Hello and thank you for being a DL contributor. We are changing the login scheme for contributors for simpler login and to better support using multiple devices. Please click here to update your account with a username and password.

Hello. Some features on this site require registration. Please click here to register for free.

Hello and thank you for registering. Please complete the process by verifying your email address. If you can't find the email you can resend it here.

Hello. Some features on this site require a subscription. Please click here to get full access and no ads for $1.99 or less per month.

They wanted Lucille Ball, but on Gary Morton's advice, she turned it down

Go!

by Anonymousreply 192November 5, 2022 2:04 PM

Roz Russell was desperate to have Lucy play Tessie Tura in GYPSY, thinking her brassy persona and red hair would give her that step back into the big film career which she had always desired. Morton told her to play Mama Rose or nothing, and tried to bribe Warner's into firing Russell and hiring Lucy. Roz and Lucy never spoke again.

by Anonymousreply 1April 12, 2013 9:10 AM

Lucie and Desi Jr. just wanted her to be a loving mother but new Lincoln Continentals don't buy themselves so Gary urged Lucy to turn them down.

by Anonymousreply 2April 12, 2013 9:13 AM

Lucille desperately wanted to play the Continental Baths, with an evening of songs she had been dubbed for in movies, but Gary said no.

by Anonymousreply 3April 12, 2013 9:55 AM

Fellini wanted Lucy for Anita Ekberg's role in "La Dolce Vita." It would have been her Italian debut (and she spoke Italian fluently) - but Gary refused. That's what led to her doing "The Lucy Show," which was born out of her disappointment at losing the Fellini film.

by Anonymousreply 4April 12, 2013 10:06 AM

The voice of the demon in "The Exorcist." Gary actually wanted Lucy to do it, but Lucy refused to since she could not understand why the demon would use "cunt" as a gerund.

by Anonymousreply 5April 12, 2013 10:30 AM

Lucy was all set to do the Sharon Stone role in Basic Instinct. Gary convinced her that her public would be turned off by her dusty coochie that looked like a rare roast beef sandwich.

by Anonymousreply 6April 12, 2013 10:37 AM

Only 6 responses and I'm laughing hysterically.

Best thread evah!!!!

by Anonymousreply 7April 12, 2013 10:40 AM

Lucy wanted to play Cher's role in Moonstruck but Gary talked her out of it because since Vivian was dead no one could play her mother.

by Anonymousreply 8April 12, 2013 10:53 AM

[quote] her dusty coochie that looked like a rare roast beef sandwich.

Reading that actually made me throw up a little in my mouth.

by Anonymousreply 9April 12, 2013 11:44 AM

Lucy wanted the Mrs Robinson role in The Graduate. After Gary explained to her that she would have to appear half naked in bed with a 30 year old Jewish actor, Lucy said no.

by Anonymousreply 10April 12, 2013 12:08 PM

Lucy was going to do a guest appearance on "Laugh-In" dancing in the bikini with slogans painted on her but Gary said no and made her look at herself in a full-length mirror.

by Anonymousreply 11April 12, 2013 12:21 PM

The role of Ellen Ripley was written with Ball in mind, but Lucille refused to do it if she was going to have to act alongside a cat. The Alien she did not mind, because, in her words, "I've seen Viv before makeup too many times to be scared by anything."

by Anonymousreply 12April 12, 2013 12:57 PM

Did Gary Morton "wisely" persuade her to turn these parts down?

by Anonymousreply 13April 12, 2013 1:57 PM

Lucy was born to play Joe Buck, but Gary was a afraid of the X rating.

by Anonymousreply 14April 12, 2013 2:28 PM

Lucy wanted to be in "The Rose." She was told it was a big musical, which was not entirely false, but she assumed it was a re-tooling of "Gypsy." Gary said, "Insist on a two-picture deal, this Gypsy Rose Lee project and another shot at Mame." When Lucy finally saw "The Rose" she complained they had updated the score to the point that she couldn't even recognize the tunes. She was actually relieved not to have been asked.

by Anonymousreply 15April 12, 2013 2:51 PM

Lucy was all set to play Kathleen Turner's role in "Body Heat" but Gary Morton told her that her voice wasn't husky enough so she wouldn't be believable.

by Anonymousreply 16April 12, 2013 2:57 PM

Fearing her singing voice would be unflattering compared to Angela Lansbury's, Morton sagely told Lucy the movie musical of Mame was a bad ... oh, wait.

by Anonymousreply 17April 12, 2013 3:01 PM

Isabella Rosellini's role in "Blue Velvet" was hers for the taking but gary was like, "Lucy, how about another foray into TV. It'll last ten seasons!"

by Anonymousreply 18April 12, 2013 4:07 PM

Ladies and Gentlemen, In the role of her lifetime...Miss Lucile Ball as...AMANDA BYNES! In a Lifetime made for TV movie EVENT...All the Dead Pussy.

by Anonymousreply 19April 12, 2013 4:19 PM

Long Day's Journey Into Night?

by Anonymousreply 20April 12, 2013 4:22 PM

Lucy really wanted the lead in "Mommie Dearest." But Gary pointed out that her closet was full of wire hangers and this would affect her portrayal. "What the hell is wrong with wire hangers anyway?" Lucy asked Gary. "Exactly," he said. "And, besides, that dinner theater in Scottsdale wants you to do a remake of "Yours, Mine and Ours" with those Brady Bunch kids. You'd play opposite the corpse of Joel McRae."

by Anonymousreply 21April 12, 2013 4:30 PM

They wanted Lucy to do the big screen version of Gwen Verdon's Broadway vehicle, Redhead. But when Lucy insisted on doing all the dance numbers while sat on a stool, Gary wisely got her to drop out before it went before the lens.

by Anonymousreply 22April 12, 2013 4:38 PM

Woody Allen very much wanted Lucy to play the mother in "Interiors", but the offer was rescinded after Gary Morton sent a copy of the script back to Woody with notes on half a dozen pages indicating opportunities for Lucy to make the "spider noise", including the final scene where she walks into the sea.

by Anonymousreply 23April 12, 2013 6:17 PM

Tennessee Williams wanted Lucy to play Lady Torrance in "The Fugitive Kind," the film adaptation of his play "Orpheus Descending"--he'd originally created the role with Lucy in mind--and was devastated when Gary said no.

by Anonymousreply 24April 12, 2013 6:28 PM

Lucy desperately wanted the part in Stone Pillow. For once Gary agreed, saying "Babe, this is one you can pull off. And think of the savings on hair and make-up, costumes, and vaseline. And besides, that Zuniga gal cured my cancer so we owe her one."

by Anonymousreply 25April 12, 2013 6:42 PM

Lucy was David Lean's choice for Mrs. Moore in "A Passage to India", but Gary Morton said no dice unless he wrote in a scene where Lucy struggles to climb on top of an elephant.

by Anonymousreply 26April 12, 2013 7:00 PM

She was Alan J. Pakula's first choice for "Sophie's Choice," but Pakula wouldn't buy Gary's pitch for a scene where Lucy successfully smuggles her second child across the border by claiming that the child is really a big block of cheese.

