Much has been said about Aaron Sorkin’s Being the Ricardos leading up to its December 2021 release. Billed as a slice-of-life, one-week view of the production of an episode of I Love Lucy instead of a life-long biopic of the actor couple, many wondered how Aaron Sorkin would pull it off, both with the story and casting.
But the movie contains so much action in its depiction of the one-week production of the episode “Fred and Ethel Fight,” along with some flashbacks and flash-forwards, and it’s packed with what Rotten Tomatoes calls Aaron Sorkin’s “spitfire dialogue,” making for a fascinating and fun watch.
When Madelyn Describes Lucy & Desi’s Relationship
“It Was Lucy And Desi, So They Were Either Tearing Each Other’s Heads Off Or Tearing Each Other’s Clothes Off.”
The very beginning of the film is a mockumentary-style scene involving older versions of the I Love Lucy staff writers setting up the beginning of the production week at the center of the film — a week that would end up with many more obstacles than just producing the episode.
Writer Madelyn Pugh delivers this line, but it was not really news to anyone. Lucy and Desi’s hot and cold relationship was widely known. Not only did the cast and crew have to deal with two stars instead of one, the stars happened to be a real-life couple. Real life fed into the show’s production, storylines and dialogue, which in turn fed into the couples’ real-life issues.
When The Famous Grape Stomping Scene Was Born
“Lucy In A Vat Of Grapes For Five Minutes.”
While dealing mostly with the particular week’s episode, the writers also invariably discuss ideas for other episodes, paying particular attention to some that would go on to become the most beloved, including the season five favorite “Lucy’s Italian Movie.”
With the help of the stars, the story develops into a trip to Italy for Ricky to perform at a concert. Lucy also books a movie about a winery. Looking to do some research, she goes to a winery where the grapes are stomped by foot. After losing an earring, Lucy spends five minutes in a vat of grapes, demonstrating a level of physical comedy that only Lucille Ball could pull off.
When Lucy Mentions Jess Oppenheimer’s Best Bit Of Writing
“Nah, It’s Still Vitameatavegamin.”
After executive producer and head writer Jess Oppenheimer gives Lucy a short, expletive-filled pep talk readying her to face the suits after the Communist Party story hits the papers, he retorts that the speech might be the best thing he’d ever written. Lucy playfully and slyly responds with this quote.
Of course, Lucy was referring to his work on the classic season one episode about the hard-to-pronounce medication that Lucy touts on a television commercial. Unaware that the concoction contains alcohol, Lucy’s commercial gets a bit out of hand. The comedy that ensues from this truly makes it one of the best episodes written, as Lucy attests.
When William Insulted Vivian
“And When Can We Expect You To Be Funny?”
This is one of the many great digs from William Frawley, who played Fred on I Love Lucy, to Vivian Vance, who played Ethel, during the movie. Fred and Ethel’s toxic relationship was well known on the set and around town and the movie left no darker detail out, including his drunkenness, her character’s intended homeliness, his age, her weight, and their talent. They were always after each other.
Choosing to set the movie during the week of the production of “Fred and Ethel Fight” was perfect because their ongoing real-life feud was really highlighted in the script. Their dry wit when delivering insults to each other just made it all the more delicious. The fact that Fred and Ethel’s feud during I Love Lucy never showed up on camera is shocking, and a real testament to their acting prowess.
When Lucy Was Told A Pregnant Woman Can’t Be On TV
“You Can’t Have A Pregnant Woman On Television!”
The second problem that appeared during an already hectic production week was the couple’s news that Lucy was pregnant. There were only a few weeks they could work before they’d have to try to hide the pregnancy. The executives felt certain they could hide the pregnancy with laundry baskets and furniture.
But the couple had the idea of writing the pregnancy into the show, something that had never happened before on TV. Aghast, CBS executive Howard Wenke delivers this line with incredulity. The other executives, lawyers, and sponsors in the room readily agree. In fact, they feel uncomfortable even talking about her pregnancy. Ultimately, a higher-up sided with the powerful couple, and the episode happened the next season. This is just one of the ways that I Love Lucy was a groundbreaking 1950s sitcom.
When Lucy Had Enough
“If I Hit Him In The Face Until He Is Bleeding, Does Our Insurance Cover That?”
Throughout the production week, Lucy continually has run-ins with a young director in whom she has “little confidence.” The tension gets more and more palpable, especially as Lucy has issues with the dinner scene and takes it upon herself to find a fix.
Lucy delivers this line under her breath to Desi as the fight with the director comes to a head. She halts the production several times to hyper-focus on the scene, as the director fights back. Chaos ensues and a break is called, but Lucy’s status as more than just the lead actress is solidified.
When Lucy Was Accused Of Being A Communist
“I’m Not A Communist. I’ve Never Been A Communist. But Technically, Yeah, I Am.”
The first problem that tries to railroad the production is the Sunday night radio host accusation that Lucille Ball was a member of the Communist Party. This news was the talk of the Monday morning table read and executive meeting and was reflective of the environment in Hollywood at the time.
When Lucy is asked point-blank by the executives whether or not she is a Communist, her response leaves them even more confused. She explains that she was raised, in part, by her grandfather, who was interested in worker’s rights. In her 20s, she honored him by checking “Communist Party” on a voter card, which gets her brought before the House Un-American Activities Committee, but she was later cleared by the committee and the FBI.
When Vivian Vance Snapped Back At Lucy
“Could Be Worse. You Could Be Playing Ethel.”
Although Lucy and Ethel’s Vivian Vance had a good working relationship, at times, their roles caused a strain. Vance, who was younger and prettier than her character was meant to be, dressed in older clothes to downplay her beauty. Lucy allegedly felt there was only room for one beautiful woman on the show.
In the film, there is a scene where Vance’s weight loss is called into question, with Lucy quipping she needed to be at the weight she was hired to play. Vance also complained that Ethel was the butt of an ongoing joke about her weight, one of the worst jokes on I Love Lucy that aged poorly, and that she is not pretty enough for Fred. When Lucy talked about all of the issues she faced that week, Vance shuts her down with this terse response.
When Lucy Knew When She Was Being Funny
“I’m Lucille Ball. When I’m Being Funny, You’ll Know It.”
Twice, early in the film, people mistake Lucy’s biting sarcasm for comedy by asking her if she’s being funny. It seemed that her reaction to an uncomfortable situation was to make a joke. Backed with even more sarcasm, Lucy comes back with this self-confident, but well-earned response.
But Lucy was often being funny. Her dry, quick-witted, on-her-feet kind of funny, coupled with her incomparable physical comedy, is what made her a genius. She could tell a joke with her eyes, with her arms, or with an awkward fall.
When Desi Delivers That Iconic Line
“Lucy, I’m home.”
Perhaps the most memorable quote from I Love Lucy is delivered by Desi’s Ricky Ricardo in nearly every episode. He gets a laugh each time he announces his arrival because the audience knows he’s often walking into the latest of Lucy’s situations.
Throughout the movie, there’s the recurring theme of Lucy wanting a home. Despite owning three houses, Lucy really wanted a home where her husband would stay instead of going out doing the things reported in the tabloids. During the live performance before a studio audience, Desi delivers the line that stops Lucy in her tracks and it occurs to her that she has a home. It may not be the exact home she planned, but she had made it one, nonetheless.
