SCREEN DIRECTOR’S PLAYHOUSE: MISS GRANT TAKES RICHMOND

May 19, 1950

Screen Directors Playhouse was a radio anthology series which brought leading Hollywood actors to the NBC microphones beginning in 1949. The radio program broadcast adaptations of films, and original directors of the films were sometimes involved, although their participation was usually limited to introducing the radio adaptations, and a brief “curtain call” with the cast and host at the end of the program. The series later had a brief run on television.

The radio version ran for 122 episodes and aired on NBC from January 9, 1949 to September 28, 1951 under several different titles: NBC Theater, Screen Director’s Guild Assignment, Screen Director’s Assignment and, as of July 1, 1949, Screen Director’s Playhouse.

This radio adaptation of “Miss Grant Takes Richmond” stars Lucille Ball in her original film role of Ellen Grant. It was directed by Bill Cairn, produced by Howard Wiley. Composer and conductor was Robert Armbruster. The script was adapted by Richard Allen Simmons. It aired on NBC radio on May 19, 1950. On February 22, 1951, “The Screen Guild Theater” broadcast a 60 minute radio adaptation of the movie with William Holden reprising his film role.

Miss Grant Takes Richmond is a 1949 comedy film starring Lucille Ball and William Holden, directed by Lloyd Bacon and released by Columbia Pictures. It was released under the title Innocence is Bliss in the UK.

Rita Hayworth was going to star in the movie, but Hayworth requested script revisions, and went on suspension to avoid making it.

Synopsis ~ An inept secretary goes to work for a bogus real estate firm thinking it’s for real.

Note: The title is a pun on the historical fact that General Ulysses S. Grant ‘took back’ the city of Richmond, Virginia, from the Confederacy, who used it as their capital during the Civil War (April 1865).

CAST

Lucille Ball (Ellen Grant) previously appeared on Screen Directors Playhouse in “Her Husband’s Affairs” (May 22, 1949), a film she had also appeared in on screen. She will return for “A Foreign Affair” (March 1, 1951) in the role originated by Jean Arthur, and “Bachelor Mother” (March 8, 1951), taking the role originated by her friend Ginger Rogers.  Miss Grant (1949) was Ball’s 72nd motion picture.

Lucille Ball repeats her film role of Ellen Grant.

Steve Dunne (Dick Richmond) replaced Howard Duff as the voice of the famous private eye in “The Adventures of Sam Spade,” the 1946-1951 radio series.

Dunne was in the film version, but he played the minor role of Ralph Winton.

Arthur Q. Bryan (Judge Ben Grant, Ellen’s Uncle) had appeared with Lucille Ball in Look Who’s Laughing (1941). He is best remembered as the original voice of Elmer Fudd in the Warner Brothers cartoons. He played Mr. Chambers, new owner of the Tropicana in “Ricky Loses His Voice” (ILL S2;E9) in 1952.

On screen, the role was played by George Cleveland.

Frank Nelson (Mr. Woodruff) was born on May 6, 1911 (three months before Lucille Ball) in Colorado Springs, Colorado. He started working as a radio announcer at the age of 15. He later appeared on such popular radio shows as “The Great Gildersleeve,” “Burns and Allen,” “Fibber McGee & Molly”. and a dozen episodes of Lucille Ball’s “My Favorite Husband.”  On “I Love Lucy” he holds the distinction of being the only actor to play two recurring roles: Freddie Fillmore and Ralph Ramsey, as well as six one-off characters, including the frazzled train conductor in “The Great Train Robbery” (ILL S5;E5), a character he repeated on “The Lucy Show.”  Aside from Lucille Ball, Nelson is perhaps most associated with Jack Benny and was a fifteen-year regular on his radio and television programs, often playing store clerks like this one.

On screen, the role was played by Charles Lane, one of the few character actors that appeared as frequently as Nelson with Lucille Ball.

Herb Vigran (Mr. Kilcoyne) occasionally turned up on Lucille Ball’s radio show, “My Favorite Husband” (1948-50) in various roles. He appeared on “I Love Lucy” as Jule, Ricky’s music agent, in “The Saxophone” (ILL S2;E2) and “The Anniversary Present” (ILL S2;E3). He also played Mrs. Trumbull’s nephew Joe in “Never Do Business With Friends” (ILL S2;E31) and Al Sparks in “Lucy is Envious” (ILL S3;E23). He went on to appear on select episodes of “The Lucy Show” and Here’s Lucy.”

On screen, the role was played by Frank McHugh.

Jean Bates (Peggy Donato) was a model before becoming an actress, doing radio, TV and film.  She worked from 1943 to 2001.