by Anonymousreply 27April 12, 2013 7:14 PM

When Lucy got word that she was in the running to play the Muse of Dancing and the Dramatic Chorus in "Xanadu," with her old MGM pal Gene Kelly, she promptly donned a pair of skates and, as is her wont, rigorously and obsessively practiced her twizzles, spread eagles, and camel spins. But after one too many falls resulting in fractured tail bone and cracked ribs, Gary suggested that perhaps it would be best if Lucy left the physical comedy in the past.

by Anonymousreply 28April 12, 2013 7:57 PM

After catching a glimpse of Lucy when her face tape failed backstage at a Dean Martin roast, producers offered her the lead in "The Autobiography of Miss Jane Pittman." But Gary kayoed the deal when he insisted the pivotal water fountain scene be played for laughs, with the fountain squirting Miss Jane in the face.

by Anonymousreply 29April 12, 2013 8:24 PM

"Looking For Mr. Goodbar" was intended to be a meditation on the romantic lives of sad, desperate middle-aged women in Beverly Hills, and Richard Brooks had long wanted Lucy for the role of the troubled Theresa. Lucy had even agreed to partial nudity and an extended bondage sequence.

But Gary, who was managing Gale Gordon at the time, insisted Gale was the perfect choice for the man in Theresa's ultimate S&M encounter, and the deal fell apart.

by Anonymousreply 30April 12, 2013 8:57 PM

Lucille Ball was actually supposed to play the old woman in the tub in "The Shining." She actually was committed to the project up until the day of filming. But Lucy showed up on set and insisted, contrary to her contractually agreed nudity, that she be allowed to wear a body stocking with a flame-red merkin sown in (the reason being that Lucy had done an ill-advised henna rinse on her pubes the night before, and they fell out.) Kubrick of course refused and had her replaced. Gary Morton retaliated by setting fire to the sets.

by Anonymousreply 31April 13, 2013 12:22 AM

Right after CHICAGO opened in 1975, it was overshadowed by Chorus Line and only doing so-so business. Fosse knew he would need something really hot for the movie, so he worked up a pitch for a film version that would star Lucy as Roxie and Viv as Velma.

Once again, Gary wanted to work cheese into it (for "Me and My Baby"), but what really killed the deal was his insistence that Lucy and Viv would have to do "Hot Honey Rag" dressed as Women from Mars.

by Anonymousreply 32April 13, 2013 1:08 AM

[quote]Lucy and Viv would have to do "Hot Honey Rag" dressed as Women from Mars.

You it all right except for that. He actually wanted then dressed as hillbillies. Here is a costume study for the scene.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 33April 13, 2013 1:19 AM

I remember how bad they wanted Lucy for "V.I. Warshawski," Gary and she went round and round over it.

He was pushing for her to return to the stage in a female version of "Uncle Vanya," but she wanted an action franchise.

She turned the movie down, of course, and Kathleen Turner nabbed it, ruining the hopes for sequels. Gary Morton showed up in the ER one night when she finally read the Chekhov adaptation - he hadn't told her that it was to be set in Cuba.

by Anonymousreply 34April 13, 2013 1:39 AM

No, r33. It was Women from Mars for the Hot Honey Rag. He wanted the hillbilly costumes for "I Am My Own Best Friend," which he wanted replaced by "Friendship."

by Anonymousreply 35April 13, 2013 2:27 AM

Lucy wanted to be Rizzo in "Grease" more than anything, but Gary convinced her she was too youthful for the concept the producers had in mind, and for once he was right.

by Anonymousreply 36April 13, 2013 2:39 AM

Mike Nichols hired Lucy to play Martha in WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF (she was always his first choice), and filming went very well for about a month.

She and Richard Burton had terrific chemistry -- and that was exactly the problem. Gary Morton got crazy jealous, arguing with Burton on the set and once even taking a swing at him in Burton's trailer. In the end, Morton convinced Lucy to drop out of the project, and Mike Nichols never forgave him for it.

The kicker is that Lucy and Burton had an affair anyway, but it didn't start until three months AFTER Lucy had left the film.

by Anonymousreply 37April 13, 2013 2:50 AM

I'm sure everyone knows that she was tapped to do the film version of "The Sound of Music" -- "Do Re Mi" would have been a tour de force -- but Gary Morton read the script and learned that Peggy Wood was going to play the Mother Abbess, he recommended Lucy turn the role down. He didn't think her fan base would put up with her being called a "cuntface."

by Anonymousreply 38April 13, 2013 3:14 AM

After the success of "Stone Pillow," Lucy wanted to cement her comeback in a return to film, again playing against type.

Finding European filmmakers more receptive to working with mature actresses, Gary Morton scored her the title role in the French drama Betty Blue.

Rehearsals went well, with Lucy requesting extra runthroughs of the opening scene.

Then, directed to bite her co-star's shoulder, Lucy left her dentures in his collarbone and fractured her pelvis. She departed the production in a Jazzy scooter.

The director's hooker and Lucy's stand-in, Beatrice Dalle, stepped in:

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 39April 13, 2013 3:25 AM

Lucy auditioned for The Elephant Man sans taped and wired up face. John Merrick's ghost woke her up in the middle of the night by slapping the shit out of her with her enema bag. He was screaming "I don't want people to remember me as hideous".

by Anonymousreply 40April 13, 2013 3:31 AM

The script for Evita was sent to Lucy and she jumped at the chance to play the title role, but the producers changed their minds after Gary insisted that the famous song be changed to "Don't Cry For Me, Cuba Cuba" to capitalize on Lucy's Hispanic ties to her ex-husband Desi.

by Anonymousreply 41April 13, 2013 3:38 AM

Gary went berserk when he saw the dailies of Lucy in Bergman's Persona. He felt that her costumes were unflattering and insisted that Bergman hire Edith Head. This demand--in addition to the concession that Bergman had already made about stocking Lucy's dressing room with 3 cartons of Marlboro Reds IN THE BOX every day--led to a halt in production.

A potential third act for Lucy's career---muse to the great European directors---had ended.

by Anonymousreply 42April 13, 2013 4:52 AM

She was also the original choice for "Deep Throat".

by Anonymousreply 43April 13, 2013 5:30 AM

Lucy was John Hughes' original red-headed muse and his first choice for "Sixteen Candles." But Gary was insistent that Mickey Rooney co-star as Long Duk Dong and Hughes didn't believe that would be offensive enough so negotiations fell apart.

by Anonymousreply 44April 13, 2013 6:22 AM

Lucy was all set to take on the role of "Jake Cruise" but Gary was worried that the chemicals they would use to thin her hair would be dangerous so she turned it down.

by Anonymousreply 45April 15, 2013 1:46 PM

After the Shirley Temple deal couldn't be worked out, Mervyn LeRoy asked Lucy to play Dorothy in THE WIZARD OF OZ. It looked like a lock until Gary Morton felt that the companions, especially the Cowardly Lion, were getting all the funny lines, and he got Lucy to drop out. Just imagine what a marvelous Lucille Ball would have done with "Over the Rainbow"!

by Anonymousreply 46April 15, 2013 3:17 PM

These don't really work if you choose movies that were made before and after Lucy and Gary were together.

by Anonymousreply 47April 15, 2013 3:36 PM

Long before they were married, Gary Morton was involved in giving advice to Lucy.

