RIP STANLEY DONEN

1924-2019

Stanley Donen was the film director and choreographer responsible for two of Hollywood’s biggest hit musicals, Singin’ in the Rain (1950), and On the Town (1949). On Broadway, he was in the chorus of Best Foot Forward (1941) and when MGM acquired the screen rights he was chosen as Assistant Choreographer, working with LUCILLE BALL, who played herself in the 1943 film. This was Donen’s first experience in Hollywood. He also had a small role in the film as a cadet. 

Later in life, Donen was asked for his recollections of Best Foot Forward:

“A fun musical, that frequently had me asking, ‘When is Lucy coming back on screen?’  Please understand, that even without Lucy on screen, it’s a fun musical farce. But there’s a definite decrease in the comedy, and in the pace of the film, when Lucille Ball is off-screen.”

Donen was assisting none other than Jack Donohue, who would go on to direct more than 100 episodes of “The Lucy Show”, 35 of “Here’s Lucy” and 3 Lucille Ball specials. A former dancer himself, Donohue even has a cameo in half a dozen episodes. 

Ball, Donen and Donahue’s boss on Best Foot Forward was director Edward Buzzell.  Lucy worked his name into a 1951 episode of “I Love Lucy” as one of the party guests when she thinks Ricky and Fred are “Drafted” (ILL S1;E11). 

A 1970 episode of “Here’s Lucy” features the song “Buckle Down Winsocki” (with Winsocki changed to Bullwinkle in the episode). The song was heard during both the opening and closing moments of Best Foot Forward.    

Considered the epitome of the MGM movie musicals, Donen’s Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (1954) served as the inspiration for the “I Love Lucy” episode “Lucy in the Swiss Alps” (ILL S5;E21), in which the Ricardos and Mertzes get stranded in an Alpine cabin after an avalanche. The film is mentioned by name in the dialogue. Not coincidentally, Lucy and Desi’s film Forever Darling was an MGM film in release at the time.  

In the 1971 episode of “Here’s Lucy” titled “Lucy and Carol Burnett” (HL S3;E22) their “Unemployment Follies” ends with the title number from Singin’ in the Rain as its big finale.  

On a 1966 episode of “The Lucy Show”, Lucy Carmichael is mistaken for a Native American rain goddess!  When asked to do a rain dance, Lucy asks the Native American drummer: “Do you know ‘Stormy Weather’? How about ‘April Showers’?  ‘Singin’ in the Rain’?” Coincidentally, Douglas Fowley (the Indian Chief in the episode) played a supporting role in Donen’s film.  

The 1980 Lucille Ball special “Lucy Moves To NBC”  features appearances by Singin’ in the Rain stars Donald O’Connor and Gene Kelly (above, in the film).  

Lucy: “Who could ever forget you two in ‘Singing Up a Storm’?”
Gene Kelly:“It was called ‘Singing in the Rain’.”
Lucy:“Oh? You made a sequel?”

As part of the special O’Connor sings “Singin’ in the Rain”. 

The special also co-stars Gloria DeHaven, who co-starred with Lucille Ball in Best Foot Forward.  

In 1954, Lucy and Desi made a cameo appearance on “Toast of the Town: MGM’s 30th Anniversary Tribute” to promote their new MGM film The Long, Long Trailer. The special Ed Sullivan broadcast also guest starred Singin’ in the Rain stars Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds. A clip of Kelly singing the film’s title song was included. Unfortunately, Lucy and Desi did not share any screen time with Kelly or Reynolds.