Lucy Plays
Cops and Robbers" and was featured on the two specials on this DVD,
"Lucy Gets Lucky" and
"Three for Two". She also
directed him in a television pilot, "Bungle Abbey". His observations regarding working with Lucy
are extremely interesting even to the casual viewer.
The radio
shows have a pleasant nostalgic feel as does her guest spot on Art Linkletter’s
television program.
Regarding
the specials, "Lucy Gets Lucky"
features Lucy Collins' trip to Las Vegas and her schemes to see Dean Martin's
act without having a reservation. The special is mainly shot on location
at the MGM Grand Hotel with one camera, like a movie. It is strange
hearing Lucy tell a joke or watch an act of physical comedy without audience
reaction or a laugh track. It slows down the special's energy level and
creates disturbing silence.
While
this production has some entertainment value it doesn't allow Lucy anything
fresh to do which hasn't already been seen before on "The Lucy Show" and "Here's
Lucy". In addition it's a bit creepy seeing a woman of
Lucy's age wearing skimpy outfits around the casino. The cast
including, Jackie Coogan, Hal England, Bruce Gordon, Gary Morton (Lucy's
husband) and Vanda Barra are in top form.
"Three for Two" co-stars Jackie
Gleason and consists of three short plays. "Herb and Sally" is about the relationship of a married couple
vacationing in Italy and Sally's troubles in coaxing her husband, Herb, into
romance. "Fred and Rita"
involves two people having an affair and the odd situations they find
themselves in trying to meet. Finally, "Mike and Pauline" is about a couple's relationship with their
adult children on New Year's Eve.
Although
Gleason works well with Lucy the special is lacking a live audience or laugh
track. As with "Lucy Gets Lucky" this saps the
energy out of the production and provides dead space. Executive Producer,
Gary Morton recalled in the publication, "The Lucy Book"; "Three
for Two was a fiasco. It just didn't work. We did it without an
audience, and that was a bad choice." This special gives viewers the
chance for Lucy to play against type. She discusses sex with her daughter
in "Mike and Pauline" and
pulls it off gracefully.
The 1.33
X 1 video and Dolby Digital 2.0 Mono audio transfers are excellent for their
age and the specials have not been edited to remove the original sponsorship. It does not mean they are Blu-ray quality,
but these look pretty good and show us how strong TV productions could be for
that time and their budget. For Lucy fans, this is a definitive buy for others
a rental.
- Fred Grandinetti and William Maling
