Lucy and The Great Caruso

The episode “Lucy’s Bicycle Trip” (1956) and other “I Love Lucy” episodes provide many connections to the 1951 MGM bio-flick The Great Caruso (1951) starring Mario Lanza.

When cycling through Italy, the gang takes shelter in the barn of a farmer played by Mario Siletti who played Papa Caruso.

Later, Lucy bumps heads with an Italian border guard played by Harry Dar Boggia, who played a bellhop in the film. 

But the connections don’t end there. Several other actors in the film would go on to earn “I Love Lucy” credits. Most recognizable is probably Ernesto Molinari, who was also a bellhop in the film and played the vineyard boss who assigns Lucy to stomp grapes in “Lucy’s Italian Movie." 

Shepard Menken played Fucito in the film, but he would also be seen in four different episodes of “I Love Lucy,” playing Frenchmen Jean Valjean Raymond and Charpontier, as well as art store owner William Abbott and Lucy and Ricky’s eye doctor? 

‘Queen of the Extras’ Bess Flowers was in the audience for "Over the Teacups” (“Ethel’s Birthday”) and was also in the audience for Caruso’s Lucia di Lammermoor. Also in the audience for “Over the Teacups” was Harold Miller, a party guest in “Caruso.”

Most obscure of all, Bert Stevens was a Tropicana guest in “Ricky Loses His Voice” and billed as ‘Man in the Street’ in the film. Next time you are watching The Great Caruso, look out for these familiar faces!