Warning: May contain minor spoilers for film
In 1952, I Love Lucy was by far the most popular show on television, with over 60 million viewers per week. The show follows the lives of Lucy and Ricky Ricardo, a New York couple with humorous antics and relatable dynamics. Portrayed by real-life partners Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz, Lucy and Ricky quickly became one of the most memorable on-screen couples on American television. In a film about their life behind the silver screen, Being the Ricardos follows Desi, played by Javier Bardem, and Lucille, played by Nicole Kidman, as they navigate their lives together as stars.
The film begins at the peak of the show’s success. I Love Lucy is a hit, and millions upon millions of Americans tune in every week. However, with the political scene growing increasingly intolerant, Lucille Ball is accused of being a communist, the highest offense at the time. When a popular radio show broadcasts the news about her political stance, I Love Lucy is at risk of being terminated along with Lucy’s career. Much to his wife’s frustration, Desi tells the press that Lucy simply checked the wrong box when registering to vote to restore Lucy’s image. Lucy shares with both Desi and the concerned CBS executives that she identified with the Communist Party to honor her grandfather, a member of the party, who she was raised by and looked up to. She struggles to find a way to keep her tribute to her grandfather while assuring American audiences that her beliefs align with theirs.
On top of dealing with political allegations, Lucille and Desi are fighting the producers and showrunners to allow Lucy to be pregnant on the show, something unheard of at that time. The film portrays how restricted women’s bodies were in the media especially in the 1950’s, extending into today. When the network finally agreed to let Lucille show her pregnancy, they prohibited the writers from even using the word pregnant in the scripts.
Along with the misogynistic stigma around pregnancy, the film gives insight into the way writers painted Ethel Mertz, Lucy’s best friend. Ethel’s character heavily relies on the fact that she’s less conventionally attractive than Lucy, which makes the actress, Vivian Vance, feel like she’s playing second fiddle to Lucille. The dynamic between the two women reflected both of their insecurities, as well as the tropes and personalities Hollywood assigns to female characters. In one scene, Lucille comments on the fact that Vivian seems to have lost weight. She tells her to gain it back, that she needed to stay how she was so American women would have a character to relate to on their television sets. In this scene, the close friendship between the women is threatened by the writer's portrayal of their characters. They needed a star, which they found in Lucille Ball, but also a supporting character that people could relate to. Eventually their conflicts are resolved, but both struggle with keeping their characters true to themselves, and true to American women.
Lucille Ball (center) with writer Madelyn Pugh (left) and actress Vivian Vance (right)
Lucille is in a constant battle for power and respect, and her near-obsession with the show is reflected through her desire for perfection in every scene. Nicole Kidman captures Lucille Ball’s dedication to the show, but also her inability to separate the character, Lucy, from the actress, Lucille. While the casting choice for Lucille Ball was slightly controversial due to Kidman’s lack of natural resemblance to Ball, I believe that she portrayed her in a way that shows a side of Lucy that most people were unaware of. Through Being the Ricardos, I truly understood the pressures she was under, both in her marriage and on set. Before watching the film, I had no idea how influential Lucille Ball truly was in the success of I Love Lucy, and how much of an impact she had on every episode. In a scene where the writers and principal actors are reading through an episode’s script, Lucille has a comment on every line, a suggestion or critique, to make the script stronger. At a table dominated by men, she truly makes her presence known. Lucille was a major mastermind behind the show’s triumph. I believe that Lucille Ball’s story is an important story to tell, and Being the Ricardos does an excellent job at making her the leading lady in her own story.
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