Reviews (97)

Nostalgic Comfort Viewing Perfect for a Family Night
THE GREAT RACE may not be a masterpiece--but it is a perfect choice for a cold and rainy night: stylish, frothy, and often flatly hilarious, it makes for "comfort viewing" at its best.

One of the movie's several charms is that it draws heavily from Victorian cliches that still linger in the public mind, gives them a gentle comic spin, and then drops them into the tale of an early 1900s auto race from New York to Paris by way of Siberia. Add to this a heap of favorite character actors, a big budget, flamboyant period costumes, and the biggest pie fight ever filmed, and you have a movie where there is always something to enjoy on the screen.

The great thing about THE GREAT RACE are the performances, which are very broad but endowed with a sly humor. The comedy accolades here go to Jack Lemmon and Peter Falk as the notorious Dr. Fate and his bumbling sidekick Max--wonderful bits of acting that will have you hooting with laughter in every scene--and Dorothy Provine scores memorably in a cameo as Lily Olay, the bombshell singer who presides over the most rootin'-tootin' saloon this side of the Pecos.

But every one, from Tony Curtis and the lovely Natalie Wood down to such cameo performers as Vivian Vance, get in plenty of comic chops as the film drifts from one outrageous episode to another: suffergettes crowding a newspaper, the biggest western brawl imaginable, polar bears, explosions, daredevil antics, and a subplot lifted from THE PRISONER OF ZENDA agreeably crowd in upon each other. True, the film does seem over-long and may drag a bit in spots, but it never drags for very long, and it's all in good fun--and the production values and memorable score easily tide over the bare spots.

The DVD bonuses aren't anything to write home about, and the film has not been restored per se--the color seems a bit faded here and there--but the print is remarkably clean and the widescreen format is an essential. This would be an excellent selection for a family movie night--or for any evening when you're alone and feeling a bit blue. Break out the popcorn, curl up on you sofa, and... as Dr. Fate would say... "Push the button, Max!"

GFT, Amazon Reviewer

Great Race DVD -It's about time!!!
I have been waiting for this movie to come out on DVD. I've even written to Blake Edwards asking, "What is the hold up?"
Get ready, citizens of Boracho! Finally it's coming out!
Every time I saw Jack Lemmon in interviews I was always curious and disappointed that 'The Great Race' was never mentioned among his favorite films. Of course he made many other wonderful classic movies and I enjoyed his performance in all of them...but 'The Great Race' has been my favorite comedy for a long time. I practically can recite it along with the characters. I enjoyed some of the other reviewer's (here) favorite lines from the movie. They are my favorites too.
If you haven't seen this movie or if you haven't seen it in a long time...do yourself a favor and grab it. The laughs never stop. The casting is perfect...Tony Curtis with Keenan Wynn as his sidekick...Jack Lemmon with Peter Falk as his...Natalie Wood...Ross Martin...Vivian Vance...Larry Storch ("Now will you give me some fightin' room?!")...and many others. It doesn't get any better or funnier than this.
Hurray for the DVD. Believe me, you'll enjoy it.

A Big Ole Moose Butt
A classically structured old time villian vs the good guy film, with the obligatory sidekicks and the beautiful love interest, who will eventually succumb to the charms of The hero. More about that later. OK, the stereotypes are there, but that's what the movie was about. Charging from the gate with the player piano, boos and hiss when the cast boards are shown, the movie brings the viewer up to speed very fast with humor and great slapstick. Following a PR auto race in the early days of the 20th century, the film follows the main characters through the landscape of the US and Europe. Sight gags abound and the scenery is often breathtaking. The plot is easy to floow and it's good fun. For the movie fan who doesn't want to disect a movies' every nuance, this is especially fun and worth seeing time and again. The characters will keep you laughing long after the soundtrack has ended,. I would comment more on the plot, but nearly 100 people already handled that - look, just take a chance on it. It's great fun.

A lot of fun, but not what it should have been.
Epics were in vogue in the Sixties, and even the early Seventies(although I can't really see a hippie watching any of them), and it was only natural that comedies would get the "big" bug. IT'S A MAD, MAD, MAD, MAD WORLD and THE HALLELUJAH TRAIL make up two of the big three. The other is THE GREAT RACE, Blake Edward's 159 minute slapstick excursion, restored on DVD in complete roadshow fashion, with overture, intermission, entr'acte, and exit music. And yet, for a film of this type, it is less about the race than about the rivalry between Professor Fate (Jack Lemmon) and the Great Leslie (Tony Curtis). There is precious little racing, and though the film is far from boring and has much going for it (the finale to Part One is brilliant) one can't help but wonder what it would have been like if the other entries in the race regrouped after being snuffed out and made their mad dashes for the forefront. That would make it THE GREAT RACE. Also, the lack of other challenge leaves a depressing side effect; the film seems mildly unfinished and undernourished, like 2 hours and 40 minutes of a 3 plus hour movie. And yet, the film has so much going for it that to ignore it is rather unfair. What there is (I should note that due to the previously noted flaws, the chapters on the disc make it a more pleasing experience) is very well made, and one can appreciate what they put into it.

If only they put more.

Jamie Teller

DVD version is fullscreen not widescreen
The movie is spectacular. This DVD version is a bomb. Shame on Warner Brothers for their greediness and lack of effort to bring widescreen versions to the masses including updated soundtracks and clean film reels! ... Read more

Description

In VOLUME EIGHT, watch as Lucy gets chased by the masked Ramon in "Cuban Pals," gets locked up in "The Freezer," gets drunk on Vitameatavegamin in "Lucy Does A TV Commercial" and poses as the Maharincess of Franistan in "Publicity Agent." ... Read more

Reviews (5)

All you need to know: This is the one with Vitametavegamin
Volume 8 of Season One of "I Love Lucy" on DVD includes what has been universally recognized as the funniest episode of the classical sitcom. Need a clue? How about one word: Vitameatavegamin (and it's tasty too!). Even without that biggie the other three episodes by writers Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh, and Bob Carroll, Jr. are way above average as well:

Episode 28, "Cuban Pals" (April 21, 1952) finds Lucy insanely jealous about the gorgeous Latin dancer (Rita Convy) who was Ricky's dancing partner back in Cuba. Whatever will the redhead do about this floozy?

Episode 29, "The Freezer" (April 28, 1952) contains another classic "I Love Lucy" sight gag. Lucy and Ethel have a new walk-in freezer that is not as big as think. As a result, the girls have to go into the meat business. Meanwhile, there is that walk-in freezer with a lock on teh door and that can only mean one thing with Lucy around.

Episode 30, "Lucy Does a TV Commercial" (May 5, 1952) is an absolute classic. Lucy has been trying to get into showbusiness and she may have finally found her opportunity as a TV pitchwoman for Vitametavegamin, a cure-all tonic (that is only 23 percent alcohol). What is interesting is that Lucy is pretty good when she starts practicing. But with each rehersal using the actual product she descends into a drunken stupor and ascends to the heights of hilarity. Note: Lucy appeared in the 1946 MGM movie "Ziegfeld Follies," in which Red Skelton did a burlesque routine in which he was peddling a product called Guzzler's Gin. Whether this was indeed the inspiration for this "I Love Lucy" episode or not, it indicates the Lucille Ball's gift was not in originality but in performance.

Episode 31, "The Publicity Agent" (May 12, 1952) has Lucy "helping" Ricky's career by posing as a Middle Eastern princess who is Ricky Ricardo's biggest fan. Of course, no publicity stunt by Lucy goes unpunished.

During the first season of "I Love Lucy" in 1951-52 the show had a Nielsen rating of 50.9, which means on Monday nights literatlly half the television sets in the United States were on and tuned to CBS at 9:00 p.m. (and the show only finished THIRD in the ratings). However, the next year the show would make it to the top spot in the Nielsens with a rating of 67.3 as Lucy, both the actress and the character, gave birth. Today you can take the ratings from the four main networks and probably throw the two minor ones into the mix and still not come close to that number during any hour of the week. This is why there is "I Love Lucy" and then the rest.

Vitameatavegamin and Some Other Laughs
The eighth volume of season one brings us one of the best known and loved episodes of I Love Lucy. But there are four episodes on this disc, all of which are great.

"Cuban Pals" gives Lucy and us a chance to meet some of Ricky's old friends. But when one of them turns out to be cuter then Lucy is comfortable with, she gets a visit from the green-eyed monster.

In "The Freezer," the gals get in over their head buying meat for a new basement freezer.

When "Lucy Does a TV Commercial," she gets much more then she bargained for when the product turns out to be alcoholic. While I normally don't enjoy people acting drunk, this episode kills me every time I see it. It's a classic for a reason.

Finally, we get "The Publicity Agent." This one finds Lucy pretending to be the Maharincess of Franistan to give Ricky some much needed publicity.