In 1961, Jackie Kennedy wanted to bring a series of entertainments to the White House. She planned to start off the series by presenting an evening with Lucille Ball. The night before the event, Lucy phoned Gary Morton with her travel plans but he suggested she should not get involved with people in a Democratic administration. Lucy took his advice, phoned the White House and said she forgot about a PTA meeting that same night at Desi Jr's school.

As you can imagine Jackie was disappointed so she phoned her friend Pablo Casals in Barcelona and convinced him to take the next flight to DC to fill in for Lucy by playing a couple of tunes on his cello.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 48April 15, 2013 4:01 PM

R48, I recall that night very well, having been an escort for one of the Governor of Puerto Rico's daughters - her father was the special guest of the evening. The Puerto Rican caused a stir as Casals was announced in the East Room and he started the first Bach Prelude. They chanted, sotto voce, "We want Lucy," but since it was in Spanish no one knew what they were saying, except Mrs. Kennedy. She turned to other guests and explained they were saying an after-dinner prayer "we Catholics recite," and everything got glossed over.

A wonderful night. Except Casals farted every time his bow played fast. And we did hear that Morton received his first Lucy-delivered black eye over it - the first of many. I did always hear the Gary Morton finally had to have his right eye replaced from the beatings.

by Anonymousreply 49April 15, 2013 6:43 PM

Lucille was all set to do "Flashdance", trained brutally for weeks. She got off the booze, started a macrobiotic diet. Then the budget was cut and they couldn't meet her $10 million salary demand.

They ended up going with an unknown (Jennifer Beals) and paid her $200/week- plus bus fare.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 50April 15, 2013 7:02 PM

Warren Beatty had Lucille in mind for Felicia Carp in "Shampoo" (the role that Lee Grant won an Oscar) and was willing to wait until the final season of "Here's Lucy" to wrap up. Of course, Gary thought that she should play the Julie Christie character of Jackie instead. Lucy was thrilled to work with Beatty and was even willing to flash her bush in the panty removal plop down on the bed scene with him.

I heard one night during a drunken evening of playing Scrabble and Pivot Pool with the Stewarts and Bennys Lucy told Gary, "Look buster, I'll have your balls in a blender if you torpedo this part. This Felicia role is perfect for me. And besides, you know god damned well I can't get down on my knees anymore since my ski accident so forget it!" Gary then snarled back, "What about the duct tape genius? There'll be no getting around concealing that fact in the salon scene my dear unless you go without."

Lucy paused, took a drag off of her L&M, then blew the smoke in Gary's face and stalked off to the bedroom without excusing herself. As Gary saw their neighbors out the door Lucy's hoarse wailing sobs interspersed with a mean coughing fit could be heard from the foyer.

by Anonymousreply 51April 16, 2013 2:02 AM

Lucy desperately wanted the role of "Kathy" in Dancer in the Dark, because she had never done a crime drama musical before. Gary thought it was swell idea, but that hippie freak Bjork refused to work with a "boozy circus clown."

by Anonymousreply 52April 16, 2013 2:25 AM

Lucy being an animal lover was up for the part of Babe in the endearing movie about a pig who almost gets killed. Gary thought it was wrong for her, however, because she might be typecast as a young animal for the rest of her career-- although Gary did like the fact that Babe had no love interest, so he wouldn't have to watch Lucy kiss another man, or pig, or whatever.

by Anonymousreply 53April 16, 2013 2:26 AM

Vivian Vance had a television show of her own picked up by NBC in the summer of 1979. It was going to be called "We Adore Viv!" Despite her recent bouts of serious ill health, Vance was feeling fit, looked great, and ready to be a star in her own right, at last.

On August 16 she called Lucille Ball and asked her if she would like to audition to play the best friend in the show, a neighbor married to an old man.

On August 17 Vivian Vance was dead.

by Anonymousreply 54April 16, 2013 2:58 AM

In 1969 a world famous American Beverage Company and other giants from the Food Industry approached a very short but financially lucrative 5 minute film to be shown only within the Food Industry.

Lucy would not only get top billing as " A special guest appearance" but also title credit as "Narrator".the deal was signed and on location filming began in summer of 1969.

However Lucy had such an intense dislike of her co-star she stormed off the set, never to return.

Luckily another major Hollywood legend was brought in at the last minute to save the project, which has become the stuff of legends.

For once gary agreed with Lucy and

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 55April 16, 2013 5:31 AM

After Judy Garland was fired from VALLEY OF THE DOLLS, Lucy was offered the part of 'Helen Lawson,' legendary star of stage and screen. Lucy balked at first, as she wanted nothing to do with this film adaptation of the trashy best-selling novel. However, Gary reminded her that Kate Hepburn was also making her screen comeback that year, and that this part might mark Lucy's triumphant return to the silver screen. Lucy accepted, on the condition that she had script, hair & makeup, and costume approval.

Lucy was a nightmare. She demanded all sorts of script changes, instructed her young co-stars on how to read their lines, and requested that that pesky Patty Duke (pre-Desi Jr.) darken her auburn tresses to a mousy brown. At costumes, she got into an altercation with Sharon Tate after the latter, reeking of pot and patchouli, mistook the former, who was all done up in Helen Lawson drag, for an Ethel Merman impersonator from Club 82.

Production hit a standstill when Lucy got word that her voice was to be dubbed by Margaret Whiting for the "I'll Plant My Own Tree" number. Incensed, Lucy marched into a recording studio and laid down tracks to prove she could sing. She was, after all, an MGM musical star back in the day. When the producers refused to budge on this matter, Lucy, via a litigiously worded memo from Gary to studio brass, withdrew from the production.

Nobody knows what became of Lucy's recording of "I'll Plant My Own Tree," however, it was revealed in declassified documents that US Army PSYOPS blared her rendition from loudspeakers aimed at the jungles of Southeast Asia to rout out the Viet Cong.

by Anonymousreply 56April 16, 2013 5:00 AM

The producers of ALICE were keen to have Lucy fill in the spot left by Polly Holiday when she spun off into her own series, FLO. Lucy in a tangerine-pink beehive was to be the gum-chewing, wise-cracking waitress, Lucille Carp.

But Gary Morton insisted that CBS re-name the series LUCY & ALICE. Linda Lavin emphatically refused to yield, so on Gary's advice Lucy wisely turned the offer down.

by Anonymousreply 57April 16, 2013 7:51 AM

[quote]These don't really work if you choose movies that were made before and after Lucy and Gary were together

I understand Lucy was up for the role of Mary Preston in WINGS, but Gary Morton made her turn it down because Charles 'Buddy' Rogers had a bad rep as a womanizer. Clara Bow got the part instead, and the rest is Academy Award history!

by Anonymousreply 58April 16, 2013 2:00 PM

Gary Morton was a bastard. I'll never forgive him for convincing Lucy to pass on MARY POPPINS. Her wisecracking nanny would have added a little salt to all that Disney saccharine, and her version of "A Spoonful of Sugar" would have been classic.

by Anonymousreply 59April 16, 2013 2:10 PM

George Méliès signed Lucy for the role of The Moon in [italic]Le voyage dans la lune[/italic] but lived to regret his decision because she wouldn't stop mouthing the words to the Vitameatavegamin skit.

