FANCY PANTS

 July 19, 1950

Fancy Pants is based on the 1915 novel Ruggles of Red Gap by Harry Leon Wilson,

which was adapted for the stage by Harrison Rhodes and opened on Broadway on December 25, 1915. It featured songs by Sigmund Romberg and Harold Atteridge and ran for 33 performances. It was first filmed in 1918 (starring Taylor Holmes and Lillian Drew), again in 1923 (starring Edward Everett Horton and Louise Dresser), and a third time in 1935 (starring Charles Laughton and Mary Boland). In 1957, seven years after Fancy Pants, a television version of Ruggles of Red Gap was made starring Michael Redgrave and Imogene Coca. 

 The film premiered in Hollywood on July 19, 1950. 

Lucille Ball on set with director George Marshall and her stunt double. 

Produced by Robert L. Welch

Welch had just produced Sorrowful Jones (1949) with Hope and Ball. 

Directed by George Marshall

Marshall had already directed Hope and Ball in Sorrowful Jones (1949). He was known to have a knack for location shooting and Ball rehired him to direct the location shooting during season two of “Here’s Lucy” in 1969. 

Written by Edmund Hartmann and Robert O’Brien, with contributions from Iz Elinson, Richard L. Breen, Frank Butler, Barney Dean, Richard English, and Richard Flournoy 

Of this group, O’Brien and Elinson would write for Lucille Ball on “The Lucy Show” and “Here’s Lucy”.

Costume Design by Mary K. Dodson

Dodson was under contract to Paramount from 1944 to 1951, working under master designer Edith Head. She previously designed Sorrowful Jones starring Ball and Hope. 

Synopsis: In 1905, an American actor (Arthur Tyler) impersonating an English butler named Humphry is hired by a nouveau riche woman (Effie Floud) from New Mexico to refine her husband and her headstrong daughter (Aggie). Complications ensue when the town believes Arthur to be an Earl, and President Roosevelt decides to pay a visit. 

A down-on-his-luck English Lord takes a liking to Agatha and to impress her (and her haughty mother) hires a troupe of actors to portray his family and staff at his friend’s empty mansion.  The actors use their stage names when meeting Effie and Aggie. 

CREDITED CAST

Lucille Ball (Agatha Floud, American Debutante) was born on August 6, 1911 in Jamestown, New York. She began her screen career in 1933 and was known in Hollywood as ‘Queen of the B’s’ due to her many appearances in ‘B’ movies. With Richard Denning, she starred in a radio program titled “My Favorite Husband” which eventually led to the creation of “I Love Lucy,” a television situation comedy in which she co-starred with her real-life husband, Latin bandleader Desi Arnaz. The program was phenomenally successful, allowing the couple to purchase what was once RKO Studios, re-naming it Desilu. When the show ended in 1960 (in an hour-long format known as “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour”) so did Lucy and Desi’s marriage. In 1962, hoping to keep Desilu financially solvent, Lucy returned to the sitcom format with “The Lucy Show,” which lasted six seasons. She followed that with a similar sitcom “Here’s Lucy” co-starring with her real-life children, Lucie and Desi Jr., as well as Gale Gordon, who had joined the cast of “The Lucy Show” during season two. Before her death in April 1989, Lucy made one more attempt at a sitcom with “Life With Lucy,” also with Gordon, which was not a success and was canceled after just 13 episodes. She died on April 26, 1989 at the age of 77.

Ball’s singing voice is provided by Annette Warren, who also sang for her in Sorrowful Jones (1949). She provided the singing voice for Pepper (Iris Adrian) in the Bob Hope film The Paleface (1947).

Bob Hope (Mr. Arthur Tyler / ‘Humphrey’ aka ‘Oliver Grimes’ aka ‘Fancy Pants’) was born Lesley Townes Hope in England in 1903. During his extensive career in virtually all forms of media he received five honorary Academy Awards. In 1945, Desi Arnaz was the orchestra leader on Bob Hope’s radio show. Ball and Hope did three other films together. He appeared as himself on the season 6 opener of “I Love Lucy.” He did a brief cameo in a 1964 episode of “The Lucy Show.”  He died in 2003 at age 100.

Hope’s screen credit reads: “Starring Mr. Robert Hope (Formerly Bob)”.