This DVD is a collector's dream. The episodes are presented in their entirety, and they look and sound sharp. There are occasional flaws in the picture, but considering the source material is 50 years old, it really isn't bad at all. The sound is presented in mono. While it won't challenge your sound system, it serves the purpose well and is faithful to the original audio recording. The extras include the now familiar guest cast info, original opening, mistakes, and episode of "My Favorite Husband." It also features an excerpt from Jess Oppenheimer's books about the creation of "The Freezer" and "Lucy Does a TV Commercial."

I Love Lucy is a classic TV show, and this disc features a classic episode. Not only will fans of Lucy want this disc, so will anyone who loves all time classic TV.

"Hello friends! I'm your Vitametavegamin girl!"
I was very happy to see the release of DVD Volume 8 containing 4 more episodes from the first season of the classic television series "I Love Lucy", which aired on television for six seasons between 1951 and 1957. Lucy Esmeralda MacGillicuddy Ricardo (Lucille Ball), Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz), Ethel Mae Roberta Louise Potter Mertz (Vivian Vance) and Fred Mertz (William Frawley) have more hilarious hijinx occur in the four episodes presented in thid DVD:

Episode 28: "Cuban Pals" (April 21, 1952). Lucy and Ricky are visited by two of Ricky's Cuban friends (Alberto Morin and Rita Convy), as well as a dancer named Renita Perez (Lita Baron), whom Ricky used to perform with when she was a little girl. Lucy's jealousy of Renita leads to some classic hijinx at the night club.

Episode 29: "The Freezer" (April 28, 1952). Lucy and Ethel want to save money by getting a freezer to store a lot of meat that they could purchase wholesale. Ethel can get a freezer essentially for free from a relative, so Lucy orders some meat; but it's a bit more meat than Lucy & Ethel realize when three delivery men arrive (Frank Sully and Bennett Green). After they try to sell some of the excess meat, Lucy learns the true meaning of popsickle. Fred Aldrich played the butcher.

Episode 30: "Lucy Does a TV Commercial" (May 5, 1952). This is one of the best known and most beloved episodes of all time. In this episode, Lucy finagles her way into doing a TV commercial during a show that Ricky has been invited to perform in. The TV commercial is for that well-known elixir, Vitametavegamin; but the director (Ross Elliott) and Joe (Jerry Hausner) fail to mention that it has a lot of alcohol in it. After several takes, Lucy gets a bit tipsy.

Episode 31: "The Publicity Agent" (May 12, 1952). Concerned that Ricky isn't getting enough publicity, Lucy poses as a princess from the fictional country of Franistan who has travelled to NYC just to hear Ricky sing. Ethel poses as her consort. Peter Leeds, Bennett Green, Richard J. Reeves and Gil Herman guest star in this episode.

If you are debating whether to purchase any of the episodes on DVD, you won't be disappointed if you are a long-time fan of "I Love Lucy". As with the other seven volumes released so far, picture quality of the episodes is superb; and being able to watch the episodes uninterrupted and uncut is fantastic. I rate these 4 classic episodes with 5 out of 5 stars!

Lucy samples Vitameatavegamin and dances the rumba!
I LOVE LUCY continues on DVD with this 8th volume of episodes from the historic first season.

"Cuban Pals" - Lucy is delighted to meet a troupe of Cuban performers, touring through America, who are old friends of Ricky's. But when she discovers that the beautiful, lithsome dancer Renita Perez will be dancing with Ricky, Lucy sets out to replace her as the "Lady in Red", with hilarious results...

"The Freezer" - Lucy and Ethel decide to buy a freezer, stocking it with more meat than they can eat...or pay for! But with Lucy's brush with the meat 'black-market' turning into a dismal failure, the girls have to go home and face the boys...

"Lucy Does a TV Commercial" - Lucy decides to appear on Ricky's new television special, advertising a rather-suspicious health tonic called Vitameatavegamin. The tonic is largely made of alcohol, and Lucy bombs (and gets bombed) as she samples the elixer during multiple "takes"!

"The Publicity Agent" - Ricky's career is in the doldrums, so Lucy decides to shake things up in the press by masquerading as the 'Maharincess of Franistan', who has come to America just to hear Ricky singing in his club!

Starring Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance and William Frawley. The DVD includes restored elements, special footage, a bonus episode of the "My Favorite Husband" radio show, flubs, guest-cast information and audio supplements. (Single-sided, single-layer disc).

The Queen of Comedy on DVD.
The eighth volume of I Love Lucy's first season contains episodes 28-31, which feature some of the show's best moments, like Lucy getting locked in a freezer, dressing up as foreign royalty and doing a commercial for Vitameatavegamin. Although, like I've said before, I wish they would release season-by-season DVDs, this is still a must have collection. Lucy's brand of humor and physical gags transcends time and it shows, like always, on this set. And who doesn't love Lucy?

1. "Cuban Pals" (aired 4/21/52)- When Carlos and Maria, old friends of Ricky's from Cuba, come for a visit, Lucy insists that another friend of his, Renita Perez, should do an act with Ricky at his club. Of course, this is before Lucy sees what a gorgeous woman Renita is now. Jealous, she has Fred pose as a taxi cab driver who is supposed to take her to the Tropicana, but takes a "shortcut" through Philadelphia.

2. "The Freezer" (aired 4/28/52)- The girls buy a freezer from Ethel's uncle and decide to order two sides of beef, not knowing that two sides of beef is over 700 pounds. Lucy's scheme to steal the customers away from the butcher shop to sell her beef to them fails, so while trying to hide the meat from Ricky, Lucy gets locked in the freezer.

3. "Lucy Does a TV Commercial" (aired 5/5/52)- Lucy is desperate to get a spot in the live commercial that will air during a TV show that Ricky is doing. She auditions as Lucy McGillicuddy and wins the part. But during rehearsals, she gets drunk on the Vitameatavegamin tonic that contains 23% alcohol.

4. "The Publicity Agent" (aired 5/12/52)- When Ricky thinks that his career is in a slump and that he needs some publicity, Lucy rises to the occasion to help him out. Unknowingly to Ricky, she transforms herself into the Maharincess of Franistan, who is so obsessed with Ricky Ricardo, that she travels clear around the world for a private command performance. ... Read more

Amazon.com

This is Lucy at her finest: getting drunk on Vitameatavegamin, stuffing chocolates down her dress on the assembly line, sinking in quicksand with Jack Benny, and making movie deals with fellow cleaning woman Carol Burnett. This 1976 tribute to Lucille Ball captures prize moments from her three television series (most notably I Love Lucy), highlights from her movie career, and excerpts from numerous other TV appearances. Each segment of the 97-minute special is introduced by famous cohorts, from series regulars such as ex-husband Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance, and Gale Gordon to sometime coworkers like John Wayne, Sammy Davis Jr., and Dick Van Dyke. Although she lived another 13 years after this special was made and had a fourth go at a TV series, this DVD captures the most brilliant moments of her trademark physical comedy. The red-haired queen of American comedy makes an appearance at the end when Jimmy Stewart gives her an honorary plaque, making for a nostalgic moment. A short time later the credits roll, revealing that Ball's production company was behind the tribute and reminding viewers she wasn't a bad businesswoman either. --Kimberly Heinrichs ... Read more

Reviews (6)

When Stars Ruled Hollywood
This show is so full of Hollywood Stars and I mean when stars were Stars. Legends. It's one of the greatest tributes of all time. If your a fan of the older stars you'll love this. I'm talking about a time in history when Bette Davis, Katherine Hepburn, Henry Fonda, Lucille Ball, Frank Sinatra were in their heyday this is for you. Such class and elegance is unfortunately lost in our society today. If you want to see that again, BUY THIS DVD. As a matter of fact buy two copies. It's well worth the investment.

A SHODDY COMPILATION OF A BIG TV STAR'S CAREER
CBS RUSHED THIS TV SPECIAL OUT BACK IN '76 TO MASSAGE THE EGO OF ITS' BIGGEST PRIME TIME MONEY MAKER OF ALL TIME. SHE WAS IN SEMI-RETIREMENT WHEN THIS TV SPECIAL AIRED. CLAD IN A WIG, UGLY GOWN AND DRAG QUEEN LIKE MAKE-UP, LUCY'S ACCEPTS A JIVE PLAQUE FROM JAMES STEWART AT THE END OF THIS TIRED MONTAGE OF HER TV WORK. SHE SEEMED JUST HAPPY TO HAVE SOMETHING TO DO. BACKGAMMON,BOOZE AND CIGARETTES WAS WHAT SHE PASSED TIME WITH IN HER LONELY BEVERLY HILLS MANSION. HER HUSBAND, GARRY MORTON WAS PLAYING TENNIS AND SLEEPING AROUND. SAD FINAL YEARS OF TV'S TOP STAR.