After the temperamental director exploded in rage, Gary dragged her off the set, but not before beating the "fucking frog" about the head and shoulders with his celluloid collar while Lucy WAAAAAAAH-d into her bustle.

by Anonymousreply 60April 16, 2013 2:17 PM

Lucy wanted to buy the rights to Mame's soundtrack, but Gary Morton advised her not to, saying she could instead collect royalties each time it was played by Army Psy Ops to break the spirit of the enemy. Lucy died 2 years before the Gulf War began.

by Anonymousreply 61April 16, 2013 5:35 PM

Lucy was asked to play the Witch in the original production of Into the Woods on Broadway, which she was very excited about. But in rehearsal, when she repeatedly stumbled on her lines ("He was robbing me / Raping me / Rooting through my rutabaga / Raiding my arugula and / Ripping up my rampion / My champion! My favorite!" gave her a LOT of trouble), Gary Morton called a halt. She officially left the production "because of illness," and Bernadette Peters got the part instead.

by Anonymousreply 62April 16, 2013 6:02 PM

The Maria Schneider role in Last Tango. Gary said Lucy would only consider it if they changed from butter to parkay.

by Anonymousreply 63April 16, 2013 6:03 PM

Lucy was the first choice to play Indiana Jones in "Raiders of the Lost Ark." Gary said no because he knew Lucy hated snakes and he did not want her playing opposite Jan-Michael Vincent who was to play the love interest, Marvin Ravenwood. Lucy also had a falling out with George Lucas and Steven Spielberg over wardrobe and the fact that she wanted to sing at least two musical numbers in the finale. It's a shame it didn't happen. It could have been a classic.

by Anonymousreply 64April 16, 2013 6:58 PM

Few know that in the mid-60s Lucy was slated to star in a Swedish film to be titled 'I am funny, Red'. Gary objected because the nudity diddn't really showcase 'that awesome ass' enough for his taste. It was evetually done without her as 'I am curious, Yellow'.

by Anonymousreply 65April 16, 2013 7:29 PM

The role of Natalia Landauer in Cabaret originally called for a sassy, stylish, bawdy madcap older woman. Think Patsy Stone. Director Bob Fosse wanted only Lucille Ball as Natalia. While Liza Minnelli was a star, she did not yet have the name recognition or box office appeal of America's favorite red head.

Liza and Lucy played well against each other. They had been neighbors when Liza was growing up, and Liza was engaged to Desi Jr. at the time. They had a natural rapport.

As filming commenced, Gary Morton began to realize that turning a rather dark story into a slapstick musical comedy about Nazis and homos was a terrible idea.

It was during the filming of the scene where Natalia discovers her dead bloody dog on her doorstep that Gary had had enough.

STOP!

Lucy's trademark doubletake and cry WAAAAAAAA!!! were all wrong for the film and the character.

Bobby! Babe. I know where you're going with this piece of shit. Mel Brooks can pull crap like this off and make it funny, but my friend, you're no Mel Brooks. Production was halted and Lucy and Gary hightailed it to their home in Palm Springs.

Recognizing the wisdom of Gary Mortons word, Fosse huddled with the writers and rewrote the script to closer match the book of the original Broadway production.

The role of Natalia Landauer was rewritten as a beautiful, timid heiress of limited emotional range. Marisa Berenson won the part.

by Anonymousreply 66April 16, 2013 7:39 PM

She was slated to play the Tom Skerritt role in "Top Gun", but Gary Morton feared that Lucy would be losing weight from constant seasickness on the carrier and wanted to keep her sleek and sexy. Lucy was also at odds with Tom Cruise over who got the cutest makeup guys and fluffers. Tom won out, so Lucy balked and walked. She did "Life With Lucy" instead. Sad.

by Anonymousreply 67April 16, 2013 7:52 PM

I am fairly new to Datalouge, but I want to know what is behind all the malice aimed towards Gary Morton.

From what I read, he treated Lucille Ball very well. He didn't cheat on her (Lucy would have pulverized him into dust if he had), like Desi Arnaz did. He kept her from being alone, which was one of her great fears.

Yes, he might have been a kept man, but I think he earned whatever financial compensation he got.

I think Gary got his back at some of the people who were snipping at him when he played "Sherman Hart" (a thinly-disguised Milton Berle) in LENNY

by Anonymousreply 68April 17, 2013 1:00 AM

She was offered the role of Joanie on Happy Days. But Gary had that old rule about only one redhead on the set. Marion Ross would not change her hair color. So the rest as they say is history.

by Anonymousreply 69April 17, 2013 1:37 AM

Lucy was asked to star in the one-woman play "Gertrude Stein, Gertrude Stein, Gertrude Stein," but of course Gary Morton had to involve himself in the process.

It wasn't the lesbian thing -- he didn't give a damn about her image in that way -- but he didn't want her wearing a fat suit for fear the public would think she was "letting herself go." Instead, they got Pat Carroll to play the part, and of course she didn't need any padding at all.

by Anonymousreply 70April 17, 2013 1:54 AM

Lucy was first choice to play Arnold on "Diff'rent Strokes", but she wanted Conrad Bain to gain and maintain 80 pounds to make her look thinner. Conrad refused her demands and Lucy, with Gary's blessing, walked.

by Anonymousreply 71April 17, 2013 2:13 AM

Producers wanted Lucy for the lead in The Blue Lagoon in 1980. Lucy was thrilled to star opposite Chris Atkins in Fiji and was excited about the nudity and love scenes. Gary went through the roof and signed her for Stone Pillow instead. Her part ultimately went to the less attractive Brooke Shields, but the movie was a box office smash. Lucy never got over losing that part. She died penniless and alone in 1989, broken hearted.

by Anonymousreply 72April 17, 2013 2:18 AM

I know that Lucy was devastated over losing the part in those long-running 1970s Playtex Tampon commercials to Brenda Vaccaro. Brenda reaped riches while poor Lucy faded into obscurity. Damn Gary. It was his fault. True, Lucy was far beyond the age of riding the cotton pony, but she would have been wonderful. Hell, I'm a dude, but I would have bought tampons from Lucy!

by Anonymousreply 73April 17, 2013 2:23 AM

They originally wanted Lucy to play Dorothy Zbornak in Golden Girls.

Gary said she would be working with some no-talent has-beens who would be gone and forgotten and never talked about, especially that Betty White!

