“The French Revue”

(S3;E7 ~ November 16, 1953) Directed by William Asher. Written by

Jess Oppenheimer, Madelyn Pugh and Bob Carroll, Jr. Filmed October 15, 1953 at Ren-Mar Studios. 

Rating: 60.0/81

Synopsis ~ A trip to a French restaurant makes Lucy think she should take French lessons, which then inspires a French revue at the Tropicana. 

This episode is based on Lucy’s radio show, “My Favorite Husband,” titled "The French Lessons” #66 broadcast December 9, 1949. 

This episode was filmed on the series’ second anniversary. The first episode aired on October 15, 1951.  

While Lucy and Ricky lived in their first apartment (Seasons 1 & 2) there was always a little touch of France on screen. The above painting by Maurice Utrillo “Restaurant au Mont Cenis” (1922) was hung prominently on the back wall of the living room above the piano, or the desk. The actual print was gifted to Lucille’s costume designer Elois Jennsen and auctioned off upon her death. 

The episode opens in Little Ricky’s nursery where Lucy is putting him in his nightclothes before going out to dinner.  During the scene, Little Ricky (The Mayer Twins) picks up an item off his changing table and it falls to the floor.  Desi watches it go, but does not pick it up!  

Mrs. Trumbull and Caroline Appleby are mentioned, but do not appear in this episode. 

Entering the dining room of the un-named French restaurant, Lucy remarks that it is just like being in Paris, something that she will get to experience for for real in season five, when three episodes are set in the City of Light.

Frequent “I Love Lucy” background performer Leoda Richards can be seen dining in the back right corner of the French Restaurant. Richards also filled out the background on “The Lucy Show” and “Here’s Lucy.”

The Ricardos expect Fred to know French because he was in France during World War One. The Mertzes expect Ricky to know French because of the similarities between the Romance languages. They all end up bluffing and stalling, finally requesting four orders of “closed on Sundays.” The only English on the menu is ‘Acme Printing Company’ (a Union shop, according to Fred). The waiter orders for them: “La specialite de la maison: un petit roti, des petits pois, et el quelque chose de pomme de terre frite,” which translates into “roast meat, peas, and some kind of fried potatoes.”

Fred’s military history as a dough boy in France during World War One is discussed. When he is frustrated that he cannot read the French menu, Ethel reminds him that he was only there for three weeks and that the restaurant doesn’t serve ‘Hinky-Dinky Parlez-Vous.’ “Mademoiselle from Armentières” (aka “Hinky-Dinky Parlez-Vous”), was a song sung by soldiers during World War One. Fred sang it in “Equal Rights” (S3;E4) and does so again in “The Passports” (S5;E11) and “Paris at Last” (S5;E18).

When waiter Robert DuBois (Alberto Morin) offers to give Lucy French lessons for free, Ethel facetiously intimates that he might want something romantic from Mrs. Ricardo. The first thing DuBois asks Lucy is whether her husband is home or not, hinting that Ethel might have been right! 

Alberto Morin was not French, but was actually born in Puerto Rico. He had appeared on the series as Carlos, one of Ricky’s “Cuban Pals” (S1;E28). The surname ‘DuBois’ will be used again as Charles Boyer’s pseudonym in “Lucy Meets Charles Boyer” (S5;E19). 

For this episode, the piano has been moved from its usual place under the window to under the kitchen shutters.  This seems to be solely so Ricky can plunk out a few notes of “Louise” without turning his back to the camera. 

When DuBois is teaching Lucy French, he says the word “cat” but Lucille Ball says “What?” in order to get Morin to repeat it.  Ball would typically do this if an actor spoke a key word when the studio audience was still laughing. Had the audience not clearly heard the word, the joke would not be funny.  

DuBois explains why some words are preceded by “Le” and others by “La”:

DUBOIS: “In French, everything it is either masculine or feminine. You Americans don’t have that.”
LUCY: “You haven’t been in this country very long, have you?” 

Like most waiters, DuBois is really in show business and simply wants to audition for Ricky at the Tropicana. This is reminiscent of when “Lucy Hires an English Tutor” (S2;E13) who agrees to provide free grammar lessons provided he be allowed to sing at the club. 

Fred and Ethel demonstrate their Apache dance. 

Ethel enjoys the slapping part best.  In “The Adagio” (S1;E12), Frenchman Jean Valjean Raymond is recruited to teach Lucy the Apache dance, but he has more than dancing on his mind, so Fred steps in to teach Lucy instead.  

Lucy says that a French revue at the club would be very popular: 

LUCY: “Folies Bergere type stuff and the Can-Can stuff and Moulin Rouge and Toulouse-Lautrec paintings all around.” 