THE BEST NEVER BEFORE SEEN
I THINK THAT IS GREAT THAT THEY MADE THIS ONE FOR PEOPLE THAT DON'T KNOW WHAT LUCILLE BALL WAS CAPABLE OF. THEY SHOW A SMALL PERCENTAGE OF SHE DID DURING HER CARRER. I THINK SHE WILL ALWAYS BE THE BEST FEMALE COMEDIAN THAT EVER LIVED.

Finally! We Have Some Lucy On DVD!
Let me first say that as far as picture quality goes on this DVD, I would rate that with 4 stars. However, the content of this DVD makes up for the picture quality. Not that the picture is bad, I just feel that during remastering some of the clips could have been a lot clearer. With that aside, let me say that this is a super DVD to have in your collection. As of right now it is the only place you can find anything of "I Love Lucy" available on DVD, and this is the only place any clips of "Here's Lucy" can be found. If you want to relive many of your favorite Lucy moments from the past, this is the place to go. Here you can find some of the classics like the famous Vitameatavegamin, or the candy factory, or even the time when Lucy and Vivian (on "The Lucy Show") installed the shower and got stuck in it while it kept filling with more and more water. The great thing about this DVD is that it helps remind the viewer why Lucille Ball was/is as important as she has remained, and probably will be, to the television and entertainment world.

I hope that the people at Paul Brownstein Productions start to release more rare Lucille Ball shows, such as her 1977 special "Lucy Calls the President" that reunited her with many of her costars like Gale Gordon and Vivian Vance. I think that we as fans need to let the companies that hold the rights to these shows know that there is a demand for them, and pass on the simple message that it's "Time To Open The Vaults!"

Awesome
This DVD is a MUST HAVE for true Lucy fans.I ordered mine as soon as it was released, and trust me, you won't be disappointed! It's truly a fairy tale story of the first 25 years,and makes you realize even more what a wonderful person and actress she truly was. My rating A++++++++++ ... Read more

Amazon.com

The producers of The "I Love Lucy" 50th Anniversary Special had a tough assignment, and they triumphantly rose to the occasion. Ostensibly a vehicle for a fan-selected list of top 10 favorite "I Love Lucy" episodes (available in the Best of I Love Lucy Collection), this 2001 special covers all the requisite territory with a solid sense of history and affectionate nostalgia, combining loving reminiscence and commentary (by such luminaries as Lily Tomlin, Barbara Walters, and Dick Van Dyke) with vintage clips from the selected episodes. More substantial segments demonstrate the deeper significance of the Lucy phenomenon past and present, from Desi Arnaz's influential impact on Latino culture in America to Lucy's historic onscreen pregnancy. When surviving children Lucie Arnaz and Desi Arnaz Jr. visit their mother's childhood home, their emotions are as genuine as I Love Lucy's cultural importance, adding gentle tears to an abundance of laughter. As valentines go, this anniversary couldn't be more special. --Jeff Shannon ... Read more

Reviews (6)

Behind the Greatest Show of all Time!!
I LOVE LUCY!! This show was really a big hit. It was bigger than big. In this video they go behind the scenes of "I Love Lucy." They even go to Jamestown, New York to show you where Lucille ball grew up. They talk about Lucy and Rickys childhood backgrounds. This is full of information that any Lucy fan would find interresting if you don't know it already. Its worth the money. They even have celebrities who talk about what they thought about the show with Whoopi Goldberg starting out the video. This is for any Lucy fan. They also count down the top 10 most popular Lucy episodes in the video. Get it while you can. Its worth it!! This is suppose to be the VHS version.

A resonse for "A viewer from Zhukovsky, Russia "
Read the descriptions of items before you buy them. It clearly says "...with vintage clips from the selected episodes..." Clips does not mean full episodes. Personally, I thought this was an excellent DVD about the history of "I Love Lucy." And guess what, reviewer from Russia, in order to have a history video, you must have information on the actors. This video provides accurate information about all aspects of the show, characters, actors, and the actors' personal lives. The very special part is that they got Lucie and Desi Jr., the children of Lucy and Desi, to comment on the show and on their parents, as well as sing a revitalization of "Babalu." A must have for any "I Love Lucy" enthusiast.

LOVING LUCY'S LEGACY
As much an homage as it is a documentary, "The 'I Love Lucy' 50th Anniversary Special" is ideal for those who would love to find out just why the legacy of Lucy lives on. The special features vintage clips from some of Lucy's funniest and famous skits, as well as interviews with those performers who have been inspired and influenced by the red-hot redhead, including Whoopi Goldberg, Cher, Paul Rodriquez, Lily Tomlin and Dick Van Dyke. Some of the guests will surprise you, such as Antonio Banderas, Andy Garcia and Larry King. [One interesting sidenote: Roseanne Barr Arnold makes an appearance, yet in past interviews, Arnold was quick to boast about how much she did not love Lucy. Time for penance, Rosie?] Original "I Love Lucy" writers Madelyn Pugh Davis, Bob Carroll Junior and Bob Schiller, as well as other crew members, shed some insider insights into the Lucy legend. Desi Arnaz's genius is also honored, with a look at his Cuban
background and influence on Latin music in the United States. Latin music sensation does a knock-'em dead "Babalu," on a stylized set so reminiscent of The Tropicana. Perhaps most touching is the visit Lucie Arnaz and Desi Junior make to Lucy's birthplace, Jamestown, New York ... it is Desi's first visit, and the camera doesn't shy away from the emotional experience. Add to that Desi and Lucie singing "Patria" ("Homeland"), a tune
especially written for the special, with multi-Grammy winner Auturo Sandoval on trumpet. Just marvelous!

I Love Lucy, But Not This Special
I LOVE Lucy. "I Love Lucy" is the greatest show ever, but this botched special celebrating the series' 50th anniversary was just bad. Who cares what Andy Garcia, Cher or Roseanne have to say? I would like to have seen more focus on William Frawley and Vivian Vance, whose on-screen chemistry with Ball and Arnaz really helped to make "I Love Lucy" so funny. It goes to show you that the days of wonderfully funny shows like "I Love Lucy" are long gone. Not one person in Hollywood today is talented enough to hold a candle to the producers and creators of "Lucy" and this [bad] attempt at a two hour special to celebrate it is a mockery of the show's half century contribution to laughter.

Good words about Lucy
I love Lucy, I really do... But I was disappointed by this DVD: I've purchased it to enjoy "I Love Lucy" show and got a number of celebreties talking ABOUT Lucy instead...
Bits and pieces, not a single full episode on a whole DVD. Do not buy it... ... Read more

Amazon.com

This sixth volume of I Love Lucy's brilliant first season includes the charming "The Young Fans," in which a teenage girl (Janet Waldo, the future voice of Judy Jetson) develops a crush on nightclub star Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz), prompting the latter's zany spouse Lucy (Lucille Ball) to help the girl's cast-off boyfriend (Richard Crenna) try to win her back. The problem: the moony boy falls for Lucy instead. "New Neighbors" finds Lucy and best pal Ethel Mertze (Vivian Vance) in familiar snoop mode, misinterpreting a dramatic rehearsal and concluding that a plot to murder the Ricardos is underway. "Fred and Ethel Fight" concerns Lucy and Ricky inviting the feuding spouses to dinner, unbeknownst to either of the Mertzes, while "The Moustache" involves Lucy's effort to embarrass Ricky into shaving but inadvertently sealing a false beard to her own face. Not indispensable episodes, but essential for Lucy completists. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (8)

The Laughs Just Keep Coming
The second half of season one was certainly stronger, as these four episodes demonstrate.

Unfortunately, this disc starts with a weak episode. "The Young Fans" finds both Ricky and Lucy with crushes from young neighbors. Fred and Ethel are completely missing (a common complaint of mine early on) and I find the ending unbelievable. Fortunately, the other three episodes are much better.

"New Neighbors" finds Lucy thinking he's over heard a plot to kill her and Ricky when she spies on the new tenants. This episode is hysterical, especially for Lucy's impersonation of a chair.

When "Fred and Ethel Fight," Lucy and Ricky get caught in the middle. And after the Mertzes have made up, it's the Ricardos who aren't speaking to each other.

Lastly, "The Moustache" finds Lucy trying to get Ricky to shave only to wind up with a beard herself. This episode features some truly funny facial expressions from a frustrated Lucy.

This DVD is a collector's dream. The episodes are presented in their entirety, and they look and sound sharp. There are occasional flaws in the picture, but considering the source material is 50 years old, it really isn't bad at all. The sound is presented in mono. While it won't challenge your sound system, it serves the purpose well and is faithful to the original audio recording. The extras this time around feature two original openings since they changed starting with "New Neighbors." Also included are the now familiar guest cast info, trivia, mistakes, and episode of "My Favorite Husband."

While not an ideal way to be released, it's wonderful to have these shows on DVD. I can't get enough Lucy, and this disc will be played many times at my house.

