Silver Screen Magic with Lucille Ball

Even though the legendary actress Lucille Ball was best known for the hit TV sitcom “I Love Lucy," she also had a movie career. Starting in the 1920s, she was modeling and appeared in the 1933 movie “Roman Scandals” as an unaccredited extra until she got starring roles of her own.

Director Irving Reis directed the 1942 American drama film “The Big Street." The film was based on the 1940 short story “Little Pinks” by Damon Runyon. It starred Henry Fonda and Lucille Ball.

The storyline revolves around busboy Augustus Pinkerton II known as Little Pinks (Henry Fonda), and his relationship with cold-hearted singer Gloris Lyons (Lucille Ball), who is crippled after being knocked down a flight of stairs by her jealous boyfriend, NYC nightclub owner Case Ables (Barton MacLane).

Director Henry Hathaway directed the 1946 American crime film noir “The Dark Corner." It starred Lucille Ball, Clifton Webb, William Bendix, and Mark Stevens.

The storyline revolved around secretary Kathleen Stewart (Lucille Ball), who works for the private investigator Bradford Galt (Mark Stevens).

Directors Melvin Frank and Norman Panama directed the 1960 romantic comedy “The Facts of Life." The movie starred Bob Hope and Lucille Ball.

The storyline revolves around Kitty Weaver (Lucille Ball) and Larry Gilbert (Bob Hope), who fall in love and begin having an affair before realizing that their romance wasn’t as expected.

Director Vincente Minnelli directed the 1954 American romantic comedy road film “The Long, Long Trailer." It was based on the 1951 novel of the same name by Clinton Twiss. The film starred Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz.

The storyline revolves around Tacy Collini (Lucille Ball) and Nicky Collini (Desi Arnaz) as a newlywed couple who buy a new travel trailer, making it their home and experiencing all kinds of mishaps traveling from California to Colorado.

Director Robert Siodmak directed the 1947 American film noir "Lured." It was a remake of the 1939 French film "Pièges." The film starred George Sanders, Lucille Ball, Charles Coburn, Sir Cedric Hardwicke, and Boris Karloff.

The storyline revolves around the unmasking of a serial killer. American Sandra Carpenter (Lucille Ball), who came to London to perform in a show but wound up working as a taxi dancer. When her friend and fellow dancer Lucy Barnard (Tanis Chandler) goes missing, believed to be the latest victim of the notorious “Poet Killer," Inspector Harley Temple of Scotland Yard (Charles Coburn) asks Sandra to work undercover to find the killer.

Director Gene Saks directed the 1974 American Technicolor musical film "Mame." It was based on the 1966 Broadway musical of the same name and the 1955 novel “Auntie Mame” by Patrick Dennis. The film starred Lucille Ball, Bea Arthur, Bruce Davison, Robert Preston, and Jane Connell. This was Ball’s last feature film before her death in 1989.

The story focuses on the madcap life of Mame Dennis (Lucille Ball), which is disrupted when she becomes the guardian of her deceased brother's son Patrick Dennis (Bruce Davison). She marries a wealthy Southern plantation owner, Beauregard Jackson Pickett Burnside (Robert Preston), and is widowed, yet through it all, with the help of her dearest friend, Vera Charles (Bea Arthur), manages to keep things under control.

Director Melville Shavelson directed the 1968 American family comedy drama “Yours, Mine, and Ours." The film starred Lucille Ball, Henry Fonda, and Van Johnson. It was based on the real-life versions of Helen and Frank, using Helen’s book “Who Gets the Drumstick?” as inspiration.

The storyline revolves around the widow Helen North (Lucille Ball) with eight children who meets Navy Chief Warrant Officer Frank Beardsley (Henry Fonda) with ten children. They fall in love and decide to combine their families.