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I Love Lucy

  • TV Series
  • 1951–19571951–1957
  • GG
  • 30m
IMDb RATING
8.4/10
24K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,102
70
Episode guide
  • Cast & crew
  • User reviews
  • Trivia
  • IMDbPro
Lucille Ball in I Love Lucy (1951)
Home Video Trailer from Paramount Home Entertainment
Play trailer1:18
3 Videos
99+ Photos
ComedyFamily

The wife of a band leader constantly tries to become a star - in spite of her having no talent, and gets herself (along with her best friend) into the funniest predicaments.The wife of a band leader constantly tries to become a star - in spite of her having no talent, and gets herself (along with her best friend) into the funniest predicaments.The wife of a band leader constantly tries to become a star - in spite of her having no talent, and gets herself (along with her best friend) into the funniest predicaments.

IMDb RATING
8.4/10
24K
YOUR RATING
POPULARITY
1,102
70
  • Stars
    • Lucille Ball
    • Desi Arnaz
    • Vivian Vance
Top credits
  • Stars
    • Lucille Ball
    • Desi Arnaz
    • Vivian Vance
  • See production, box office & company info
    • 106User reviews
    • 23Critic reviews
  • See more at IMDbPro
    • Won 4 Primetime Emmys
      • 8 wins & 25 nominations total

    Episodes181

    Browse episodes
    TopTop-rated

    Videos3

    Lucille Ball's Lasting Legacy & Her Biopic Details
    Clip 4:15
    Lucille Ball's Lasting Legacy & Her Biopic Details
    I Love Lucy: The Complete Series
    Trailer 1:18
    I Love Lucy: The Complete Series
    I Love Lucy
    Trailer 2:30
    I Love Lucy

    Photos565

    Lucille Ball in I Love Lucy (1951)
    Lucille Ball in I Love Lucy (1951)
    Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball in I Love Lucy (1951)
    Desi Arnaz in I Love Lucy (1951)
    Desi Arnaz and Karl Freund in I Love Lucy (1951)
    Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball in I Love Lucy (1951)
    Lucille Ball and Karl Freund in I Love Lucy (1951)
    Desi Arnaz, Lucille Ball, William Frawley, and Vivian Vance in I Love Lucy (1951)
    John Wayne and Lucille Ball in I Love Lucy (1951)
    Lucille Ball in I Love Lucy (1951)
    Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball in I Love Lucy (1951)
    Desi Arnaz in I Love Lucy (1951)

    Top cast

    Edit
    Lucille Ball
    Lucille Ball
    • Lucy Ricardoas Lucy Ricardo
    180 episodes180 eps • 1951–1957
    Desi Arnaz
    Desi Arnaz
    • Ricky Ricardoas Ricky Ricardo
    180 episodes180 eps • 1951–1957
    Vivian Vance
    Vivian Vance
    • Ethel Mertzas Ethel Mertz
    179 episodes179 eps • 1951–1957
    William Frawley
    William Frawley
    • Fred Mertzas Fred Mertz
    179 episodes179 eps • 1951–1957
    Joseph A. Mayer
    • Little Ricky Ricardoas Little Ricky Ricardo
    32 episodes32 eps • 1953–1956
    Michael Mayer
    Michael Mayer
    • Little Ricky Ricardoas Little Ricky Ricardo
    32 episodes32 eps • 1953–1956
    Richard Keith
    Richard Keith
    • Little Ricky Ricardoas Little Ricky Ricardo…
    24 episodes24 eps • 1956–1957
    Bennett Green
    Bennett Green
    • Messengeras Messenger…
    22 episodes22 eps • 1951–1956
    Hazel Pierce
    • Party Guestas Party Guest…
    19 episodes19 eps • 1951–1957
    Louis Nicoletti
    • Waiteras Waiter…
    16 episodes16 eps • 1953–1957
    Jerry Hausner
    Jerry Hausner
    • Jerryas Jerry…
    14 episodes14 eps • 1951–1954
    Elizabeth Patterson
    Elizabeth Patterson
    • Mrs. Trumbullas Mrs. Trumbull…
    11 episodes11 eps • 1952–1956
    Frank Nelson
    Frank Nelson
    • Freddie Fillmoreas Freddie Fillmore…
    11 episodes11 eps • 1951–1957
    Doris Singleton
    Doris Singleton
    • Caroline Applebyas Caroline Appleby…
    10 episodes10 eps • 1953–1957
    Barbara Pepper
    Barbara Pepper
    • Party Guestas Party Guest…
    10 episodes10 eps • 1952–1955
    Kathryn Card
    Kathryn Card
    • Mrs. McGillicuddyas Mrs. McGillicuddy…
    9 episodes9 eps • 1954–1956
    Richard Reeves
    Richard Reeves
    • Assassinas Assassin…
    9 episodes9 eps • 1951–1954
    Bob Jellison
    Bob Jellison
    • Bellboyas Bellboy…
    7 episodes7 eps • 1952–1955
    • All cast & crew
    • See more cast details at IMDbPro

