Showing posts with label Lucille Ball. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Lucille Ball. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 21, 2021

Aaron Sorkin’s “Being the Ricardos” Reveals Lucy’s and Desi’s Real Love in Real Life

It’s always easy to be loved by lightning in a bottle; from within its confines, it reaches out, holds you, captivates you, becomes obsessed with you, and never lets you go. It has captured you. It is harder to love lightning in a bottle because it shines so brightly it blinds you; it projects warmth that you fear will one day leave you. It owns you; you don’t own it. Individually you are important; together you are magic.

This film from Aaron Sorkin and Amazon Studios is the story of a week in the life of Desi Arnaz and his wife Lucille Ball—a film of passion, turmoil, love from above the elemental plane of earth and sorrow that is resolute and inconsolable. [Photo credit: ft.com]

Having waited for two months after learning of the December 21st debut of Aaron Sorkin’s latest work of genius truly gave me something to look forward to. At one minute past midnight on December 21, I opened Amazon’s website to check if it was available.

Christmas came early this year, because all I had to do was click, and instantly I was transported back to my 1950s childhood. The opening scene introduces Walter Winchell’s breaking news that Lucy (referred to only as “the redhead” had been a member of the Communist Party. The second scene introduces the full cast and crew of “I Love Lucy,” and there’s brilliant dialogue that will delight TV trivia fanatics who definitely know, even if they hadn’t known before, who Rusty Hamer was.

Next, you see all the CBS executives and too many representatives of the show’s sponsor, Philip Morris in Desi’s office at Desilu Productions. Finally, we’re back on set for Day 1’s Table Read. Background music begins and triggers the process by which the show’s director, producer, and two writers along with the stage director interact. And for the next two hours, you will lose all track of time because there’s no place but the world of the Ricardos and the Arnazes that matters.

In the first 18 minutes, you’re about to learn the backstory of Desi as singer, movie star, and mesmerizing lady killer. For every pre-movie crank who claimed there was no chance that Javier Bardem would be believable as Desi Arnaz, pay up whomever you bet with because no better actor could portray Desi than Bardem.

Nicole Kidman’s portrayal of Lucy goes straight to the heart. Her presentation of the range of emotions that Lucy experiences in a week’s time is the height and depth of real-life angst and satisfaction from delivering what she knows she is capable of bringing. Not once during the movie did it occur to me that I wasn’t watching the “real” Lucy. Note: to those who think this movie reflects the TV show, there are multiple scenes that would never have made it past the CBS censors in olden days, but don’t let that be a reason not to watch.

J. K. Simmons has proved over and over again what a brilliant actor he is. He is so good that he managed to reveal the true heart and spirit of Bill Frawley, who virtually every fan of the show considers to be the lesser light and grumpy old man. In fact, Simmons’ Frawley is brilliant, insightful, compassionate, and actually funny.

So far that’s three Academy Award winners so who do we get for Vivian Vance? A Tony Award winner, Nina Arianda. This may be the first you’ve heard of her but not seen. You After numerous successful Broadway plays, Arianda brings accolades from movies and television as well. Her portrayal of Vivian is superb and explores the story thread that Lucy always wanted Viv to be more like the average American housewife than movie star, especially in a contract that specified her minimum weight.

As seen multiple times, Lucy’s skill in envisioning full comedy scenes from one line pitched by a writer to full scene is part of the brilliance of the show: “Lucy stomps the grapes” was written on an index card on the corkboard; how it “became” the “stomping the grapes” episode happened in Lucy’s mind.

Three writers and one dreamer added up to magic. Lucy was a stickler for detail in set design, show flow, use of scenery, lines that didn’t work, and the “moving parts of physical comedy.” As you progress in the film, you won’t “hear” Nicole; you hear the range and timber of Australian Nicole as the real Lucy.

Desi Arnaz received the credit he was due and the respect as a businessman he so greatly deserved. Sorkin made sure to show the behind-the-scenes role that Desi played as he functioned literally and substantially as Desilu studios’ President. He had no trouble leading (wait until you see how he handled “the Red Scare.”) No hints, no spoilers.

The dialogue flows: (Lucy to Bill Frawley) “Let me tell you something about Desi. He runs this show, every creative decision goes through him. Every business decision, the network, Philip Morris, and if that wasn’t enough, he is camera ready on Monday. Takes me five days to get a laugh. He’s killing at the Table Read. And believe me, that man is nobody’s second banana.” (Bill to Lucy) “And how many people know that? That Desi runs the show?”