Also, Gale Gordon wasn't available to play her ex-husband Stanley.

by Anonymousreply 74April 17, 2013 2:30 AM

Lucy to fought desperately for the highly coveted role of Red Weirdo in "The Big Rock Candy Mountain," AKA "Joan Crawford Goes to the Supermarket." She trained vigorously for the scene where the weirdo has to traverse the checkout counter conveyor belt, leaping over onions, peppers, tomahtoes, and the rest of the ingredients for paella. She even stooped to crank calling her biggest rival for the role, Maureen O'Hara, disguising her voice as O'Hara's cigar-chomping agent, giving O'Hara the wrong date and location of the final audition. Morton blabbed to a tipsy Franchot Tone, who then drunk dialed Crawford, and as soon as Crawford found out about Lucy's driven interest, she slapped Carol Ann and whimsically switched the color of the Weirdo character to green, thereby hampering Lucy's efforts to finally nab that Oscar.

by Anonymousreply 75April 17, 2013 2:35 AM

Lucy begged for the role of the DeLorean time machine in "Back to the Future." Gary balked because he knew Lucy would have to gain at least 400 pounds and paint herself silver. She would also have been required to wear the Flux Capacitor up her ass. Gary refused to let Lucy humiliate herself that way. Producers were leaning toward a newer model car anyway and Lucy was dismissed. Gary and Lucy nearly divorced over this incident, but she finally forgave him when he got her the green light for the "Life with Lucy" TV series in 1986.

by Anonymousreply 76April 17, 2013 2:47 AM

In 1991, Lucy fought hard to win the role (ultimately played by Geena Davis) in "Thelma and Louise." Lucy was adamant about playing the role. Gary had his reservations and eventually won the argument when he reminded Lucy that it probably wouldn't be a great career move for her, considering she had been dead for two years.

by Anonymousreply 77April 17, 2013 2:52 AM

Lucy auditioned for the role of Bella in the Twilight series, but the producers decided to go with someone a tad less emotive.

They went too far in the opposite direction.

by Anonymousreply 78April 17, 2013 3:34 AM

Sen. John McCain thought Lucy should take a break from show business and get involved in politics. He told her he had plans to run for President in a few years and wanted her on the ticket. Gary Morton didn't want to move to DC so Lucy turned down the Senator. That's what gave Sarah Palin her big break.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 79April 17, 2013 4:57 AM

There sure are a lot of unfunny people with a lot of time on their hands on this thread....

Just saying.

by Anonymousreply 80April 17, 2013 5:05 AM

[quote]I am fairly new to Datalouge, but I want to know what is behind all the malice aimed towards Gary Morton.

Lucy came under fire from the shareholders in Desilu for her large salary as head of the company when neither it nor its stock were performing well.

Meanwhile, during a period of austerity throughout the film & TV industry, Gary Morton personally oversaw the construction of a massive "European Street Set" on the company's back lot. The set was built on a slightly reduced scale which made taller actors look gigantic. No film or TV production ever made use of this monstrous boondoggle of a set. The millions wasted on it were a scandal to those in the know.

He may have been a peacherino in private but he often came off as a dunce in his public life as Mr. Lucille Ball.

by Anonymousreply 81April 17, 2013 8:06 AM

She was supposed to play rape victim Sarah Tobias in the accused. However, during the pivotal rape scene on the pinball machine, all she could do was her trademark WAAAAAAA WAAAAAA WAAAAA. Gary saw the dailies, paid to have them burned, sent Lucy to a spa, and Jodie thanks her lucky stars.

by Anonymousreply 82April 17, 2013 10:52 AM

NONE of these casting posts are real - they are not even realistic.

I want to know which roles did Lucy REALLY turn down based on Gary's advice.

by Anonymousreply 83April 17, 2013 11:26 AM

Could someone explain where exactly "Lucille was offered the role" came from? It only exists here.

Most of these stories are actually quite funny.

by Anonymousreply 84April 17, 2013 11:28 AM

R80 You're that humorless cunt from the Ask Barbra thread. There is a lot of funny shit here, if you find no humor in it, that's your problem. Not ours.

by Anonymousreply 85April 17, 2013 1:27 PM

Yeah, R80!

by Anonymousreply 86April 17, 2013 1:30 PM

R84 I believe it originated in a thread about casting The Manchurian Candidate years ago and it just sort of took on a life of its own.

by Anonymousreply 87April 17, 2013 1:37 PM

Little known fact, but on-set difficulties with Marlon Brando actually led to Ilya Salkind bringing Lucy in to replace him in the role of Jor-El for 1978's "Superman." Wardrobe tests of Ball wearing a luminescent white wig were conducted and sent to Brando as a negotiating ploy. It worked, and Brando consented to return to the set and film his scenes with his pants on. Although disappointed in losing the role, Lucy, a diehard Superman fan, agreed to let cinematographer Geoffrey Unsworth shoot closeups of her bald head to be used as the surface of the planet Krypton, the footage of which has delighted audiences to this day.

The metallic paint that they used on Ball's head is suspected to have contributed to her subsequent cancer.

by Anonymousreply 88April 17, 2013 2:10 PM

[quote]Little known fact, but on-set difficulties with Marlon Brando actually led to Ilya Salkind bringing Lucy in to replace him in the role of Jor-El for 1978's "Superman." Wardrobe tests of Ball wearing a luminescent white wig were conducted and sent to Brando as a negotiating ploy. It worked, and Brando consented to return to the set and film his scenes with his pants on.

They tried it again a year later for "Apocalypse Now," but he wouldn't fall for it a second time. In the vault, however, is a tiny scrap of film in which Lucy says, "The horror...the horror." Someone needs to make that into an animated GIF, because it's a priceless few seconds.

by Anonymousreply 89April 17, 2013 2:46 PM

Lucy was originally approached by John Travolta to play the Mirrored Disco Ball in "Saturday Night Fever." She and Travolta met several times with Producer Robert Stigwood. Stigwood managed the Bee Gees and wanted them for the soundtrack. Lucy was insistant that they use the music of John Denver and The Eagles. Stigwood blew a gasket and the whole thing fell apart.

What was not known at the time, Gary Morton worked behind the scenes with Stigwood to derail Lucy's appearance in the film. Both knew she was not right for the part and the rest is movie history.

by Anonymousreply 90April 17, 2013 3:26 PM

Lucy was an ardent Led Zeppelin fan. She lobbied to play Gollum a fantasy sequence in the band's 1976 concert film, "The Song Remains The Same."

Gary thought the part was beneath her and he paid Zeppelin's manager Peter Grant $450,000 to let Lucy out of the contract. Lucy was enraged. During the band's Madison Square Garden concert, she and Vivian Vance snuck into the show disguised as trash cans and ran across the stage during Jimmy Page's solo during "Dazed & Confused." She was sure it would make the final cut (since she was kaput as Gollum). Thanks to Morton and grant, it did not.

Another disappointment for poor Lucy.

by Anonymousreply 91April 17, 2013 3:39 PM

You guys are idiots. I don't recall reading that she was up for any of these parts. Gary Morton was a savvy business man and would have done anything to further Lucy's legend. Get a grip.

by Anonymousreply 92April 17, 2013 3:50 PM

Eat your wierdo, R92. Eat two!!

by Anonymousreply 93April 17, 2013 6:31 PM

Lucy begged to star in the 1903 motion picture "The Great Train Robbery", but Gary Morton turned it down because Lucille would not be born for another 8 years.

by Anonymousreply 94April 17, 2013 7:04 PM

[quote] I don't recall reading that she was up for any of these parts.

Ah, but that's why you come to Datalounge. All the news that's not fit to print anywhere else.

by Anonymousreply 95April 17, 2013 8:47 PM

It's so sad to think of all the parts Lucy had to turn down, just cause she was dead.