I am disappointed in the way they are packaged
I agree with the comments made by Brian B. I Love Lucy should be available in box sets like all the other series. I love the show but I am very unhappy that they are not available in box sets.

Getting fed up with these bogus "sets"
I am just about fed up and at my wits end with Studios releasing these partial "sets". You know, you've seen several studios doing it: putting 4 or 5 helter-skelter episodes from a particular year or years on a DVD rather than boxing the entire season in chronological order. To say that they nickle and dime you to death by these underhanded practices wouldn't be so bad if indeed we were talking about "nickles and dimes", however, we are talking about major tens, twenties, fifties, and hundreds of dollars to fully complete these series. The unabashed greed of the Studios, represented by putting a measley four episodes per DVD is appalling. I Love Lucy is certainly not the first and only show that is doing this, but that hardly makes it any more palletable. Speaking for myself, but with certainly many, many more movie and TV buffs like myself sharing this opinion, I refuse to be lurred in to buying these partial sets any more, only to discover months later that the studio has put out the individual full seasons in chronological order. Listen, I'm not going to say that series' such as M*A*S*H, Cheers, Frazier, All in the Family, and The Simpsons are any better than I Love Lucy, but they are brilliant in their own right, and they all put out full-season box sets and I have every one of them, just as I would have I Love Lucy if they were available, but I cannot allow myself to be ripped off any more. So if any of you Studio "heads" (and I'm being kind in not using a more appropriate body part here) are listening - you will get zilch from me from this point forward until you live the words of Spike Lee and "Do the Right Thing". Just remember, a Rolls-Royce costs two or three hundred thousand dollars per copy, and they sell a few dozen every year, whereas Ford sells millions of reasonably-priced vehicles every year. Now it just happens to be a fact that Ford owns Rolls-Royce and not the reverse. There is a lesson for the greedy here, but whether they are astute enough to read it is another question: RELEASE FULL-SEASON BOX SETS!!! Get it???

Young Fans,New Neighbors,Fred & Ethel Fight, Moustache
All "I Love Lucy" episodes on this DVD are in the same order filmed. "The Young Fans", episode 20, filmed January 18, 1952, broadcast February 25, 1952. Vivian Vance and William Frawley are not in this episode. "New Neighbors", episode 21, filmed January 25, 1952, broadcast March 3, 1952. Yes that's Hayden Rorke who later was cast in "I Dream Of Jeannie" tv series. K.T. Stevens was one of Vivian Vance's closest friends. "Fred and Ethel Fight", episode 22, filmed January 30, 1952, broadcast March 10, 1952. "The Moustache", episode 23, filmed February 8, 1952, broadcast March 17, 1952.

How come when Lucy tries to help it always backfires?
With Volume 6 of Season One of "I Love Lucy" we are in the second half of the season as the show was really starting to hit stride. Lucy temporarily puts aside her eternal quest to get into show business by playing the helpful wife and neighbor on this particular quartet of episodes:

Episode 20, "The Fans" (February 25, 1952) has a young bobby-soxer (Janet Waldo) developing a crush on Ricky. Fortunately Lucy is there to help save Ricky. This episode is of historic note because it was the debut of William Asher as a director on the show. While this was the only first season episode not directed by Marc Daniels, Asher would be the primary director on "I Love Lucy" for the rest of its run. Richard Crenna also appears in this episode; he was about to become a notable character on "Our Miss Brooks," which was also produced by Desilu.

Episode 21, "New Neighbors" (March 3, 1952) has Lucy and Ethel getting the wrong idea about the new couple have just moved into the building. Yes, that is Hayden Rorke from "I Dream of Jeannie" you see in this episode. This is a good DVD for spotting future TV stars.

Episode 22, "Fred and Ethel Fight" (March 10, 1952) is something of a misnomer as a title, because while the episode starts off giving second bananas Vivian Vance and William Frawley a chance to shine as the Mertzes have a fight, it is Lucy and Rick who end up just about destroying their own marriage trying to help Fred and Ethel make up.

Episode 23, "The Mustache" (March 17, 192) presents a classic sitution comedy Lucy plot. Ricky has grown a mustache. Lucy does not like Ricky's mustache. To show him the error of his ways, Lucy comes up with her own false whiskers. However, she has, of course, put on the mustache a little bit too well...

Overall there is a nice thematic unity to these four episodes as Lucy tries time and time again to be helpful and only succeeds in making matters worse. "The Mustache" is another great example of Lucille Ball's skills as a comedian, even when all she is working with is a fake mustache. All of these episodes were written by the legendary team of Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh, and Bob Carroll, Jr. The second half of Season One is clearly a lot stronger, and the best is yet to come (one word: Vitametavegamin). ... Read more

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"Men Are Messy" raises the stakes of the eternal argument of what is "lived in" and what's a pigsty when Lucy purposely trashes the apartment for Ricky's photo shoot, not realizing the magazine is Look. In "The Fur Coat," Lucy mistakes a mink rented for one of Ricky's dancers as an anniversary gift for herself. "Lucy Jealous of Girl Singer" finds the dutiful wife overlooking a gossip column item about her husband only to find torn black lace in his pocket, which, of course, requires a stint in the chorus line to straighten out matters. In "Drafted," the most forced of the episodes, Lucy and Ethel think their men are going off to war, while the men believe both wives are with child. Socks are knitted, party guests are stuffed in the closet, and at the end the entire cast sings "Jingle Bells" in a piece restored from the original Christmas Eve broadcast. --Kimberly Heinrichs ... Read more

Reviews (12)

I'M IMPRESSED....ANOTHER VOLUME NOT TO BE MISSED!!
Wow...Paramount is already releasing the next two volumes in the 'I Love Lucy' Season 1 Collection!! So much for the accusations of the company 'milking it' ...eh! Volume 3 looks to be a good one, promising lots of laughs and good clean humor that people of all ages can share and enjoy!! Volume 3 picks up where Volume 2 left off, with Paramount releasing the episodes in the order of their original broadcast dates!!

Volume 3 kicks off with....
'Men Are Messy'- Lucy divides the apartment in half giving Ricky a half to be a slob.

Next episode...
'The Fur Coat'- Ricky brings home a mink coat that he borrowed for a club act and Lucy thinks it is hers! (CLASSIC EPISODE)

Next...
'Lucy Is Jealous Of Girl Dancer'- Lucy reads a gossip article that links Ricky to a girl at the club and she gets upset.

And last but not least...
'Drafted'- Lucy and Ethel think that Fred and Ricky have been drafted.

'The Fur Coat' is the only episode in this volume that has been previously released on the home entertainment market (unless you paid the big bucks from a ***certain video club***....you know what I mean). This volume contains bonus material as the previous two volumes did. These episodes are sure to bring a smile to your face and brighten up a rainy day. Order Volume 3 today!!

4 More Laugh-Filled Episodes with the Queen of Comedy!
The people working hard to restore the original "I Love Lucy" episodes on each new "I Love Lucy" series DVD to their original content and improved quality deserve a standing ovation, and the quality and material presented on Volume 3 is no exception!

Presented on Volume 3 are four more wonderful episodes from the first "I Love Lucy" season:

1. "Men are Messy", Episode 8 (aired 12/3/1951). As soon as Lucy finishes cleaning their apartment, Ricky walks in and proceeds to throw his clothes, newspaper and food everywhere. Lucy divides the apartment into two halfs: her clean side and Ricky's messy side. In the meantime, Ricky's publicity agent gets Ricky an interview & photoshoot with a magazine. Ricky asks Lucy to get the apartment completely clean, but Lucy decides to play a trick because she mistakenly thinks it's only a musician's magazine. Will Lucy be happy with her decision to trick Ricky in the end? (Episode includes restored cigarette "product placement" scene.)

2. "The Fur Coat", Episode 9 (aired 12/10/1951). Ricky brings home an expensive fur coat that he rented for a club act to show it to Lucy. Ethel puts it on, Lucy walks in and gets upset because she doesn't have one. Ricky tells her that it's not Ethel's, so Lucy assumes it hers! She puts it on and never wants to take it off. Ricky & Fred think of a way to get the coat back. Will Lucy find out that the coat really isn't hers?

3. "Lucy is Jealous of Girl Singer", Episode 10 (aired 12/17/1951). Ricky's publicity agent writes a provocative article about Ricky and his new, beautiful girl singer/dancer. Lucy gets jealous, especially after Ricky brings home a piece of the girl's black lace costume that he accidentally tore. Lucy & Ethel go to the club to spy on Ricky and girl. How close will Lucy try to get to Ricky and girl during a musical/dance performance?

4. "Drafted", Episode 11 (aired 12/24/1951). Lucy reads a letter that Ricky gets from the War Dept. telling him when to report. Lucy thinks he's been drafted, but he's really just doing a show at a base. Ricky enlists the help of Fred for the show, so Ethel thinks he volunteered. Since Lucy & Ether are busy knitting, Ricky & Fred think one or both of the women are pregnant. Will they figure out what's really going on? (Restored prologue scene of Lucy, Ricky, Fred & Ethel all dressed as Santa Claus since the show aired on Christmas Eve.)

