Too Many Girls *** (1940, Lucille Ball, Richard Carlson, Ann Miller, Desi Arnaz, Eddie Bracken, Van Johnson) – Classic Movie Review 9529

George Abbott’s 1940 RKO musical comedy Too Many Girls is the movie where Lucille Ball first met Desi Arnaz on the set  – and he said ‘I love Lucy’. Gorgeous gals and gaiety are promised.

It is a pleasing Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart Broadway show adaptation, with effervescent players, lively musical numbers and a witty script about four brilliant young footballers being engaged by madcap heiress Connie (Lucille Ball)’s dad Mr Casey (Harry Shannon) to shield her as her bodyguards at college without her knowledge.

Centenarian (in 1987) George Abbott’s cannily theatrical direction acts in the film’s favour.

It marks the film débuts of Arnaz, Eddie Bracken, Libby Bennett, Ivy Scott, Byron Shores and chorus-boy Van Johnson.

Also in the cast are Richard Carlson, Ann Miller, Frances Langford, Chester Clute, Tiny Person, Michael Alvarez, Zita Baca, John Nenton, Chief John Big Tree, Pamela Blake, Iron Eyes Cody, Homer Dickenson, Peggy Drake, Vera Fern, Tommy Graham, Averell Harris, Shep Houghton, Harry James, Ellen Johnson, Janet Lavis, Mildred Law, Amarilla Morris, Jay Silverheels, Grady Sutton, Anna Mae Tessle, Dan White and Sethma Williams.

John Twist’s screenplay is based on the stage play by George Marion Jr.

Trudy Erwin dubs Lucille Ball’s singing voice.

The show opened on Broadway at the Imperial Theater on 18 November 1939 and ran for 249 performances. Eddie Bracken, Desi Arnaz, Hal Le Roy, Libby Bennett, Ivy Scott, Byron Shores and Van Johnson recreate their stage roles for the movie.

Ball and Arnaz married six months after filming the movie on 30 November 1940. They of course went on to be America’s favourite Fifties married couple via TV’s long-running I Love Lucy (1951–1957). The two divorced on 16 May 1961.

Legendary Broadway writer/ producer/ director George Abbott lived till he was aged 107, passing away on 31 January 1995.

Desiderio Alberto Arnaz ye de Acha III was born in Santiago, Cuba on 2 March 1917.

Too Many Girls is directed by George Abbott, runs 87 minutes, is made and released by RKO Radio Pictures, is written by John Twist, based on the stage play by George Marion Jr, is shot in black and white by Frank Redman, is produced by Harry E Edington and George Abbott, is scored by George Bassman, with music and lyrics by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, is designed by Van Nest Polglase, and is choreographed by LeRoy Prinz.

It was shot at RKO Studios, 780 N Gower Street, Hollywood.

When it hit TV in 1956, Ball and Arnaz felt embarrassed by the film and objected to its frequent showings, but to no avail.

© Derek Winnert 2020 Classic Movie Review 9529

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