The birthday card that I chose for Her Indoors featured this stunning 1942 picture of Lucile Ball. The lady loved the card, as I knew that she would, but was surprised to learn that the star of TVs I Love Lucy had previously had a film career in the 30's and 40's. Lucile Ball made any number of B movies and long before I Love Lucy was known as the "Queen Of The B's". Perhaps less well known is the fact that she was suspected by the FBI of being a covert member of the Communist Party and appeared before the notorious House Committee On Unamerican Activities. If the hardnosed boss of Desilu really was a closet tankie she certainly maintained her cover. As her husband and co-star Desi Arnaz said at the time, "the only thing red about Lucy is her hair - and that's fake."
1 comment:
Watch The Dark Corner; it's superb. You'll see Ms Ball in a new light if you're only used to seeing her as a ditzy screwball.
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