Lucille Ball's first starring comedy role: The Affairs of Annabel (1938).

The Affairs of Annabel(1938). Comedy. Lucille Ball and Jack Oakie. Ball, In her first starring comedy role. The Affairs of Annabel" was the first of a film series. After the second entry, "Annabel Takes a Tour" (1938), it ended.

"Wonder Pictures" movie star Annabel Allison, naively goes along with studio publicist Lanny Morgan and gets herself sent to prison for 30 days.



Annabel, is hopping mad by the time she gets out of prison and she and the studio's head Howard Webb, fires Lanny. Quick on his feet, Lanny hires an older actress to play his sickly mother and tricks the soft-hearted Allison into having him re-hired.

Then, to promote her new project, A Maid and a Man, Lanny tricks Allison into working as a maid and moves her in with the Fletchers. Allison, now called Mary Mason, brings in Lanny to wax the Fletchers' floors and hire a caterer to prepare dinner.

During the dinner, Mrs. Fletcher's brother, the "Major," an inventor, brings home two "financiers," Bailey and Martin, who Mr. Fletcher soon discovers are wanted fugitives. Not wanting to be turned in to the police, the fugitives hold the Fletcher' s hostage.

Meanwhile, Allison's, film is about to go into production. Lanny's arrival at the Fletcher house to pick up Allison, is badly timed and Allison, sends him away before the fugitives see him.

Bailey then forces Allison to pick up the ransom money with him.

On the way back to the house, Allison leaves a bill from the ransom money at a newsstand and sees her prison "mug shot" printed in the front page of a magazine.

Webb and Lanny, hire extras to pose as policemen and with the help of Vladimir Dukov, a "serious" movie director, stage a phony raid on the Fletchers' house.

After a series of shootouts with the fugitives, Allison out smarts them with a fancy move and rescues both herself and Lanny. As soon as Allison's publicity tour ends, the sly Lanny begins plotting another publicity stunt for her...

The comedy is kind of hard to follow, but the charming cast has good energy. A must see for all Lucy fans.

Ruth Donnelly (May 17, 1896 – November 17, 1982), began her stage career at the age of 17 in 1913, in The Quaker Girl.

Her Broadway debut brought her to the attention of George M. Cohan, who cast her in numerous comic-relief roles in such musicals as, Going Up (1917).

Though she made her first film appearance in 1913, her Hollywood career began in earnest in 1931 and lasted until 1957.

In her films she often played the wife of Guy Kibbee in, Footlight Parade, Wonder Bar, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.

Among her roles was the part of Sister Michael in, The Bells of St. Mary's, starring Bing Crosby and Ingrid Bergman.

Pawsome Pet Picture: Lucille Ball.

Personal Quote:

 "Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead."

I love Lucy episode with a young Barbara Eden.

I love Lucy episode with a young Barbara Eden playing visiting cousin "Diana", who all the men pay attention
to and the women get jealous.


  

Pawsome Pet Pictures: Lucille Ball

You see that gentleman over there? I think he wants to come talk to me.

Let's play hard to get.

Loving Lucy Blogathon.

Lucille Ball (August 6, 1911 – April 26, 1989). Lucy had one of Hollywood's longest careers, she began acting in the 1930s, becoming both a radio actress and B-movie star in the 1940s, and then a television star during the 1950s. She was still making films in the 1960s and 1970s.

Ball received thirteen Emmy Award nominations and four wins. In 1977 Ball was among the first recipients of the Women in Film Crystal Award. She was the recipient of the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award in 1979, the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Kennedy Center Honors in 1986 and the Governors Award from the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences in 1989.

In 1929, Ball worked as model began her performing career on Broadway using the stage name Dianne Belmont. She performed in many small movie roles for RKO Radio Pictures. Ball was labeled as the "Queen of the Bs".

In 1951, Ball was a big part in the creation of the television series I Love Lucy and "The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour". Ball went on to star in two more successful television series: The Lucy Show, Here's Lucy and Life with Lucy.

