Lucille Ball was the premiere actress and comedienne of her time. She has made generations of fans laugh with I Love Lucy, but she was in many other films and television programs throughout her career. At the age of 15, Lucy left high school for a New York City drama school. Her modeling days introduced her to Hollywood, and she started acting in feature films in the 1930s.
The First Lady of Comedy never let up as she ventured into successful television roles and continued with classic films.
Critics’ Choice (1963): 5.9
Fans can see Lucille Ball with Bob Hope in this lesser-known movie from 1963. Critics’ Choice is about a ruthless theatre critic who finds himself reviewing a play that his wife wrote. The film is a great way to see Ball’s comic genius post-I Love Lucy, and it is available to rent for just $1.99.
Mame (1974): 6.1
Lucy starred opposite Robert Preston in Mame, a movie which “took two years to capture on film,” according to the trailer on IMDb. Lucille Ball played the title role of Mame in the 1974 film version of the Broadway musical. Viewers can enjoy the production for a $2.99 rental or $5.99 purchase on Prime and see the many faces of Lucy.
Too Many Girls (1940): 6.1
It’s a party in this 1940 film, which offers an early look at Lucy and Desi. Lucy plays Connie Casey, a young heiress in college whose father secretly sends four young men to be her bodyguard. Connie falls in love with Clint, Richard Carlson’s character (not Desi!).
However, this is believed to be the time when Lucy and Desi fell in love in real life. Desi had previously starred in the Broadway musical version of Too Many Girls. The music was composed by Richard Rodgers. Enjoy the movie for a $2.99 rental fee on Prime.
Beauty for the Asking (1939): 6.2
Lucille Ball plays Jean in the 1939 film Beauty for the Asking. Jean is a beautician who is engaged to be married to Denny. When she gets dumped for a richer woman and loses her job, Jean independently markets her facial cream to potential investors. The only woman to invest is Flora, Denny’s new flame. Jean is still in love with Denny as she works with his wife, but Jean might just have another suitor. Watch it on Prime as a $1.99 rental.
Ziegfield Follies (1945): 6.5
Pre-I Love Lucy, Lucille Ball lent her talents to Ziegfield Follies, a take on the real Ziegfield Follies regularly produced by Broadway impresario Florence Ziegfield in the early 1900s. In the 1945 movie, William Powell plays Ziegfield, who is looking down from the heavens to spark a new show in his old style. Lucy’s big number is “Here’s to the Ladies.” The film is only available for rental or purchase, starting at $2.99.
Here’s Lucy: 6.9
Amazon Prime is home to all six seasons of Here’s Lucy. The comedy series began in 1968, just a few months after the conclusion of The Lucy Show. Lucy is still up to her hilarious hi-jinks, and the show is not entirely different from its predecessor. Gale Gordon played Lucy’s boss, Mr. Mooney, in The Lucy Show, and he plays her brother-in-law/boss, Harry Carter, in Here’s Lucy. However, while actors played Lucy’s children on The Lucy Show, her biological children, Desi Jr. and Lucie Arnaz, played her kids on Here’s Lucy, Craig and Kim Carter.
The Long, Long Trailer (1954): 7.0
The Long, Long Trailer is a Desi and Lucy classic. It was based on a book by Clinton Twiss, and the film was directed by Vincente Minelli, the second husband of Judy Garland. In the story, Lucy and Desi are newly married, and they set out on the open road for their honeymoon…in a trailer. The 1954 adventure is a fan favorite with the same magic the couple brings to I Love Lucy.
The Lucy Show: 7.2
After Lucy and Desi divorced, Lucy charted a new path with The Lucy Show. It began in 1962 with Lucy, Viv, and their respective children living in a house together. The dynamic duo would get themselves into ridiculous but funny situations, whether it be a faux pas with a new date or a misunderstanding with one of the children.
Vivian Vance departed as a series regular before the later seasons but came back a few times to visit. The episode “Viv Visits Lucy” (season 5, episode 15) is a great example of the friends’ comedic timing as they try to save a young boy from becoming a beatnik. Unfortunately, whether one watches by season or by volume, the complete series is not there. Some available episodes incur an extra fee of $0.99 per month.
Yours, Mine, and Ours (1968): 7.2
This Lucille Ball movie is so popular that it inspired a remake in 2005. The original 1968 film stars Lucy as Helen North and Henry Fonda as Frank Beardsley. Helen has eight children, Frank has ten, and both parents are widowed. When Frank and Helen get together, they are a perfect match. The only problem is their unit of eighteen children.
Based on the true story from Helen Beardsley’s book, this movie is one of Lucille Ball’s most popular, but it is not available to watch in every location, unfortunately.
I Love Lucy: 8.4
Without a doubt, I Love Lucy is Lucille Ball’s most popular role. The series began shortly after Lucy and then-husband Desi Arnaz began their production company, Desilu Productions, in 1950. After experimenting with radio, Desi and Lucy starred in I Love Lucy from 1951 to 1957. Though some of the jokes have not aged well, much of the show is still hilarious. It was a heightened version of Lucy and Desi’s relationship, guiding them into parenthood and friendship with Fred and Ethel Mertz (William Frawley and Vivian Vance). All six seasons are on Prime, but there is a catch: they are only available with CBS All Access. The add-on has a seven-day trial and is $5.99 per month after that.