Before purchasing any of the "I Love Lucy" series DVD's, I had some initial misgivings because I have seen every episode multiple times over the years on commercial television. However, after watching the restored episodes, I could not be more pleased that I did buy them! To date, I have purchased all 4 DVD's currently available and I plan to buy all of them as they become available.

If you're a fan of the Queen of Comedy at her best (as well as Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance & William Frawley), you will probably love owning each of the "I Love Lucy" series DVD's! Thanks for all the many wonderful laughs Lucille Ball!

Beginning to Find Itself
I Love Lucy first began to show signs of the sit com we would all come to know and love with these episodes. While not the height of the show we'd love later, they are enjoyable.

"Men are Messy" finds Lucy and Ethel trying to break their husbands of being slobs. While the ending is not up to the rest of the episode, the beginning is hilarious.

In "The Fur Coat," Lucy thinks a coat Ricky has rented for his act is a gift for her. When she refuses to take it off, he must go to great lengths to get it back. Wonderful all the way around and the best of the show so far.

"Lucy is Jealous of Girl Singer" finds Lucy believing the gossip in the paper about the new dancer (not singer) at the club.

The weakest episode, "Drafted" finds the girls thinking that the men are entering boot camp. This is one of the weakest in the series. Originally airing on Christmas Eve, this episode features a special restored holiday tag at the end not shown in syndication.

The writers are still relying too much are Lucy and scripts from the radio show. But the other characters are beginning to develop. While not my favorite, the best is certainly yet to come.

This DVD is a collector's dream. The episodes are presented in their entirety, and they look and sound sharp. There are occasional flaws in the picture, but considering the source material is 50 years old, it really isn't bad at all. Brief things cut for syndication have been added back in, adding to the fun. (I can't believe the humorous references to the original sponsor they managed to work in.) The sound is presented in mono. While it won't challenge your sound system at all, it serves the purpose well and is faithful to the original audio recording. The extras feature the original opening plugging the show's sponsor (the episodes themselves use the heart we're used to from reruns), info on the guest cast, an inconsistency already in episode to episode continuity, and two episodes of Lucy's radio show "My Favorite Husband" that got reworked for the show.

True, the way season 1 was released isn't nearly as nice in terms of sets as other shows have gotten. But this is still a classic comedy with decent bonus material to make any fan happy.

The restored "long kiss" is here, not seen since 1951.
"Men Are Messy", episode 8. Filmed October 25, 1951, Broadcast December 3, 1951. Note: Kenny Morgan who played Kenny, the Press Agent, was married to Lucille Ball's cousin, Cleo, and was Desilu's PR Representative. Includes "restored scene" not seen since 1951. "The Fur Coat", episode 10, but shown as ninth episode. Filmed November 9, 1951. Broadcast December 10, 1951. "Lucy is Jealous of Girl Singer", episode 11, but shown as tenth episode. Filmed November 16, 1951. Broadcast December 17, 1951. The restored "long kiss" is here, not seen since 1951. "Drafted", episode 9, but shown as the eleventh episode. Filmed November 2, 1951. Broadcast Christmas Eve, December 24, 1951. Includes a special surprise "Christmas" tag scene that hasn't been seen since 1951. (It is simular to the "lost" Chrismas special episode they had with a young Little Ricky later in the series) This special scene is 3 minutes long. Much more bonuses. Boy, those prop men are good at changing the time on the living room clock, aren't they? Notice that barometer changes too.

The BEST
Who could ever dispute the Best comic of all time. The entire season is loaded with good, clean humor for everyone young and old to enjoy! ... Read more

Amazon.com

This second volume in a projected, definitive collection of the beloved I Love Lucy series includes broadcast episodes 4 through 7, which prove beyond doubt that the classic sitcom had hit the ground running byNovember 1951. "Lucy Thinks Ricky Is Trying to Murder Her" is the famous comedy of errors in which Lucy Ricardo (Lucille Ball) misunderstands something her husband, Cuban bandleader Ricky (Desi Arnaz), says, and assumes he's out to get rid of her. In "The Quiz Show," restless housewife Lucy turns to a television contest for fun and the opportunity to win $1,000. "The Audition," one of the series' most beloved stories, finds Ball exercising her considerable skills as a physical comic by pretending to be a professional clown named Buffo. Finally, "The Seance" is one of the best of Lucy's misadventures with best friend, Ethel (Vivian Vance), this time participating in a riotous ritual to wake the dead. Marvelous stuff. Bonus features include a delightful "Behind the Scenes" photo gallery, a radio broadcast that helped shape a later television episode, guest cast information, and the series' original opening. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (19)

Another Absolutely Wonderful Volume!
I have watched "I Love Lucy" in syndication for many, many years; but I have never seen the episodes with as much clarity, and restoration as provided on this DVD, and I have seen every single episode multiple times!

Since broadcast TV and cable TV (especially broadcast) are prone to noise, watching "I Love Lucy" on DVD is probably the clearest it has ever been seen, except for audience members who watched the show taped live in the 1950's. Also, broadcast & cable TV stations never show the episodes in their entirety anymore, since they cut scenes in order to make more time for commercials. With this 2nd Volume DVD, you can watch 4 episodes from the first season ("Lucy Thinks Ricky Is Trying To Murder Her," "The Quiz Show," "The Audition," and "The Seance") commercial-free, completely clear and completely restored!

One of the many bonuses on this DVD is being able to have the bloopers from each episode highlighted, and I hadn't noticed many of them before since I was usually too busy laughing! Another added bonus is being able to hear Lucille Ball on the radio-show "My Favorite Husband" with the actor Richard Denning, that she did prior "I Love Lucy", which I had never heard prior to purchasing this DVD and Volume 2 contains 2 radio-show episodes. Other bonus material includes guest actor information, still photos taken during filming, lost scenes, and the original show introduction!

Before purchasing this DVD, I had some misgivings because I didn't know if it would be worth owning since I have seen all of the "I Love Lucy" episodes so many times; but after watching it (and Volume 1), I was more than pleased and I now plan to purchase the rest of the DVD's for the entire series!

Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz may have had their problems in real life, but their comic performances in "I Love Lucy" (as well as the performances of Vivian Vance and William Frawley) have brought billions of people to laughter the world over!

I am so glad that purchased this DVD, as well as Volume 1, and I plan to purchase the other volumes as they become available. My one and only complaint is that entire seasons are not being offered in boxed sets, but that won't prevent me from getting the other volumes.

Lucy Ricardo keeps trying to break into show business
During the first season of "I Love Lucy" (1951-52), the most recurring theme was the screwball attempts of Lucy Ricardo to break into show business and that is the focus of three of the four episodes collected on Volume 2 of the "I Love Lucy" DVD collection. Howeve, the first of these episodes (all of which were written by Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh, and Bob Carroll, Jr.) has the distinction of being the first episode of the show to be filmed, even though it was the fourth one aired:

Episode 4, "Lucy Thinks Ricky Is Trying to Murder Her" (November 5, 1951) after reading a mystery novel and letting her fertile imagination get the better of her. It is easy to tell that there is something different about this episode and it has to do not only with the fact it was the first time the Ricardos were ever filmed, but because this was the one and only episode that was filmed straight through in the manner of live television at that time. After this one the show adopted the three-camera, stop-and-start method that became the standard for how to film a sit com.

Episode 5, "The Quiz Show" (November 12, 1951) is a parody of the popular game show "Truth or Consequences," where Lucy has an opportunity to win $1,000 prize if she can just convince Ricky she was once married to another man. How hard can that be?

Episode 6, "The Audition" (November 19, 1951) is a rehash of the show's "lost" pilot (which is on Volume 1), as Lucy replaces the ailing clown in Ricky's big nightclub number in order to impress visiting television talent scouts.

Episode 7, "The Séance" (November 26, 1951) finds Lucy and Ethel arranging a fake séance to impress an eccentric producer (Jay Novello).

The last of this quartet is clearly the weakest in the bunch, and once again there is nothing here you would call a classic "I Love Lucy" episode. "The Quiz Show" is the best of the bunch and once of the better early examples of Lucy trying her best to lie to Ricky's face, albeit with no success whatsoever. Still, Volume 2 is of interest because you can compare "The Audition" to the original pilot (I still prefer the latter) and see the technical problems the show faced the first time out in the first filmed episode.

Still Building the Series
Volume Two continues the release of one of the best sit-coms of all time on DVD. Included here are four episodes from season 1.

"Lucy Thinks Ricky is Trying to Murder Her." Filmed first, it actually aired fourth. Caught up in a murder mystery, Lucy lets her imagination run away with her when she sees and hears a few "clues" that Ricky may have tired of her.