Earlier in 1953, the John Huston film Moulin Rouge starring José Ferrer and Zsa Zsa Gabor was nominated for seven Academy Awards. However, Lucy may have been simply referring to the actual Paris night spot and not the film.

Also earlier in 1953 Can-Can, a musical by Cole Porter, opened on Broadway. It starred Hans Conried, who played Percy Livermore in “Lucy Hires an English Tutor” (S2;E13), a similar plot. The musical was choreographed by Michael Kidd, who would also put Lucille Ball through her paces when she did Wildcat in 1961. The 1960 film version of Can-Can starred Maurice Chevalier, who is mentioned several times in this episode! Again, Lucy may be just referring to the dance, not the musical. 

The underscoring for the scene transitions incorporates the tune “Frère Jacques,” a traditional French nursery rhyme as well as hints of ”La Marseillaise,“ the national anthem of France. 

At one point everyone imitates Maurice Chevalier by donning straw hats and singing “Louise,” a song he introduced to the world in the 1929 film Innocents of Paris. 

Later at the Tropicana, Ricky sings “Valentine,” another of Chevalier’s signature tunes. 

Background dance music features “Aquellos Ojos Verdes” (aka "Green Eyes”) by Nilo Menendez. 

When Ricky forbids Lucy from coming anywhere near the club during the revue, Lucy bets him $50 she can get in anyway, and tries a number of clever disguises, like hiding under a lampshade. 

When being picked up by security, a figure can be seen watching from offstage.  This is likely a member of the crew, but might also be a cast member not in the scene. 

Fred Aldrich (Security Guard on right) makes his third of five appearances on the series, the first of which was as the Butcher in “The Freezer” (S1;E29). Richard Reeves (Security Guard on left) makes his seventh of eight appearances, having notably played neighbor Bill Foster (Grace’s jealous husband) in two episodes in season one.

Lucy also tries to sneak in as a hairy double-sided worker in overalls… 

As well as in a bass case carried by a disguised Ethel. 

Finally, she dresses as a dowdy dowager, a character visually reminiscent of Mrs. Worthington Proudfoot in “Ricky Asks For a Raise” (S1;E35). Dancing behind Lucy in the above screen grab is background player Leoda Richards, who was also seen in the French restaurant at the start of the episode!

The dowager chats briefly with the Tropicana head waiter, played by frequent “I Love Lucy” background player Louis Nicoletti.  

Also in the Tropicana audience is Joan Carey (yellow arrow), a frequent background performer and Lucille Ball’s stand-in from the fourth season of “The Lucy Show” through “Here’s Lucy”. [Thanks to the Lucy Lounge for this siting!]

Naturally, Lucy eventually works her way into the show, wreaking havoc in a line of Can-Can dancers. Knowing he has been beaten, Ricky pays off the bet mid-dance!  

FUTURE ‘FRENCH CONNECTIONS’!

Lucy clearly didn’t continue with the French lessons for very long because when preparing for the Europe trip, she has to study French all over again.  The above still photo was from one of the short intros created to introduce repeat episodes, in this case, the repeat was to air while the gang was preparing for their trip to Europe.

Lucy and the gang were immersed in French culture during their trip to Europe, starting with “Paris at Last” (S5;E18)… 

Continuing in “Lucy Gets a Paris Gown” (S5;E19)… 

and “Lucy Meets Charles Boyer” (S5;E20)…

and concluding their European trip in Nice when “Lucy Goes To Monte Carlo” (S5;E25).

Maurice Chevalier guest eventually stars as himself in “Lucy Goes to Mexico,” a 1958 episode of “The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour”. In it, Chevalier and Ricky also sing “Valentine” with a verse by Little Ricky!  Lucy once again does her Chevalier impersonation and sings “Louise.” 

Lucille Ball was the guest star on a 1962 “Danny Kaye Show” in which a sketch had them both dining at an elegant French restaurant…  

KAYE: “Where the menu is in French, and the waiters are in French, and the prices are insane. The food is not only in French, but in Brandy, Cognac, and pure alcohol. You can get drunk just by breathing the napkin.”

 And sure enough, Lucy does!  During the special, Kaye told a story imitating Maurice Chevalier’s accent.

In 1967 Lucy Carmichael met a French movie star played by Jacques Bergerac. 

Lucy’s adventures were translated into many languages, including French! 

Lucy and Viv played maids in a 1964 episode of “The Lucy Show” and served the meal with an international flair. France was represented by the bread course, naturally. Norman Varden is the hostess. 

In real life, Lucille Ball took her kids Lucie and Desi Jr. on a trip to France in 1959. 

In the October 5, 2001 edition of Entertainment Weekly, Debra Messing and Eric McCormack (”Will & Grace”) recreated a moment from “The French Revue”!