Therein is the key to the major struggle in the Arnaz family at home. Home is a word that Lucy used often, wistfully, and it meant to her that it was a sanctuary for her and her family. For Desi, home was “the boat,” his home without her, as well as the stage at Ciro’s and everywhere he toured.

Once again, Javier Bardem kills as Ricky in his prime as a bandleader and performer. Whether or not Javier ever played the congas before this movie, thanks to coaching by the iconic Walfredo Reyes, Jr. (Chicago, Santana, Traffic), his playing of “Babalu” was perfect, down to the detail of loosening his bow tie during the “Ole, Ole, Ole, Ole” call-and-answer with the band. Later on, his version of “Cuban Pete” is another showstopper.

One unique aspect of the film is Sorkin’s inside look at the relationship between Jess Oppenheimer (writer and producer), Madelyn Pugh Davis (who just died this past April at age 90) and Bob Carroll, Jr., the three brains that wrote the dialogue that America memorized each week. Lucy and Desi brought life to the words, but a surprise reveal was the snarkiness and almost ridicule bordering on contempt that the brilliant writers showed Lucy…to the point of Desi having to have serious discussions with them about how disrespectful they were to her.

It was a bonus to see Linda Lavin portraying Madelyn Pugh Davis. Trivia fans will love that Madelyn Pugh was also known as Madelyn Martin from 1955–1960, as she was married to producer Quinn Martin, producer of “The FBI,” “Barnaby Jones,” and “The Fugitive, among at least 12 weekly shows he produced, another show-biz couple in the exact same business.

The character of Bob Carroll, Jr. was not a pleasant one--he eternally tried to take credit for any good idea the cast liked, unabashedly and unbelievably narcissistic. Perhaps the writers' slight jealousy was understandable as your face, name, and existence are known only to faithful credit watchers, and it’s beyond real to have anyone give the writers a standing ovation, even if they win an Emmy or an Oscar. And yet, great dialogue in the hands of the wrong actors, simply is not funny, no matter what. As has been said, all the stars in the sky must line up properly for the magic to happen. Here, magic was built on respect.

Respect was everything to Desi, not as much for himself, but for his wife and her talent. Sorkin’s dialogue captures that point and brings it home multiple times. That one tenet of faith that, at least professionally, was made clear was the unquestioned respect Lucy and Desi had for another and that’s where the love began. Offstage, it was easy to see where the love faded.

Lucy (with or without husband Gary Morton’s consent) stayed dear friends with Desi and his wife Edith. The two wives were very close and the blended families were often at Lucy’s home, so that everyone could visit with Lucie, Desi, Jr., and the grandchildren. Everyone had access to unconditional love in real life.

And yet, the acting and producing was also their real life. Lucy’s gift was comedy, not the Rita Hayworth and Judy Holiday stars that shone brightly on the dramatic screen. She resigned herself to that because she had a chance, one she demanded from CBS, to work with her real-life husband on a quality program that America fell in love with and shared with the rest of the world. The show was groundbreaking in so many ways, yet it remains fresh each time you see an episode today, even if it is the 34th time you’ve seen “Vitameatavegimen.”

When they worked together, they built an empire. It was Desi’s idea for the three cameras to shoot scenes more completely and the live audience would have an unobstructed view of the action. Occasionally Lucy’s dialogue would include stage directions and only then were you reminded that this was not real life you were watching.

Desilu Productions also produced “Star Trek,” whose shows remain almost as iconic today as “I Love Lucy,” and their reach is worldwide as well. Their “Mission Impossible” was the precursor to virtually every governmental secret agency show that would be developed for the next 60 years. For just three of their productions, that’s hundreds of millions of viewers amassed.

In its debut, “Being the Ricardos” is available on Amazon Prime today in the United States, Germany, Latin America, Paris, Poland, Portugal, Spain, and Italy. It’s a free film to Amazon Prime members, but I would have willingly paid $20 to watch it tonight. The Arnaz children, Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz, Jr., are two of the Executive Producers of this film. Along with other key producers, we had “one more chance” to be with a favorite couple from our Baby Boomer childhood. Aaron Sorkin is once again synonymous with brilliance in show flow, dialogue, and comedy.