"The Quiz Show." Desperate to make her budget balance, Lucy agrees to some crazy stunts for the radio show "Females are Fabulous."

"The Audition." Seven episodes in, and Lucy is already trying to break into show biz again. In a reworking of the unaired pilot (found on volume 1), Lucy films in for an injured clown when Ricky is auditioning for a TV show. Includes their cello vaudeville act.

"The Seance." Lucy's sudden interest in numerology and the occult interferes with Ricky's career and leads to a wild plan to save it.

While there are some wonderful episodes here, the series gets much better. Part of this is because the writers already knew Lucy and were still deciding how to develop Ricky, Ethel, and Fred. Heck, Fred is missing completely from "The Quiz Show" and Ethel meets a similar fate in "The Audition."

This DVD is a collector's dream. The episodes are presented in their entirety, and they look and sound sharp. There are occasional flaws in the picture, but considering the source material is 50 years old, it really isn't bad at all. The extras feature the original opening plugging the show's sponsor (the episodes themselves use the heart we're used to from reruns), info on the guest cast, photos of rehearsal, mistakes in one episode (I caught two of them myself), and two episodes of Lucy's radio show "My Favorite Husband" that got reworked for the show. (These episodes help prove my point earlier about the writers, also from the show, not knowing what to do with the other characters yet.)

True, the way season 1 was released isn't nearly as nice in terms of sets as other shows have gotten. But this is still a classic comedy with decent bonus material to make any fan happy.

Lucy- A Classic Forever
Anyone can appreciate Lucy's screwball comedy and Ricky's hilarious accent. The Mertzes are the perfect sidekicks for them. As a fairly young viewer who never watched a show in black and white, I was pleasantly surprised by how modern Lucy's comedy is. I now own everyone of the Lucy season one episode

See the first filmed episode of "I Love Lucy".
"Lucy Thinks Ricky Is Trying To Murder Her" is the first "I Love Lucy" episode filmed on September 8, 1951. It is also the first with the Mertzes played by Vivian Vance and William Frawley. However it did not air first. It was broadcast as the forth episode on November 5, 1951. (The pilot episode shown in "I Love Lucy" Volume One, Season One, is actually the very first Mr & Mrs. Richardo episode but was never aired. It was lost until found. It was shown for the first time on CBS on April 30, 1990. It was never shown in re-runs or syndication) "The Quiz Show", episode 5, was filmed October 5, 1951. It aired November 12, 1951. The man who plays "Arnold", Phil Ober, was Vivian Vance's first husband. Hazel Pierce appeared in 13 "I Love Lucy" episodes. "The Audition", episode 6, was filmed October 12, 1951 and broadcasted November 19, 1951. This episode is simular to the pilot episode of March 1951. Vivian Vance is not in this episode. "The Seance", episode 7, was filmed October 19, 1951 and broadcast November 26, 1951. Jay Novello was also in episode "The Sublease", episode 97, in 1954 and "Visitor From italy", episode 158, in 1956. In the Bonus Materials, the flubs are fun to see. If you've seen any episode many times, bringing out an unnoticed flub makes the show fun to watch again. In the Special Footage, you will see footage that has not been seen since 1952. Much more surprise bonuses. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Ending With a Laugh
This disc completes the 36 episodes from "I Love Lucy's" incredibly funny first season. And there are some wonderful moments on this disc.

It opens with "Lucy Gets Ricky on the Radio." Ricky's attempt to impress his wife by showing off some secret knowledge backfires when she thinks he can win the prize on a radio quiz show.

Next up is the hysterical "Lucy's Schedule." When Lucy makes Ricky late to an important business dinner, he decides to help her make better use of her time. But she has a few tricks up her sleeve to get her out of punching a time clock. This isn't usually listed in any lists of best episodes, but I love it.

"Ricky Thinks He's Getting Bald" is the weakest of the episodes presented here, but it's still worth seeing if for no other reason then the treatment Lucy gives Ricky to get his hair to grow again.

When "Ricky Asks for a Raise," Lucy, Fred, and Ethel have to turn into quick change artists to save his job. Look for Fred in drag.

If you've been buying the other discs, you know what to expect here, and you won't be disappointed. The episodes are presented in their entirety, and they look and sound sharp. There are occasional flaws in the picture, but considering the source material is 50 years old, it really isn't bad at all. The sound is presented in mono. While it won't challenge your sound system, it serves the purpose well and is faithful to the original audio recording. The extras include the now familiar guest cast info, original opening, and mistakes. This time around we get three episodes of "My Favorite Husband" as well as the original tag announcing that Lucy was going on vacation for the summer but would be back in the fall. In addition, we get some behind the scenes trivia and pictures of the cast on the set.

Rumor has it that future season of this classic show will be more in line with other TV show releases. Still, these first season discs have some classic episodes on them that any Lucy fan will want in their collection.

You Gotta Love Lucy
Depsite all the negative comments aimed at Paramount Home Video recently, I want to give them some credit. Yes, I also would have loved to have been able to get Lucy in complete season box sets (but not for anything over $50) yet I had resigned myself to pick them up in these four-episode-per-disc volumes - similar to how the original Star Trek series was released on dvd. (Star Trek got two shows per disc.)

To Paramount's credit, these Lucy dvd's have lots of extra goodies on them...and that is more than many other TV shows on dvd can say. (Most other TV shows on dvd are just the episodes, with NO extras of any kind.) I love that these Lucy dvd's include any of Lucy's old radio show, "My Favorite Husband" that correspond to or inspired the "I Love Lucy" episodes on the disc. How many of us have had the opportunity to hear these classic shows anywhere else? And it's really fun comparing them to their I Love Lucy counterparts.

Also, there are scenes and music cues which have been restored, most of which haven't been seen since the show's original broadcasts in the '50's - especially any footage referring to the show's then-sponsor, Phillip Morris. No, I don't like all the smoking references, but since this was how the show was oringally made, it's great to see all this footage restored for historical interest and accuracy.

Each dvd has included sections on "Flubs" which are very amusing. Some of them I've noticed over the years watching the show, and others I never would have noticed without these supplements pointing them out.

There are "Guest Cast" sections on each disc too. These are wonderful as they give us some little bit of background on the many regular and one-time-only guest cast members that have appeared on the show. Also, for people who made multiple appearances on the show, this section includes a list of all their I Love Lucy appearances. Very nice.

The inclusion of the original animated opening is also very welcome. Before these dvd's, many of us never had a chance to see this footage either. Some of the discs include interesting Production Notes, and Behind-The-Scenes footage or stills. Again, very welcome and interesting.

The most recent disc, Season One, Volume 9 includes a special End-of-Season tag which was only broadcast one time, when the last episode of season one ran back in 1952. While it's mostly a plug for the show's summer replacement that year, and for Phillip Morris, it's still extra footage of Lucy and Desi as Lucy and Ricky Ricardo that I for one had never seen or even heard of before this dvd. What Lucy fan doesn't want to see more of that kind of "lost" footage?

I hope that Paramount is not dissuaded from continuing on with the other seasons in the I Love Lucy show. As far as I'm concerned, Paramount has been doing a grand job with these Lucy discs. Please keep 'em coming!

The Queen of Comedy on DVD.
The ninth volume of I Love Lucy's first season contains episodes 32-35, which feature some great moments. I Love Lucy is still my favorite TV show of all-time. Lucille Ball's classic and one-of-a-kind sense of humor and physical gags transcends time and it shows, like always, on this set. And who doesn't love Lucy?

1. "Lucy Gets Ricky on the Radio" (aired 5/19/52)- After Ricky correctly answers all of the questions on a quiz show that's on the radio, Lucy thinks that he's a complete genius and decides to sign him up to be a contestant on the show. But Lucy didn't know that Ricky had already heard the answers to the questions during the taping of that episode.

2. "Lucy's Schedule" (aired 5/26/52)- When Lucy is late for a dinner with Ricky's boss (this is the episode where she gets a fake apple stuck in her mouth after she tries to eat it), he's had enough of her tardiness and puts her on a schedule. After Lucy finds out that Ricky thinks that he has her acting like a trained seal, she decides to get back at him when he invites his boss over for dinner and only allows them a few seconds with each course of their meal and then whisks it away.

3. "Ricky Thinks He Is Getting Bald" (aired 6/2/52)- When Ricky thinks that his hairline is beginning to recede, he becomes so self-conscious that he wears a hat in the house. Just to show him that he has nothing to worry about, Lucy invites a group of bald men (including Fred, who wears a toupee) over to their apartment.