    Storyline

    Edit
    Bandleader Ricky Ricardo would be happy if his wife Lucy would just be a housewife. Instead, she constantly tries to perform at his club, the Tropicana, and make life comically frantic in the apartment building they share with landlord and best friends, Fred and Ethel Mertz. —Ed Stephan <stephan@cc.wwu.edu>
    slapstick comedyhusband wife relationshipf ratedhit tv showspeaking spanish32 more
    • Plot summary
    • Plot synopsis
    • Genres
      • Comedy
      • Family
    • Certificate
      • G
    • Parents guide

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      Lucille Ball decided to go ahead with the series after having a dream in which Carole Lombard - the screwball comedy actress that died in a plane crash and who was a close friend of Lucy - recommended she take a shot at the risky idea of entering television, and to get off of radio.
    • Goofs
      While Lucy is somewhat consistent in her lack of talent, Ethel at various times is shown to be excellent on the piano, as well as, having a very basic playing ability. In one episode, she plays 'Sweet Sue' and other songs while the group sings, but in various episodes where Lucy is trying to form a band, she is hopelessly inept on the instrument.
    • Quotes

      Lucy Ricardo: How much do you want to bet?

      Fred Mertz: Ten dollars.

      Ethel Mertz: Well what's the matter with twenty dollars?

      Ricky Ricardo: What's the matter with thirty dollars?

      Lucy Ricardo: What's the matter with fifty dollars?

      Fred Mertz: What was the matter with ten dollars?

    • Crazy credits
      In the series' finale: The Ricardos Dedicate a Statue (1957), "Yankee Doodle Dandy" music is played, as the episode goes to & comes from a commercial break.
    • Alternate versions
      Many scenes or parts of scenes are cut from the episodes for syndication, to make room for the much larger number of commercials present today.
    • Connections
      Alternate-language version of Älskade Lotten (1996)
    • Soundtracks
      Jingle Bells
      Written by James Pierpont

      Performed by Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance and William Frawley

    User reviews106

    Review
    Top review
    9/10
    "Lucy" is timeless classic comedy
    "I Love Lucy" is one of my faves guaranteed to elicit a constant belly laugh from me. Great way to start any day! Ball's comic timing in her scenes has NEVER been surpassed. Since I was born in 1945 this is also somewhat of an opportunity to see what life in America was like when I was a mischievous child. Today, of course, we know more than we want to about the real-life personality conflicts behind the scenes and Desi's constant insensitivity toward Lucille. Ms Ball was a great role model for young ladies, esp. in the industry, because of her managerial/financial/directorial brilliance. I don't think that the later "Lucy" sitcoms were even as good as the "I love Lucy" series.
    helpful•14
    4
    • jdburkitt
    • Jan 21, 2007

    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 15, 1951 (United States)
    • Country of origin
      • United States
    • Languages
      • English
      • Spanish
    • Also known as
      • Lucy in Connecticut
    • Filming locations
      • General Service Studios - 6625 Romaine Street, Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, USA
    • Production company
      • Desilu Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Technical specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      30 minutes
    • Color
      • Black and White
    • Sound mix
      • Mono
    • Aspect ratio
      • 4:3

    Related news

    ‘Being The Ricardos’ Team On Shouting Their Lucy & Desi Love Story From The Rooftop (Of A Parking Lot) – Contenders New York
    ‘Being The Ricardos’ Team On Shouting Their Lucy & Desi Love Story From The Rooftop (Of A Parking Lot) – Contenders New York
    Dec 4Deadline Film + TV
    Aaron Sorkin Hopes People Will ‘Pay Less Attention to Twitter’ After Watching ‘Being the Ricardos’
    Aaron Sorkin Hopes People Will ‘Pay Less Attention to Twitter’ After Watching ‘Being the Ricardos’
    Dec 3Variety Film + TV

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