She was originally slated to play r92, but she was dead. So she couldn't.

by Anonymousreply 96April 17, 2013 9:05 PM

Lucy desperately wanted the role of Squeaky Fromme in a two-part TV mini-series that CBS was planning in early 1981. She wasn't allowed to meet with Fromme for research purposes and Gerald Ford also refused to speak about the assissination attempt against him.

Morton advised Lucy that in order to get into the head of a would-be assassin's head, she would go to Washington incognito to see how close she could get to the current president, Ronald Reagan. She carried a gun loaded with what she thought were blanks.

When Reagan got out of his limo, Lucy fired the gun. Astounded that she had fired live ammuninition, she ducked into a nearby phone booth sobbing to Morton that she had really screwed up.

Well, Morton made a few phone calls and the blame was magically shifted to a local mental patient named John Hinckley. The whole "wanting to impress Jodie Foster" angle was invented by some clever former staff writers from "Here's Lucy".

The ultimate truth was that even the U.S. government knew that Ball was too much of an American treasure to be arrested for what turned out to be an unsuccessful attempt on Reagan's life.

Lucy was so angry with Morton that she almost divorced him.

by Anonymousreply 97April 17, 2013 9:11 PM

I HEART R97!

by Anonymousreply 98April 17, 2013 9:18 PM

That is so interesting, r97. I wonder if anyone knows whether or not Lucy was at the Ambassador Hotel the night RFK was shot. That could have been a wacky stunt gone wrong.

by Anonymousreply 99April 17, 2013 9:19 PM

Lucy came to me in my (tequila induced) dreams last night and said she desperately wants to play lead in "The Lindsay Lohan Story", which is scheduled to commence filming in October of 2024. It will follow Lindsay's life from her birth in 1996 to her untimely death sometime next year. That is all.

by Anonymousreply 100April 17, 2013 9:23 PM

My guides tell me that Lucy has reincarnated as Honey Boo Boo, who will play the role earning her first Oscar.

by Anonymousreply 101April 17, 2013 9:27 PM

Ain't that the truth, Ruth/R96. She was also up for the part of Precious in the movie "Precious: Based on the Novel "Push" by Sapphire." It was Lucy's part to lose and she did given the whole dead thing. It was a starring role that would later win newcomer Gabby Sidibe an Oscar nomination. Gabby had planned to show her gratitude by thanking Lucy for being selfless and gracious enough to be dead in her acceptance speech that night but sadly never got the opportunity. Death has a way of ruining a gals career.

by Anonymousreply 102April 17, 2013 9:52 PM

Lucy tested for the role later played by Meryl Streep in "Death Becomes Her."

But her performance was stiff and lifeless, so they called Meryl.

by Anonymousreply 103April 17, 2013 9:57 PM

[quote]But her performance was stiff and lifeless, so they called Meryl.

Don't be jealous, Glenn dear.

by Anonymousreply 104April 18, 2013 12:17 AM

I also find this thread woefully unfunny and pedestrian. Just for yucks and to drive all the posters here berserk, I will inject some much needed reality to the discussion and remind everyone that Ms. Ball was indeed verifiably offered Driving Miss Daisy by the Zanucks. Jessica Tandy's Oscar would have deservedly been hers.

by Anonymousreply 105April 18, 2013 1:03 AM

[quote] Ms. Ball was indeed verifiably offered Driving Miss Daisy by the Zanucks. Jessica Tandy's Oscar would have deservedly been hers

You've got the right Oscars. But Lucy was offered the Michelle Pfeiffer role in The Fabulous Baker Boys rather than the Tandy role in Driving Miss Daisy. But Gary Morton, worried about an on-set romance with Jeff Bridges, talked Lucy out of taking the role.

by Anonymousreply 106April 18, 2013 1:11 AM

OH! R106, stop being so witty and clever, you'll shame us all with your brilliance.

by Anonymousreply 107April 18, 2013 2:13 AM

Oh, I get it R106, that's funny because you said stiff.

by Anonymousreply 108April 18, 2013 2:14 AM

R105 smells like Desi Jr's male nurse channeling Clifton Webb after his second stroke.

by Anonymousreply 109April 18, 2013 2:24 AM

Lucy was offered china blue in crimes of passion but Morton thought the dildo scene hit too close to home. Brian depalma wanted to make amends after the dressed to kill fiasco and offered her the Deborah shelton part in body double. Lucy shot the part, but Morton flipped when he learned the sex scene between Lucy and Craig wasson wasn't simulated. Morton pulled Lucy from the movie and threatened a lawsuit.

by Anonymousreply 110April 18, 2013 3:18 AM

R110, try imagining this: You make a joke that takes only one breath, not that long bullshit you've presented to us. You are a fuck head

by Anonymousreply 111April 18, 2013 6:33 AM

R80, R107, R108, and R111, you've posted four times to this thread, each time ragging on what others have written instead of adding anything better yourself.

We get it, you don't enjoy the topic. So just go away and leave us to play in peace.

by Anonymousreply 112April 18, 2013 1:38 PM

R111 hit the nail on the head. These buffoons don't know how to write comedy, that is the problem. These were the geeks in high school sitting at the wrong lunch table exchanging Star Trek stories.

by Anonymousreply 113April 19, 2013 4:12 AM

I think being so attached to a (dead) celebrity that posts like the ones in this thread ( along with responding to your own posts as if you were a different person)get under your skin, is a sign of serious psychosis. I never understood how someone can feel such attachment and devotion to a celebrity, a person who couldn't care less about them.

by Anonymousreply 114April 19, 2013 4:22 AM

That's gay people for you. They have to tear everybody down to there level. Leave Lucille Ball alone. She was a great person. Work on your own lives before belittling others.

by Anonymousreply 115April 19, 2013 4:29 AM

I know Lucy and Gary's families. I WILL contact them and I am SURE they will be more than happy to set their attorneys loose on you lying, muck-raking morons.

by Anonymousreply 116April 19, 2013 4:37 AM

Welcome to DataLounge! Where buffoonery is celebrated!

by Anonymousreply 117April 19, 2013 8:16 AM

Could somebody PLEASE SHIT IN MY MOUTH??!!! I also talk to myself!

by Anonymousreply 118April 19, 2013 1:45 PM

[quote]R111 hit the nail on the head. These buffoons don't know how to write comedy, that is the problem. These were the geeks in high school sitting at the wrong lunch table exchanging Star Trek stories.

You're a fool, R113. We have Troll-dar. Your sock-puppetry has no power here. Begone, before somebody drops a winepress on you!

by Anonymousreply 119April 19, 2013 4:08 PM

[quote]I know Lucy and Gary's families. I WILL contact them and I am SURE they will be more than happy to set their attorneys loose on you lying, muck-raking morons.

Unbeknownst to Gary, Lucy did a number of grainy stag films in the 1960s which, though they were quite explicit, were really just for her circle of friends. Someone snuck a copy to Henry Fonda, who immediately knew she was the right person to play Helen North Beardsley in "Yours, Mine, and Ours."

Gary was outraged when he learned of the pornos, but landing such a plum role pleased him greatly, so he just paid lots of money to find every copy of the stag films and have them destroyed.

by Anonymousreply 120April 19, 2013 4:22 PM

The statuesque and famously flame-haired Ball was offered the title role in “The Towering Inferno”.