Norman Field was one of at least six actors to play Judge Hunter on the NBC-Radio soap, “One Man’s Family” (1932-50). He played Charlie’s school principal on “The Edgar Bergen/Charlie McCarthy Show” (1939-56), Josh Chandler on “Dear John” (1940-44), Uncle George on “Meet Corliss Archer”, Inspector Danton on “Mystery Is My Hobby” (1947-49), and Judge Babson on “The Amazing Mr. Tutt” (1948).

Jimmy Wallington (Announcer)

Lloyd Bacon (Original Film Director Guest) was also a guest when three of his films were featured on “Screen Director’s Playhouse”: “You Were Meant For Me” (March 3, 1949), “Don’t Trust Your Husband” (September 23, 1949), and “It Happens Every Spring” (April 14, 1950).

EPISODE 

From a busy typing pool headed by Mr. Woodruff (Frank Nelson), real estate employer Dick Richmond picks the inept Ellen Grant (Lucille Ball).  He takes her back to the office and introduces her to Mr. Kilcoyne (Herb Vigran).  Dick confides in Mr. Kilcoyne that he deliberately picked Miss Grant because she looks good but is pretty dim – the perfect cover for their bookie operation!  Kilcoyne dictates to Ellen about some low cost housing.  She tells him that no one can ever dictate too fast for her.  If she misses a word, she just puts in a ‘doofer’ – something that’ll ‘do for’ now.

Ellen calls her Uncle Ben, a judge, to tell him about her new job. While she’s on the phone Peggy Donato barges in to see Dick. In the conference room, it is clear Peggy and Dick are in a relationship.  Peggy is immediately suspicious of the new secretary.  She is unhappy when she is rebuffed by Dick.  Before leaving, she tells Ellen to give a message to Dick: Five thousand on the Flywell property at Belmont. Dick comes out of the conference room and tells Ellen that the low-cost housing project is off.

Ellen comes into the office with her Uncle Ben. She has arranged it so that Dick can buy the low-cost housing at a discount price. Judge Ben has even brought the papers.  With no way out – Dick and Mr. Kilcoyne sign and the judge leaves. She suddenly remembers the message Peggy left for him. Alarmed, they check the papers and realize they owe Peggy fifty grand!

In the conference room, Dick and Mr. Kilcoyne conspire to make Ellen quit before they go bankrupt. To put the plan in action, Dick kisses Ellen. Indignant at his liberty, she promptly quits.  She no sooner returns and says that she will stay on to see through the low-cost housing project – but no further hanky panky will be tolerated!   The two men adjourn to the conference room!

End of Act One

A live commercial is for RCA television sets.  The pitch involves getting a set that fits the consumer’s home.

In the second part, Ellen still doesn’t realize her employers are NOT in the real estate business.  Dick has a plan to go ahead and build the houses – and skim the profits off the top to pay their debt to Peggy.  Knowing her mental acumen is not great, Dick pitches a promotion to Ellen – heading up the housing project.

As boss, Ellen starts making silly decisions that frustrate her contractors. Ellen is getting frustrated when the project starts to fall apart – physically and financially.  The project grinds to a halt.

Dick makes the ultimate sacrifice, he humbles himself to Peggy and take her back – personally and professionally.  It isn’t long before the scheme works and the company is flush again. The conference room phone rings and it is someone looking to bet on a horse. She realizes she has been conned.  Dick returns and Ellen quits, humiliated at being duped. Kilcoyne takes her aside and tells Ellen that Dick cares for her and is looking to go straight – but can’t get out of his relationship with Peggy.

Ellen bursts in on Peggy and Dick – gun pointed at her.  She tells Peggy that she is mother of Dick’s children – and fires a warning shot. Peggy quickly gives him up and Dick and Ellen leave together.

In the car, Dick and Ellen. She makes it clear that she’s in charge from now on.  Miss Grant just took Richmond!

End of Act Two

Lucille Ball and Jimmy Wallington do an RCA Victor commercial. She says she milks the cows at Chatsworth listening to her RCA record collection.

Lucille introduces the evening’s director Lloyd Bacon.  Bacon says he started in movies 1915.  Ball extolls his talents in directing.  They bid the audience good night.

Wallington returns to say that next week will feature “Flamingo Road” starring Joan Crawford recreating her original role.

CREDITS

Thanks to Columbia Pictures, currently represented by No Sad Songs for Me

Lucille Ball can be heard on her own radio show and soon in the film The Fuller Brush Girl

Lloyd Bacon appears courtesy of 20th Century Fox, producers of Ticket To Tomahawk