4. "Ricky Asks For a Raise" (aired 6/9/52)- When Ricky no longer has a job at the Tropicana after he asks for a raise, Lucy, Ethel and Fred decide to get him his job back by showing his boss how popular he is. A new performer is appearing at the club, so they call and make dozens and dozens of bogus reservations. They show up at the club (to pretend they're different people, they quickly change into different outfits) and when they discover that Ricky Ricardo is not there anymore, they storm out. ... Read more

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Lucy's never-ending quest to be an entertainer is spotlighted in these four episodes from December 1951 and January 1952. In "The Adagio," when Fred fails to teach Lucy to dance, a French partner leads to passes and dueling pistols. In "The Benefit," Lucy muscles in on Ricky's act for Ethel's club benefit, turning the tables on her husband during their vaudeville routine. Lucy gets tied up while babysitting bratty twins in "The Amateur Hour," but her nightmare turns into a coveted stage opportunity. In "Lucy Plays Cupid," her attempt to set up an elderly neighbor backfires when the intended falls for her instead. Her solution? A romantic dinner of sticky soup and steak requiring a chisel. Bonus footage includes the radio play of an episode of Lucille Ball's "My Favorite Husband," which inspired the "Cupid" script, as well as flubs and a behind-the-scenes featurette. --Kimberly Heinrichs ... Read more

Reviews (10)

Lucy is still pretty much going solo in these early episodes
The notion of who loves Lucy gets expanded by the first and last episodes collected on Volume 4 of the first season of the classic television situation comedy:

Episode 12, "The Adagio" (December 31, 1951) has Lucy all excited about doing an Apache routine at the Club. But then her French dance coach (Shepard Menken) takes a romantic interest in her and suddenly this does not seem like such a good idea.

Episode 13, "The Benefit" (January 7, 1952) finds Lucy blackmailing Ethel into letting her perform at a benefit at a woman's club. It seems Lucy has promised Ricky will perform but has somehow neglected to mention this fact to her busy husband.

Episode 14, "The Amateur Hour" (January 14, 1952) has Lucy making the big mistake of baby-sitting twins at an amateur talent contest. It is a wonder Lucy ever wanted to have a baby after this escapade.

Episode 15, "Lucy Plays Cupid" (January 21, 1952) features a couple of great character actors in supporting roles as Lucy plays matchmaker between the grocery man (Edward Everett Horton) and the neighborhood spinster (Bea Benaderet). But the grocery decides that what he really likes...are redheads.

It is rather interesting to watch these episodes within the context of four episodes to a disc. In a lot of these early scripts Lucy is close to going solo as writers Jess Oppenheimer, Maedelyn Pugh, and Bob Caroll, Jr. have not yet gotten comfortable with the fact that Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance and William Frawley are pretty good comic actors playing pretty good comic characters. Overall these episodes would grade out as slightly above average, but the classics are still waiting for us down the road. See you there.

Funny, but Definitely Not the Best of the Show.
This DVD is a mixed bag with two good and too ok episodes of a wonderful series.

"The Adagio" finds Lucy once again trying to get into Ricky's act, this time as an adagio dancer. But she gets more then she bargained for when Ethel finds her a real French teacher to teach her the dance.

"The Benefit" is the best of the bunch. Lucy agrees to get Ricky to do a performance at a benefit for Ethel's club, but only if she can be part of the act.

"The Amateur Hour" finds Lucy over her head babysitting to earn money for a dress she bought and can't return.

"Lucy Plays Cupid" provides a mix-up in the romance department when Lucy tries to help a shy neighbor win the heart of the grocer. This episode was inspired by an episode of "My Favorite Husband," included on the disc, and I found the radio show much funnier.

This DVD is a collector's dream. The episodes are presented in their entirety, and they look and sound sharp. There are occasional flaws in the picture, but considering the source material is 50 years old, it really isn't bad at all. The sound is presented in mono. While it won't challenge your sound system at all, it serves the purpose well and is faithful to the original audio recording. The extras feature the original opening plugging the show's sponsor (the episodes themselves use the heart we're used to from reruns), info on the guest cast, some mistakes that made it into the episode, and the previously mentioned "My Favorite Husband" episode.

Part of my love for this show is the great friendship portrayed on screen between the four leads. Since the Mertzes are hardly in full time at this point (Fred doesn't appear in the third episode, and both are missing from the fourth), I think that partially contributes to my lack of enthusiasm for these episodes.

While the middle two provide some great laughs, the disc opener and closer leave much to be desired. Still, a Lucy fan will want this disc to complete their set of season 1.

The Adagio, The Benefit, The Amateur Hour, Lucy Plays Cupid
All the episodes here are in correct order as filmed. "The Adagio", episode 12, Filmed on November 23, 1951. Broadcast on New Year's Eve, December 31, 1951. "The Benefit". episode 13, Filmed on November 30, 1951. Broadcast January 7, 1952. "The Amateur Hour", episode 14, Filmed on December 7, 1951. Broadcast January 14, 1952. William Frawley is not in this episode. "Lucy Plays Cupid", episode 15, Filmed on December 13, 1951. Broadcast January 21, 1952. Vivian Vance and William Frawley are not in this episode. Bea Benaderet is in old woman make-up. Bea Benaderet worked with Lucy on the radio show "My Favorite Husband". She was Lucy's first choice to play the Ethel Mertz character, but thank goodness the role went to Vivian vance. Bea Benaderet was already playing "Blanche Morton" on the "George Burns and Gracie Allen" show also on CBS.

The Queen of Comedy on DVD.
The fourth volume of I Love Lucy's first season features episodes 12-15. Although, like many other people, I wish they would release season-by-season DVDs, this is still a must have collection. Lucy's brand of humor and physical gags transcends time and it shows on this set. And who doesn't love Lucy?

1. "The Adagio" (aired 12/31/51)- Lucy, bitten by the showbiz bug once again, is determined to be in the French Apache dance number in Ricky's Paris revue. Ethel finds a real Frenchman to help Lucy out. His name is Jean Valjean Raymand and when he comes to her apartment for lessons and he sees her trying to hide him from Ricky, Jean assumes that Lucy wants to runaway with him. That night, he climbs up a ladder to Lucy's window to take the woman he loves, but it's not that easy.

2. "The Benefit" (aired 1/7/52)- Lucy convinces Ethel that she and Ricky are the perfect husband and wife act for a benefit performance at Ethel's club. Now all Lucy has to do is convince Ricky. When he agrees and comes up with a comedy act for them to do, Lucy is mad when she finds out that Ricky gave himself all of the jokes and left her with nothing. She then decides to tell the punch-line of the jokes before he has a chance to finish them.

3. "The Amateur Hour" (aired 1/14/52)- To pay for a new dress she just bought, Lucy decides to get a job baby-sitting. She's supposed to be watching a little boy, but is her mind playing tricks on her or does Lucy see two little boys?

4. "Lucy Plays Cupid" (aired 1/21/52)- Miss Lewis (Bea Benaderet, who was the original choice for Ethel Mertz), a sweet, elderly neighbor, asks for Lucy's help in asking out Mr. Ritter, the grocer, who she has had her eye on for awhile. Ricky forbids Lucy to be a matchmaker, but, of course, that has never stopped her before. When Lucy tells Mr. Ritter about Miss Lewis, he thinks that Lucy is lying and that she is the one who is interested in him.

bottom line is the dollar
It costs less to make a dvd then to make a vhs, and at four episodes a dvd, you are getting jipped. I agree with the one who said "being nickel and dimed to death." It is true!

179 episodes breaks down into 45 dvds, averaged at $12 a dvd that is $540. I don't have the space to store 45 dvds on Lucy alone; I do have other movies I would like to own. The price is also a little steep. I would rather have it season by season, and at $50 a season, that is still only $300. That is a better deal for storage and value.

As long as people continue to spend the money, we will never see a decent amount of Lucy episodes on a decent priced dvd.

We need to stand up as consumers and stop giving in to the studios by buying these overpriced dvds.

It appears that the diehards are going to kill it for everyone. I think that is sad. Lucy would have wanted more people to enjoy her show on dvd. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The first episodes of I Love Lucy, in comedy terms, look today like a promising map of great things to come from the hugely influential sitcom.This set of episodes, the first volume in a definitive collection of the classic television series, includes the original three broadcast episodes from October 1951, plus the so-called "Lost Pilot" that finds the earliest I Love Lucy production quite rough but genuinely promising. The actual episodes that American audiences first saw--"The Girls Want to Go to a Nightclub," "Be aPal," and "The Diet"--find familiar elements of the classic series already in place. Housewife Lucy (Lucille Ball), restless for excitement, is married to Cuban bandleader Ricky Ricardo (Desi Arnaz). Ricky's crazy nightclub career, however, leaves him yearning for a quiet home life and a wife content with her simple chores. Alas, it's not to be. With best friends Ethel (Vivian Vance) and Fred (William Frawley) usually aboard for the Ricardos' misadventures, I Love Lucy introduced an engaging blend of sophistication and slapstick, all wrapped in the intimacy of a three-camera TV approach. Bonus material is very satisfying, including a radio broadcast from 1951 later adapted into a TV script, a couple of gaffes, guest cast listings, and a new beginning for the second-season rebroadcast of "The Diet." --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (47)

Where it All Began
I Love Lucy is a television classic. 50 years old, and it still plays daily on TV and is loved by millions. This DVD features the first four episodes of the classic show starting with the pilot that was found in the early 90's. In addition, it presents the first 3 episodes to air in the fall of 1951 on CBS.