However, after her demands that Gale Gordon, Lucie and Desi Jr. play other buildings in the San Francisco cityscape were refused, she backed out of the role.

The producers then offered the role to their second choice – Lucy’s friend, Maureen O’Hara, but Gary talked her out of it.

by Anonymousreply 121April 19, 2013 4:27 PM

yuk yuk yuk

by Anonymousreply 122April 20, 2013 1:33 AM

It sounds like Patty Duke still has an axe to grind.

by Anonymousreply 123April 20, 2013 1:35 AM

[quote]It sounds like Patty Duke still has an axe to grind.

Why? Patty and Lucy were both up for "The Miracle Worker," but Patty won the part and won an Oscar with it, so you'd think Lucy would be the one with the grudge.

by Anonymousreply 124April 20, 2013 2:22 AM

Maybe I'm immature, but this thread is getting progressively weirder, and it has me in tears.

by Anonymousreply 125April 20, 2013 3:28 AM

Midway through filming it became clear to Hitchcock that perhaps America's favorite red headed clown wasn't right for the role of Marion Crane in the film Psycho.

Despite all her efforts to make it right, Ms. Ball could not capture the terrified scream later made famous by Janet Leigh.

Recalling the film shortly before his death, Hitchcock told Shana Alexander that "Christ, I could have hired a goat who screamed better than Lucille. WAAAAH? What in the world was that?"

by Anonymousreply 126April 20, 2013 4:08 AM

Could this get any more tedious? This is more boring than counting corn in Cheryl's turds.

by Anonymousreply 127April 20, 2013 6:41 AM

Gawd you are a tedious bore r127. Go away and dust your Lladro collectibles.

by Anonymousreply 128April 20, 2013 7:25 AM

After seeing her in "Mame", the head of marketing at Vaseline offered Lucille a large fee to be their spokeswoman.

But Gary talked her out of it, telling her it would cheapen her image.

by Anonymousreply 129April 20, 2013 1:21 PM

Lucille was offered the role of Sue Ellen Ewing in “Dallas”.

But as usual, Gary talked her out of it, saying her fans wouldn’t buy her as a bitter alcoholic.

by Anonymousreply 130April 20, 2013 1:36 PM

I would have given anything to see Lucille Ball as Morticia in the original "Addams Family" TV series. Damn that Gary Morton! He was afraid she'd break a hip trying to walk in that slinky octopus dress, so he kickstarted "The Lucy Show."

Her departure really took the wind out of the show's sails, and John Astin (whom they had already signed) went into a depression. It would take a couple more years for "The Addams Family" to get out of development and into production. By this time, "The Lucy Show" was a huge hit, so Lucy trusted his judgment from that time forward.

by Anonymousreply 131April 20, 2013 10:57 PM

Hey R131, hey man that wasn't LONG enough....post it again!!

by Anonymousreply 132April 21, 2013 12:00 AM

R127 is sho nashty.

Plush there are waysh to calculate the total from a obsherving a shmall shtatistical shample and extrapolating. Becaush you don't want to be bending over the commode for very long. Eshpecially if it we're talking about a pork and pepper corn fritter cassherole, like I love, becaush you may not shurvive, darlingsh.

But I would like to push R127'sh fashe into the bowl and suck the corn clean. Yesh indeed. Every shingle kernel.

by Anonymousreply 133April 21, 2013 12:52 AM

Gary said, 'The fans loved Sabrina Duncan. Whoever they get to take her place will be awful.'

by Anonymousreply 134April 21, 2013 1:05 AM

Didn't Lucy try a tour of "Peter Pan" after Mary Martin hung up her tights? I heard the flying rig kept slamming her into a wall and she broke an ankle. She wanted to keep on, but Gary intervened and the tour only played two cities. I think it closed in Albuquerque.

by Anonymousreply 135April 21, 2013 1:15 AM

They dodged a big red wig wearing bullet

by Anonymousreply 136April 21, 2013 1:25 AM

MAIM

It was to be a musical version of WHAT EVER HAPPENED TO BABY JANE but Gary convinced her it would affect their Palm Springs Easter plans if it was a success.

by Anonymousreply 137April 21, 2013 1:35 AM

Lucy was within a hair's breadth of capturing the prized role of Celie Harris in the award winning, Spielburg directed film "The Color Purple." However, once again that Gary talked her out of it, adding that it would simply be too controversial and her tirelessly, devoted fans wouldn't buy her in a role that required her to portray a badly treated Southern woman. A damned shame I tell ya.

by Anonymousreply 138April 21, 2013 1:44 AM

After “The Lucy Show” ended, CBS was keen to sign Ball to another sitcom and offered her the role of Doris Martin in “The Doris Day Show”.

However, after CBS refused Ball’s request that the title of the show be changed to “Here’s Doris Day”, Gary told her it wasn’t worth it and convinced to turn her talents back to the movies and make "Yours, Mine and Ours"

CBS then offered the role to Mitzi Gaynor, who also turned it down, before casting Maureen O’Hara. But, when O’Hara broke her leg during the filming of the pilot she had to back out. CBS was then forced to go with Doris Day.

by Anonymousreply 139April 21, 2013 10:18 AM

R139, should we expect Vol. II & III to be written soon?

by Anonymousreply 140April 22, 2013 4:09 AM

Hit Troll-dar on R140 and watch the page get bathed in yellow.

You're pissing all over yourself, darling.

And you apparently have a shockingly short attention span.

by Anonymousreply 141April 23, 2013 5:13 AM

Lucille Ball IS Catwoman!! Too bad she died shortly after being fitted for a suit and doing test screenings for the character's first big screen appearance. The project was shelved until Halle Berry was given the role.

by Anonymousreply 142April 23, 2013 6:06 AM

I have to bump this simply because the thread is so fabulous.

by Anonymousreply 143April 25, 2013 5:25 AM

I still can't understand why Gary put the kibosh on Lucy doing the film version of SOUTH PACIFIC, which was originally supposed to star Desi as Emile de Becque. I would have given anything to see her wash that man right out of her hair! And I should think Gary would have, too.

by Anonymousreply 144April 25, 2013 3:37 PM

[quote]I still can't understand why Gary put the kibosh on Lucy doing the film version of SOUTH PACIFIC, which was originally supposed to star Desi as Emile de Becque. I would have given anything to see her wash that man right out of her hair! And I should think Gary would have, too.

I have to say, this is probably the only role that Gary was right in talking Lucy out of. She would've been far too young and attractive in 1957. The part calls for a more mature, strong-faced woman.

by Anonymousreply 145April 25, 2013 3:44 PM

She was the original singer for the metal band Slayer, but Gary thought the band's image was too strong for her persona and could damage her reputation. Regardless, she can still be heard singing backing vocals on their first two albums.

by Anonymousreply 146April 25, 2013 4:36 PM

Really? Do you have a link?

by Anonymousreply 147April 27, 2013 4:13 AM

bump

by Anonymousreply 148June 11, 2013 7:45 PM

Lucy and Vivian Vance were originally cast as Thelma and Louise but the deal fell through when the producers discovered that Vivian had been dead for 11 years.

by Anonymousreply 149June 11, 2013 8:01 PM

[quote]Lucy and Vivian Vance were originally cast as Thelma and Louise but the deal fell through when the producers discovered that Vivian had been dead for 11 years.