After his name credit, Hope appears, puts on a monocle and says to the audience: “No popcorn during my performance, peasants!" 

Bruce Cabot (Cart Belknap, Aggie’s Fiancee) appeared with Lucille Ball in 1934′s Men of the Night. In 1949, he joined Hope and Ball in Sorrowful Jones.  His main claim to fame is rescuing Fay Wray from King Kong (1933).

Jack Kirkwood (Mike Floud, Aggie’s Father) was born in Scotland and made his Hollywood debut in 1947, just three years before this, his only film with Lucille Ball.  His final role was in the failed 1961 sitcom “One Happy Family”. 

Lea Penman (Effie Floud, Aggie’s Mother) was a Broadway actress from 1917 to 1949, including the original Annie Get Your Gun with Ethel Merman. This is her only film with Lucille Ball. 

Hugh French (George Van Basingwell, Aggie’s Suitor) was a London-born performer who started out as a chorus boy. He gave up acting in the 1950s and became a top agent, numbering Richard Burton among his clients.

Eric Blore (Lionel Boswell / ‘Sir Wimbley, 13th Earl of Brinstead’) was an English actor who had done four films with Lucille Ball between 1935 and 1938, including Top Hat. He did only one film after Fancy Pants and died in 1959. 

Joseph Vitale (Wampum, the Floud’s Hired Hand) did six other films with Bob Hope; three before Fancy Pants, and three after. He appeared in red face in 1949′s Paleface, which is probably how he got this role. 

John Alexander (President Teddy Roosevelt) also played Teddy Brewster in Arsenic and Old Lace (1944), a character who is under the delusion that he is Teddy Roosevelt. In 1959, he turned up as a General on “Sergeant Bilko” in an episode where Lucille Ball had a brief cameo. 

Norma Varden (Gwendolyn Fairmore / ‘Lady Maude Brinstead’)
is probably best known for playing Frau Schmidt, the somewhat circumspect housekeeper at the Von Trapp mansion in 1965′s The Sound Of Music. Lucy fans will remember her as weepy Mrs. Benson, who Lucy Ricardo convinces to swap apartments in “The Ricardos Change Apartments” (ILL S2;E26) in 1953. The London-born actress turned up on an episode of “The Lucy Show”.

Virginia Keiley (Julia Dorset / ‘Cousin Rosalind, Duchess of Dover’)

was born in April 1918 in Jersey, Channel Islands. She was known for Rose of Tralee (1942) and The Strange Case of Dr. Manning (1957). She died in 1990 in London, England.

Colin Keith-Johnston (Sir Twombley, Friend of George) was an English actor making his only film with Lucille Ball and Bob Hope. He is best known for the film Berkeley Square (1933).

Joe Wong (Wong, the Floud’s Cook)

was born in Manila, Philippines as Jose Ocampo Cobarrubias. At the time, he was a regular singer on “The Ken Murray Show” (1950), one episode of which also featured Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz. 

UNCREDITED CAST (with connections to Lucille Ball)

Grace Albertson (Dolly) was seen with Lucille Ball as the Perfume Girl in Du Barry Was a Lady (1943). 

Hank Bell (Barfly) played Hank in Valley of the Sun (1942) with Lucille Ball. 

Oliver Blake (Mr. Andrews) played Zeb Allen, who buys Ricky and Fred’s old clothes in “Changing The Boys’ Wardrobe” (ILL S3;E10) in 1953. He also was seen as Mr. Judlow in The Long, Long Trailer (1954). 

Wanda Cantlon (Cowgirl) was Lucille Ball’s stunt double and appeared in three previous films with her, including playing her maid in Miss Grant Takes Richmond (1949). 

Chester Conklin (Guest) was also an uncredited extra in Valley of the Sun (1942) starring Lucille Ball. 

Charles Cooley (Parson) had just been seen with Hope and Ball in Sorrowful Jones (1949) as well as a dozen other Bob Hope films. He also was a regular on “The Bob Hope Show” on television. 

Edgar Dearing (Mr. Jones)

makes his seventh appearance in a Lucille Ball film and will also appear in The Long, Long Trailer (1953). 

Alex Frazer (Stagehand) also appeared with Lucille Ball in Lured (1947). 