In 2017 Amazon Studios won its first three Oscars for their film “Moonlight.” Someone better make room at headquarters, because this film is bound to bring home trophies. Thanks for an early Christmas, Aaron, Amazon, and the Arnaz family.

Tuesday, December 7, 2021

Aaron Sorkin’s “Being the Ricardos” Is Sure-Fire Success

How would you like to go behind the scenes of the early days of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz’s life? Academy Award winners Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem recreate the roles of one of America’s most beloved couples, which you can watch later this week in theatres or later this month on Amazon Prime Video.

In “Being the Ricardos,” Amazon Studios is flexing its powerful position in the online universe as an independent movie production house sufficient to draw the creative mind of Academy Award Winner Aaron Sorkin to create his latest masterpiece. Who better than Sorkin to research the lives of this unique married couple who turned television production on its ears early in the broadcasting industry?

Sorkin’s rapid-fire dialogue and effective storytelling pace guarantees a breathless race through all things Ricardo and Arnaz. Academy Award winner J. K. Simmons portrays William Frawley and Nina Arianda plays Vivian Vance.

As writer and director, Sorkin has found the perfect way to tell the real-life Lucy-Desi story set in a time capsule of just one week of their lives. Rarely are the powerful television producers, cameramen, or advertising sponsors (Philip Morris cigarettes) seen as weighing in on every aspect of the weekly production. Here, you go quietly behind the scenes to reality.

Some people forget that Desilu Productions was founded as a production company for the “I Love Lucy” show, or that Desi was an astute businessman and creative visionary. The pilot was produced for $5,000 via Desilu; Desi was the one who insisted on the three-camera shoot for the live tapings in front of audiences. He was the one who planned ahead to own their own episodes for potential rebroadcasting in subsequent years. Later, Desilu sold the rights to CBS; they also produced two more iconic shows, “Mission Impossible” and “Star Trek.”

So many who caught the show in reruns just thought of Arnaz as the real “Ricky Ricardo,” the guy who sang “Babalu” and played the conga, while Lucy tried to carry the comedy all on her broad shoulders. Most never knew that character actor William Frawley had a terrible battle with alcohol for much of his life prior to the show, but it was Desi who had a firm talk with him as a condition of his hiring that if he was late to the set or drunk on the set even one time, he was fired. Frawley arrived on time and sober for five consecutive years.

For Baby Boomers who grew up with the shows (most of them in reruns), the lives of Lucy and Ricky Ricardo and Ethel and Fred Mertz were revealed each episode to show just how strong a friendship was and how long one could endure when taken to the extremes each week. The show debuted on CBS on October 15, 1951 and signed off May 6, 1957.

Lucy’s primary role as comedienne who sought her turn at taking center stage as a singer/dancer/performer up against Ricky’s attempts to establish himself as a viable supper club bandleader led to sufficient plot premises to keep the brilliant minds of Madelyn Pugh, Bob Carroll, Jr., and Jess Oppenheimer busy for the first seasons. Then they added Bob Schiller and Robert Weiskopf to the team, and these five are collectively responsible for the 181 episodes of comedy history.

The next National “I Love Lucy” Day will be celebrated on October 15, 2022, and a special celebration takes place annually in Lucy’s hometown of Jamestown, New York. It’s noted that “at this very minute, somewhere in the world, Lucy and Ricky are arguing in 44 countries.” That’s a whole lot of ‘splainin’ to do, worldwide.

I look forward to seeing what Aaron Sorkin has dreamed up and how and what he shares of the Ball-Arnaz partnership in his newest project. He won my eternal respect with “The West Wing” (who among us has not binged at least one season’s worth of episodes?)

As if the topic isn’t enough to drive you right into the theatres, Lucie Arnaz, firstborn child of Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz said, “Nicole Kidman became my mother’s soul; she crawled into her head. I don’t know how you do that. She cared very deeply about this part, it showed, and I believed everything she said. She looks beautiful…Javier Bardem…has everything that Dad had—his wit, his charm, his dimples, his musicality, he has his strength and tenacity, and you can tell from the performance that he just loved him. Everyone that Aaron Sorkin cast, right down to the guy who has one line, is perfectly cast.”

Produced by Amazon Studios, “Being the Ricardos” debuts in theatres on December 10, and on Amazon Prime beginning December 21.