Lucy married Cuban bandleader Desi Arnaz in 1940. On July 17, 1951, almost 40 years old, Ball gave birth to their first child, Lucie Désirée Arnaz. A year and a half later, Ball gave birth to their second child,  Desi Arnaz, Jr. Ball and Arnaz divorced on May 4, 1960. She then married her second husband, stand up comedian and business partner Gary Morton, for twenty-eight years.

Personal Quote:

"Once in his life, every man is entitled to fall madly in love with a gorgeous redhead".

One of my favorite Lucy movies is, Panama Lady(1939). A story about Lucy, a cabaret girl, who loses her job and is stranded in Panama. With no one to turn to, agrees to join up with Lenore and Pearl, who plan on knocking out and robbing, Dennis McTeague. When he comes to, he calls the police, not wanting to go to jail, Lucy agrees to travel with him to South America, where he is drilling for oil, and works for him as his housekeeper. Before leaving, Lucy leaves a note for Roy Harmon, her boyfriend, telling him where she is going. When Roy, a smuggler, reads the note, he has just been raided, blaming Lucy for tipping off his enemies, goes looking for her.

It is not long before Lucy, falls in love with McTeague, which makes Cheema, his girl friend jealous. Roy, arrives just as McTeague strikes oil and decides to steal his claim, but.. Cheema, kills him and then frames Lucy, for the murder. Will McTeague, be able to save her from the lie?

I really enjoyed watching Lucy's electric performance in which she steals every scene, in this "B" film Lucy Recardo, she is not!

One of my favorite lines in the movie is: "I'm going to take just one more crack at making a gentleman out of you, and if that doesn't work, we're really in trouble!"

Please click here to learn more about Lucy.

STAGE DOOR (1937).

Stage Door (1937). Adapted from the play by the same name. Cast: Katharine Hepburn, Ginger Rogers, Adolphe Menjou, Gail Patrick, Constance Collier, Andrea Leeds, Samuel S. Hinds, Lucille Ball, Eve Arden and Ann Miller.

When Terry Randall, an aspiring actress arrives at the Footlights Club, she is greeted by a group of actresses and chorus girls. Terry's uppity manner immediately alienates her from her roommates.

Terry Randall: I see that, in addition to your other charms, you have that insolence generated by an inferior upbringing.

Jean Maitland: Hmm! Fancy clothes, fancy language and everything!

Terry Randall: Unfortunately, I learned to speak English correctly.

Jean Maitland: That won't be of much use to you here. We all talk pig Latin.

Because of her relationship with producer Anthony Powell, known womanizer, Jean also dislikes room mate, Linda Shaw.

Loved by all is Kay Hamilton, a actress who had done very well so far and has since been unable to find work.

Jean is spotted during a dance rehearsal by Powell, who arranges an audition for her and her partner Annie at a nightclub.

Later, Kay faints in Powell's office when she learns that the producer has refused to see her. Angry, Terry bursts into Powell's office and gives him what for, for his callous behavior. Powell dismisses Terry, but when he is later approached by a potential backer who has made casting Terry a part of his offer, agrees to star her in his next play, Enchanted April.

 

 Powell then invites Jean to dine with him and to spite Linda, Jean accepts. Powell shows Jean, pictures of his young son and estranged wife and plays a "poor little me" routine to win her over. When Jean becomes drunk, Powell sends her home, where Terry helps her to bed.

Later, Powell tells Terry that he wants her to star in Enchanted April. Kay is stunned to learn that Terry has been cast in the role and wishes her room mate's good luck. In spite of Terry's bad performance during rehearsal, Powell keeps her in the show. What will it take to turn Terry's out look on life?

A wonderful film, with great dialogue. The real treat for viewers in this film, is the chance to see several popular young actresses early in their careers.




Fun Facts:

Ann Miller was only 14 years old when she performed in this film. She had lied about her age and produced a fake birth certificate. Miller was tall and beautiful at age 14 that she pulled it off. It is quite impressive to see her holding her own while dancing with Ginger Rogers, by then the dance partner of Fred Astaire.

