Lucy Mmp

by Charles Higham

Book Overview

The latest word....The startling inside story of the public triumphs and private heartbreaks of America's greatest comedienne. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0312909195
• ISBN13: 9780312909192
• Release Date: January 1987
• Publisher: St. Martin's Press
• Length: 261 Pages
• Weight: 0.35 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 4.2" x 6.8"

Customer Reviews

Decent Overview, but Lacking in Detail

This is a good overview for those who are only generally interested in the life of Lucille Ball, but hardcore fans may prefer the longer biography written by Kathleen Brady, written after her passing. Charles Higham had the advantage of interviewing Miss Ball and several of her contemporaries, and even for this, he is remarkably harsh in his discussions of her later life; her cutting remarks regarding Desi, Jr. and how difficult she was to work with are covered in great, uncomfortable detail. It's clear from this narrative that she never stopped loving Desi, though they could not remain married to one another and still maintain any semblance of sanity. Gary Morton was a much more suitable husband for a lady as mercurial and quick-tempered as Lucy. For fans who are very familiar with Lucille Ball and her work, there will be no new information here. For those who are new to her, or just casual admirers, it's a good start. I found nothing that was glaringly erroneous and nothing salacious. In a market of "biography" which is really just a means to express the author's base fantasies, I found Higham's approach to the comedy icon that is Lucy refreshing.

Academic-style biography succeeds

Higham really plunges deep with his account...I'm probablyin the minority who really and truly like his approach,but he hits on just about everything I was hoping tofind. Released just a few years before Lucy died andmonths before Desi died, the last few years of Lucy's life aren't covered. The tone is fairly despondent, and until reading the bio, I never knew just how rough thingsgot for Lucy after she and Desi started uptheir show in 1951. Their marriage was clearly a match made in hell. Luckily Lucywas able to go on and do a few other successfulprojects over the years, despite her unstablehealth and the incredible volume of stress she endured. One particularly nice chapter in the book is theone that describes the purchase of RKO studios (whichwould become Desilu Studios), putting nearly all their good fortuneon the line. This turned out to be a greatinvestment, but it was not without its problems-it was the last big business deal made duringtheir marriage. During the course of the deal,they were rehearsing the episode of "The Lucy Desi ComedyHour" with Tallulah Bankhead. Tallulah, beingher temperamental, melodramatic self, wasbreaking nearly every rule in the book. Shewas unpunctual, flubbed lines, drunk constantly, cursed outthe director and Lucy on the set. Desimade the deal, only to come back to theset and plunge headlong into another violentfight with their guest star. Luckily, on thenight the show was shot in front of theaudience, Tallulah was flawless.This book is a good supplement to the "Love, Lucy"autobiography resurrected by Lucie Arnaz. Highlyrecommended.

"I Love Lucy...---Even MORE!!"

I had to read this book as part of my AP american history course at school. We had a semester to read a book on an Amercian person, and being me, I procrastinated until the last two days. Let me say, reading this book was no chore! I enjoyed it, and flew right through it. Charles Higham presents excellent in depth information into the private, and not so private lives of the Arnezes. I'd recommend this book to any Lucy fan!