Sam Harris (Umpire) was one of Hollywood’s busiest background performers, doing eleven films with Ball before Fancy Pants and three after. On TV he was an extra on “I Love Lucy,” “The Lucy-Desi Comedy Hour,” and “The Lucy Show.” 

Percy Helton (Mayor Fogarty) appeared on Desilu’s “December Bride” and Desi Arnaz’s “The Mothers-in-Law” in addition to scores of other television programs. 

Robin Hughes (J. Cunliffe Coots / ‘Cyril’ aka ‘Detective Kirk’) appeared in a 1959 episode of “The Westinghouse-Desilu Playhouse” hosted by Desi Arnaz. 

Hughes is uncredited, despite having an integral role in “Lady Alecia’s Pearls” and having a fair amount of dialogue. 

Olaf Hytten (Stage Manager) has appeared with Ball in the 1934 film Bulldog Drummond Strikes Back. 

Bob Kortman (Henchman) recently appeared with Ball and Hope in Sorrowful Jones (1949) as well as two 1934 films with Lucille Ball. 

John Mallon was also seen with Hope and Ball in Sorrowful Jones (1949). 

Mira McKinney (Mollie) also was in A Woman of Distinction with Lucille Ball, also in 1950. 

Howard M. Mitchell was also in Murder at the Vanities and Jealousy with Lucille Ball, both in 1934. 

Ida Moore (Betsy) played Mrs. Knickerbocker on “I Love Lucy” in “The Club Election” (ILL S2;E19) in 1953.  

Hope Sansberry (Millie) made her screen debut in Fancy Pants. She was a recurring character on “Sergeant Bilko” including the episode that featured Lucille Ball “Bilko’s Ape Man” in 1959.  

Almira Sessions (Belle) later played a Little Old Lady in “Jack Benny’s Carnival Nights” featuring Lucille Ball in 1968. 

OPENING NARRATION

“January 6th, 1912. William Howard Taft, president of these United States, signs an Enabling Act admitting the territory of New Mexico into the Union as the 47th state. From a far day in 1850, the stubborn frontiersmen of this great territory asserted their rights to statehood. This, then, is not the story of how New Mexico won its heartbreaking struggle for admission. Rather, it is an account of one of the reasons the struggle took 62 years.This, then, is the saga of a lost cause and one man who helped to lose it.” 

THE MUSIC

Jay Livingston plays the songs for Lucy and Bob while Ray Evans looks on. 

The songs “(Hey) Fancy Pants!” and “Home Cookin’” were written by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans and sung by Annette Warren dubbing Lucille Ball. 

The musical score was by Van Cleve, who had also scored Sorrowful Jones (1949). 

When Aggie and Humphrey are wandering the New Mexico desert and see mirages, the underscoring utilizes Theramin, played by Hollywood’s master of Theramin, Dr. Samuel Hoffman. Hoffman also provided the ethereal music when Lucy Ricardo daydreams about fame and fortune in Hollywood during “Lucy and the Dummy” (ILL S5;E3) in 1955.  

TRIVIA

Paramount began production on this film in 1947, with Mel Epstein slated as producer, Edmund Hartmann working on the screenplay, and Betty Hutton as the star. News items report that Hutton declined the role, and that the studio attempted to borrow Jane Russell from Howard Hughes to co-star with Hope, but the deal fell through. The production was canceled, and was rekindled in 1949.

Some scenes were shot on location in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and at Busch Gardens and Chatsworth in Los Angeles.    

Fred Astaire dropped by the set of Fancy Pants, just in time to watch Bob Hope go through a few dance steps. 

This movie was made just before Lucille Ball got pregnant with her daughter Lucie, and before “I Love Lucy” was in development. At the time, Ball was starring on radio in “My Favorite Husband.”  This was her 74th film. 

The film’s working titles were The Lady of Lariat Loop, Lariat Loop and Where Men Are Men.

The interior set representing the first floor of Norma Desmond’s mansion in Sunset Boulevard (1950) starring Gloria Swanson was also used in this film, giving fans of that classic a rare opportunity to see it in full color.

In a scene involving Lucille Ball and Bob Hope on a mechanical horse, Hope took a tumble and suffered a mild concussion on  August 1, 1949.

Production  was delayed by his injury and a series of script changes.