Review: Five Came Back (1939)

Another great film from that golden year of 1939 that got overshadowed by the big guns of Gone with the Wind, Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, The  Wizard of Oz and others. But this little taut thriller is really good and deserves to be on that list of 1939's best films. Twelve people are aboard Coast Air Line's flagship the Silver Queen enroute to South America when the airplane encounters a storm and is blown off course. The people include Lucille Ball as Peggy, a woman with a past. C. Aubrey Smith as Professor Spengler with his wife Martha (Played by Elizabeth Risdon). Also on board is Wendy Barrie as Alice, a secretary secretly eloping with her boss/fiancee Judson Ellis (played by Patric Knowles). Then there is the always reliable Allen Jenkins as racketeer Pete who is escorting Tommy, the son of his boss back to America. Also on board is John Carradine as Crimp, who is escorting the criminal Vasquez (played by Joseph Calleia) to stand trial for his crimes. And finally the pilots Bill (Chester Morris) and Joe (Kent Taylor).

The pilots are able to land the plane into a remote jungle, but it is populated with headhunters. The pilots have to repair the plane before they can try to take off and it's a race against time. As the headhunters drums signal they are preparing to attack. Days turns into weeks and most everybody pull their own weight except for Crimp and Ellis who become full on alcoholics. Everyone else remains strong and vigilant. The top performances are by Calleia who actually turns out to be a fair and actually likable man. He is at ease with the current situation because he knows once the plane if fixed, he is that much closer to being hanged for his crimes. Lucille Ball is very good in a rare dramatic role that makes her tarnished lady trying her best to be a better person, despite the resistance from others. Wendy Barrie is also very good as the lovestruck secretary who manages to put her alcoholic fiancee in check. Allen Jenkins is tops as Pete, who believes in honor, despite being on the wrong side of the law. Morris and Taylor are very good in their roles as the pilots. And C. Aubrey Smith is excellent as the Professor who is very knowledgeable about the current situtation. The final twist at the end is a shocker and makes one take value of life and choices. There are a few deaths before then but when the climax comes you will be completely enthralled.

The running time is only about 75 minutes long but it is a taut, tension filled 75 minutes. It's to the director's skill and credit that we actually never see the headhunters but we know they're coming thanks to those constantly banging drums. Five Came Back is a top notch thriller that deserves more attention now since it didn't receive it back then. A pleasing little B thriller from yesteryear.
B+
MOVIE CLIP FIVE WHO CAME BACK.

THE DARK CORNER (1946)

The Dark Corner (1946) Noir. Director: Henry Hathaway. Cast: Lucille Ball, Mark Stevens and Clifton Webb. The film features a rare dramatic role for Lucille Ball.

New York police lieutenant Frank informs private investigator Bradford, that his California friends have asked him to keep an eye on him. After hearing the news Brad, decides to go out to dinner with his secretary, Kathleen. They notice a man following them, Brad puts Kathleen in a cab, and follows him. Brad jumps the man and forces him at gunpoint to go to the office. Brad finds out that the man is working for attorney Jardine. Brad sends him on his way but decides to keep his wallet.

Kathleen finds Brad back at his office and when she tells him she wants to help. He warns her to leave and not to get involved.

Meanwhile, at a party celebrating the anniversary of art dealer Hardy Cathcart and his wife Mari, Jardine takes the opportunity to meet up with a married woman, who he is blackmailing.

The next evening, the same man follows Brad and Kathleen from a nightclub to her apartment, outside the apartment, the man tries to run Brad over with his car. Brad gets a partial license plate number, while he and Kathleen, wait for the police at the corner cafe. He tells her about his ex-partner Jardine, stealing money from the firm. When Jardine offered to drive Brad back to his house to pay back the money, he knocked him out and put him behind the wheel of his car, where he had an accident, killing the driver of a truck. Brad received a two-year sentence for manslaughter.

Later that evening, having gotten Jardine's address from the police, Brad goes to confront Jardine and knocks him out after he denies hiring someone to follow him. Will Brad ever get the truth out of Jardine and prove his innocence?

I watched the classic film, The Dark Corner, for the first time. It kind of reminded me of the film noir Laura. Probably because Clifton Webb's, character had similar characteristics to Waldo. I also thought Bradford Galt, character had some similarities to the Dana Andrews detective character.