Fans of the show will love this disc. The sound and picture are great. Every episode is broken down into several chapters, including a separate chapter for the musical sequence. There are plenty of extras as well, including an episode of Lucy's radio show "My Favorite Husband" and an excerpt from Jess Oppenheimer's book on the creation of the show.

Like many TV shows, the first episodes aren't the strongest. Lucy is the only character fully developed at this point with the other three delivering straight lines. Still, there are several good laugh an episode.

It would be nice if the show were being released in season, or even half season sets. But this certainly isn't settling for second best since it's a great DVD.

I Love Lucy,Digitally Remastered, Lots of Extras now on DVD!
Paramount Pictures & CBS Broadcasting bring us "I Love Lucy" to DVD digitally remastered with lots of Extra Features.

This DVD series was done perfectly with detailed background information about the show. Each DVD includes 4 episodes in chronological order with picture & sound flawlessly reproduced! So clear, you feel your watching it live through Black & White glasses.

Each DVD will include; 4 episodes in B/W Standard Full Screen, with Dolby Digital sound. Lots of extras; episode flubs, Original series opener, Radio Show Broadcasts, Guest Cast information & Behind the Scenes audio featurettes.

This Original "I Love Lucy" DVD series is a must have for the home library. The genius of Lucy, Desi, Ethel & Fred can now be seen again & again at your leisure. Enjoy.

Against the Flow
Warning: this review contains heretical opinions! I will say up front that I was a HUGE Lucy fan as a kid. I remember laughing and laughing to the original episodes and then again to reruns years later. Truly, her comic timing was genius and the Desilu group assembled an original and historical entertainment. No doubt about that. I purchased several of the first DVDs to come out and savored the fun of introducing the hilarity of Lucy to my 7-year-old daughter. However, my hopes and memories were dashed. Yes, my daughter was really tickled by Lucy and her funny antics. But, as I watched with her, the veil fell from my eyes. This original show has not aged well. I'm not referring to the quality of the classic comedy itself, but the cultural mores of the time. The show was sponsored by Philip Morris and part of the Lucy cast contract was to huff down cigarettes at literally every opportunity. It was frankly gratuitous. Yes, I understand the deal and the times but I don't want my daughter to have that influence. Fair enough, you say, but surely you don't judge the work from this more enlightened era and through the eyes of a 21st century parent? No, there's more. I sat down with the shows to watch without my daughter, after my non-tv-watching wife griped at what I was showing our kid, and realized that there was a kind of mean-spirited and petty spirit that ran though the show, particularly from Lucy. She was vindictive, jealous, alternately seductive and infantile, materialistic, unstable, childish, and other things that perpetuate a historically nasty view of women. Yes, I know that this was all part of the humor (adult acts like a spoiled child), the incongruity of it all. And, yes, from the standpoint of the 50s, she was an opinionated woman and a trailblazer and, in real life, a successful businessperson. But, in seeing Lucy through the eyes of my free and strong daughter, I saw that my tastes have changed as well. This may also be colored by my knowledge of the subsequent Lucy vehicles (The Lucy Show, et al, which frankly ....) and by her famously bitter, unhappy personality, that tainted such failed comebacks as the ill-fated remake of Mame and Stone Pillow. Saddened at my "loss of innocence", I put my DVDs up for sale and they sold within 48 hours. Judging from the many "New and Used" available, maybe others have discovered what I did as well. I know that this new DVD series is a hot item. I say all this not to taint or hamper the Lucy legend; I still respect and "love" Lucy. But, I just have put a realistic spin on things so that other like-minded consumers may fully understand what they are buying before enthusiastically investing in all the new Lucy DVDs. So, in summary, adults: maybe no prob. With kids: think about what you are inputting. (Sigh) Life was so simple and fun back when we didn't know squat . . .

See the very first pilot with Lucy & Desi.
The pilot episode is what you will see first. The pilot was filmed on March 2, 1951. It was Desi's 34th birthday. Lucille Ball was pregnant at the time with Lucie Arnaz. This pilot was never broadcast on television until...the man who played Pepito the Clown was given a reel of the pilot as a gift. When he died, this pilot was found (the story goes) under his bed. CBS aired this pilot episode for the very first time on April 30, 1990. It has never been shown in re-runs or syndication. (A pilot epiosde is made as a test. If the powers that be like it, a series could develop) Jerry Hausner appeared in 11 "I Love Lucy" episodes and in this pilot episode. In this DVD, "The Girls Want To Go To The Nightclub" (filmed 9-15-1951, aired 10-15-1951) is not the first episode filmed, but the first to be broadcast. This is actually episode #2. "Be A Pal", episode #3 (filmed 9-21-1951, aired 10-22-51). "The Diet" episode #3, (filmed 9-28-1951, aired 10-29-1951). Bonus material: Flubs, Radio Show, original "Phillip Morris" opening, and a lost scene and a restored soundtrack.

ground-Breaking Show
even as a Kid I knew there was something truly Unique&special about this Show,but it wasn't until I was a Little Bit Older did I understand Why.Lucille Ball&Desi Arnaz were a Ground-Breaking Couple.Fred&Ethel were something else.Classic Tv. ... Read more

Amazon.com

The four classic episodes on this volume of I Love Lucy include--straight out of 1952--the inspired "Lucy Fakes Illness," in which Lucille Ball's havoc-inducing redhead, Lucy Ricardo, attempts yet another ploy to participate in husband Ricky's (Desi Arnaz) nightclub act, this time by pretending to suffer from a fabricated psychological problem. Trouble is, Lucy's ill (mental) health doesn't bear scrutiny after Ricky brings home an actor pal pretending to be a doctor. Also on board: the great "Lucy Writes a Play," concerning Mrs. Ricardo's effort to write for the stage, resulting in Cuban-born Ricky unwittingly playing a British tobacco picker. "Breaking the Lease" finds the Ricardos and best friends the Mertzes in their first and perhaps funniest feud, and "The Ballet" becomes a truly memorable showcase for Ball's slapstick talents when Lucy's dream of stardom becomes a burlesque nightmare. Great, hilarious stuff. --Tom Keogh ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Finding Its Stride
Part way through season 1, I LOVE LUCY began to become the show we know and love with wonderful wit and hilarious physical humor. This DVD marks the beginning of the great episodes.

First up, when "Lucy Fakes Illness" to try to get into Ricky's new act, she is diagnosed with the "Go-bloots."

"Lucy Writes a Play" for her women's club, and tries to get Ricky to play the lead. When he refuses, they change settings, only to have some hilarious confusion at the end. This is the weakest of the episodes, but still quite good.

"Breaking the Lease" finds the Ricardos and Mertzes fighting after the Ricardos make some noise late at night. Will the Ricardos really leave the building? (I'll give you one guess.)

Finally, the first of many personal favorites over the course of the show. "The Ballet" finds Lucy once again trying to get into one of Ricky's new acts. (How often do they change anyway?) He needs both a ballet dancer, and a burlesque comic. While most of this show is Lucy without the other regulars, it's really gives her a chance to show off her impressive physical comedy skills and always makes me die laughing.

This DVD is a collector's dream. The episodes are presented in their entirety, and they look and sound sharp. There are occasional flaws in the picture, but considering the source material is 50 years old, it really isn't bad at all. The sound is presented in mono. While it won't challenge your sound system at all, it serves the purpose well and is faithful to the original audio recording. I thought it sounded a bit off at times on this disc, but going back again, I didn't notice it. Maybe that was just me. The extras feature the original opening and cuts to commercials plugging the show's sponsor (the episodes themselves use the heart we're used to from reruns), info on the guest cast, some mistakes that made it into the episode, footage restored to the first episode, a couple trivia type notes on the last episode, and one episode of Lucy's radio show "My Favorite Husband."

This DVD shows why the show has become such a classic - absolutely brilliant comedy. Even casual Lucy fans will want to have this disc in their collection.

Newly-discovered footage has been restored.
All "I Love Lucy" episodes on this DVD are in the same order filmed. "Lucy Fakes Illness", episode 16, filmed December 18, 1951, broadcast January 28, 1952. Newly-discovered footage has been restored to the first scene. Hal March was also in "Lucy Is Matchmaker" (episode 62, 1953). "Lucy Writes A Play", episode 17, filmed December 22, 1951, broadcast February 4, 1952. "Breaking The Lease", episode 18, filmed January 5, 1952, broadcast February 11, 1952. Barbara Pepper met Lucille Ball early in their care