“In making a film with the gay and
carefree title Fancy Pants, I was
thrown from a prop horse seven feet
high. I landed on my back on a cement floor. Lucille Ball was supposed
to be giving me riding lessons, and
George Marshall, the director, wanted more action and more jiggle for
the closeups. He ordered
the restraining straps removed from the prop
steed. When it started its
mechanical bucketybucking, it went faster
and faster. Then it tossed
me off. I was still conscious when they carried
me out, and I was sure I
had broken something
important. They took me
to Hollywood Presbyterian Hospital and laid
me under the x-ray machine. Aside from a sore
back and a sorer head, I
was all right.” ~ Bob Hope

This was the second of four feature films that Bob Hope and Lucille Ball made together. The first was Sorrowful Jones (1949). Fancy Pants was followed by Critic’s Choice (1963) and The Facts of Life (1960). 

The original finale, in which a fleeing Bob Hope and Lucille Ball were to be rescued by surprise guest star Roy Rogers, was abandoned just before the scene was shot.

The film made $2.6 million dollars at the box office. Note that the copy calls Lucille Ball a “Wildcat” gal a full decade before she played Wildcat Jackson in the Broadway musical Wildcat (1960)!

DC Feature Films Comic Book – Fall 1950.

Bob Hope and Lucille Ball often included the names of their recent films when a spokesperson for products and services. 

Fancy Pants was Included among the American Film Institute’s 2000 list of the 500 movies nominated for the Top 100 Funniest American Movies.

FAST FORWARD

In “Lucy Becomes a Sculptress” (ILL S2;E15) in 1953, Lucy and Ricky are looking at their baby pictures (real photos of Lucy and Desi) and Lucy asks if they called him fancy pants!

"Lux Radio Theater” broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie on September 10, 1951, with Bob Hope and Lucille Ball reprising their film roles. Norma Varden also returned and Gail Bonney (Mrs Hudson on “I Love Lucy”) was added to the cast.

The gag of Eric Blore’s Sir Wimbley speaking in an incomprehensible English accent was repeated in “Lucy Meets The Queen” (ILL S5;E15) in 1956. 

New Mexico would also be the setting of “Ethel’s Hometown” (ILL S4;E16) in 1955. It is reckoned that Ethel Mae Potter was born in Albuquerque around 1905, the same year that Fancy Pants takes place. The town was chosen because it was also the hometown of Vivian Vance, who was raised there but born in Cherryvale, Kansas. 

In “The Celebrity Next Door” (LDCH S1;E2) Richard Deacon plays Tallulah Bankhead’s British butler, Winslow. Also in that same episode, Fred Mertz pretends to be Lucy Ricardo’s butler! 

The documentary film “Hollywood Without Make-Up” (1963) by Ken Murray includes behind-the-scenes footage of Ball filming Fancy Pants, including Lucy doing a stunt with a break-away table.

On a 1964 episode of “The Danny Kaye Show” guest star Lucille Ball and Kaye play actors who’s co-stars are stranded in a snowstorm and can’t get to the theatre. Kaye and Ball portray all the characters, including English butlers, maids, Lords and Ladies. 

Some of the butlers of “Here’s Lucy,” including Gale Gordon, pretending to be Lucy’s butler!

Fancy Pants ends with a chase sequence on a railroad sidecar, a device which was also integral to the chase sequence in “Lucy Hunts Uranium” (LDCH S1;E3) with Fred MacMurray. 

On the talk show “Dinah!: Bob Hope: The Road to Hollywood” on April 15, 1977, Ball appears with Hope to promote his new book The Road To Hollywood. Lucy mentions the film in her interview. 

In “Happy Birthday, Bob: A Salute to Bob Hope’s 75th Birthday” on  May 29, 1978 a clip from the film is included during a tribute (introduced by Lucy) to his female co-stars. 

A clip from the film is also included in “Bob Hope’s Love Affair with Lucy” (1989) a tribute special Hope made after Ball’s death. 

Sold at auction in 2015: “Cotton khaki riding trousers worn by Lucille Ball in ‘Fancy Pants’ (Paramount), co-starring Bob Hope. Interior label handwritten “Miss Lucile [sic] Ball."  The starting bid was $500,with an estimated value of $1,000 to $2,000. The winning bid price was not disclosed. 

Two of Lucille Ball’s dresses designed by Mary K. Dodson.