Yeah, but Viv would have looked fabulous going over that cliff in her hostess pants.

by Anonymousreply 150June 11, 2013 8:13 PM

.

by Anonymousreply 151April 26, 2014 8:30 AM

[quote]The statuesque and famously flame-haired Ball was offered the title role in “The Towering Inferno”.

But Lucy wasn't going to let the disaster movie trend pass her by; that's why she instead used her time to film MAME.

by Anonymousreply 152May 30, 2014 9:33 AM

Lucy as Maleficent? Could it have worked? Since Gary talked her out of it we'll never know.

by Anonymousreply 153May 30, 2014 3:49 PM

Lucy was Larry Kramer's original choice to bring "The Normal Heart" to the big screen. It would have been Lucy's directorial debut, and she would have played the doctor. However, Larry knew Lucy was the wrong director for the project after he gave Lucy an art book of male couples making love, and every time she turned the page, she made the "spider" face.

by Anonymousreply 154May 30, 2014 4:13 PM

Lucy was offered the role eventually played by Marilyn Chambers in "Behind the Green Door." She loved the title, and felt the green door would set off her red hair beautifully.

But while Gary was willing to let her suck dick on screen, he felt a double-penetration, ass and pussy, would hurt her image, so he talked her out of it.

Lucy herself was intrigued by the idea. "The only experience I've had with DP in the past was when I'd put on the strap-on and fuck Cesar Romero while he was blowing Desi," she said.

by Anonymousreply 155May 31, 2014 5:20 AM

Little know fact, but Lucy was originally offered David Bowie's role in "Labyrinth"; however she was replaced during costume tests after it was found that the bulge in her tights was too distracting.

by Anonymousreply 156January 25, 2016 6:40 PM

Lucy was offered the role of Miss Price in [italic]Bedknobs and Broomsticks[/italic] before Angela Lansbury took it, but Gary talked her out of it when not only could she not handle the score—Robert B. Sherman compared her voice unfavorably to the sound of a rusty, dented foghorn —but when they realized her arthritis had gotten to the point where she could neither ride a broomstick comfortably nor do the hand gestures for "Substutiary Locomotion" without needing a shot of cognac first. Lucy argued, "it's Disney, they'll just use some special effects and make it look real." But when they steadfastly refused to cast Gale Gordon as Mr. Browne, that was the dealbreaker.

by Anonymousreply 157January 25, 2016 6:55 PM

The title role in "Barbarella". Gary said that she was too young for the part.

by Anonymousreply 158January 25, 2016 7:34 PM

Bump.

by Anonymousreply 159July 6, 2016 2:35 PM

I thought Gary Morton spent 99% of his marriage to LB on the golf course and with hookers.

by Anonymousreply 160July 6, 2016 3:03 PM

Lucy wanted to be Suzanne Vale in Postcards From The Edge but Gary told her to turn it down and then after she died won raves for his 1 minute apprearance in the movie.

by Anonymousreply 161September 22, 2016 8:46 PM

With the 50th anniversary of Star Trek here, new tidbits are coming out about the show.

Gene Roddenberry was forever grateful to Lucy for financing the TV series through Desilu. So almost a decade after the show was cancelled, Star Trek The Motion Picture went into production. Gene wrote a part specifically for Lucy to honor the part she played in launching the series. Lucy was enthusiastic, feeling it might relaunch her movie career and went to costume fittings and even worked with a diction coach to get the character just right.

However, when Gary Morton learned that Lucy would have to shave her head for the part of bald Lt. Ilia, he balked. He told Lucy that appearing bald in the film would ruin the public's perception of her since they viewed her as a red head. However, he confessed to Gene that he didn't want to wake up each morning beside a bald woman.

So, Lucy reluctantly turned the part down and Indian actress Persis Khambatta was cast as Lt. Ilia, the navigator, instead.

Khambatta bombed in the role and Roddenberry kept telling colleagues that the role would have worked in Lucy had played it. After that, Whenever he saw Lucy socially, Roddenberry reminded her that she passed on her comeback role and cursed Gary Morton.

by Anonymousreply 162September 23, 2016 7:24 AM

Lucy was originally cast as Nova in the original Planet of the Apes. However, she insisted she perform the role nude as she felt that the humans should not have primitive clothing, as they correspond to apes in our world, which do not wear clothing. 20th of course KO'd the idea and Lucy left the film, but she still managed to make her mark on the production; stills of her snatch from the wardrobe tests inspired the makeup for Doctor Zaius.

Offsite Link
by Anonymousreply 163July 14, 2017 1:07 PM

Lucy was cast as Lou Grant, Florida, The Fonz and even Alex P Keaton, but Gary talked her out of it.

by Anonymousreply 164July 8, 2019 4:20 PM

Lucy was about to sign on as ET, but Gary talked her out of it because he knew Spielberg wouldn't go along with her demands that the movie be re-written by Madelyn Pugh-Davis and Bob Carroll Jr.

by Anonymousreply 165July 8, 2019 6:32 PM

That's only true, R6, to the degree it is true at all, because Lucy had been dead for two years when BASIC INSTINCT was filmed.

by Anonymousreply 166July 8, 2019 7:06 PM

Lucy started costume and make-up testing for "The Killing of Sister George." Gary was furious about it, but Lucy was collecting a big pay day. The producers were thrilled to have her name above title and were paying a star salary to get it.

If Coral Browne had not fouled the waters by feeling up Lucy in the dressing room, she would have finished the film. Lucy was okay playing a cunt-lapper, but she was not down for a real roll in the carpet with Coral.

This is also why Coral did not recreate her Vera Charles for the film MAME. Lucy would not allow her near the production. It was all very sad, but this is what happens when you start messing with pussy.

by Anonymousreply 167July 8, 2019 7:20 PM

[R126] Has it all wrong. Lucy was not offered the role of Marion Crane but of Mother Bates. She turned the role down--"No laughs," Gary warned. Hitchcock later offered her the Tippi Hedren role in The Birds. However, Lucy wouldn't consider the part unless Viv and Gale Gordon were cast as Annie and Mitch. Another heartbreaking "could-have-been."

by Anonymousreply 168July 8, 2019 7:39 PM

Frank Sinatra wanted her to play Mrs. Iselin, in "The Manchurian Candidate”. She was his first choice.

by Anonymousreply 169July 8, 2019 7:47 PM

Lucy was all set to star in the sequel , DEEP THROAT 2 , but Gale Gordon and Mary Jane Croft , were not available .

by Anonymousreply 170July 8, 2019 8:44 PM

Lucy was preparing for a role in The Poseidon Adventure , but the producers wanted LB to do a nude love scene with Ernest Borgnine . The Merm talked her out of it.

by Anonymousreply 171July 8, 2019 8:52 PM

Lucy almost got the lead role in Mahogany instead of Diana Ross. Gary tried to help her with her gag reflex regarding Berry Gordy. Nancy Reagan even tried to instruct her.

by Anonymousreply 172July 8, 2019 9:46 PM

Lucy was THIS close to the lead in "Flashdance" but Gary convinced her that legwarmers would clash with her red hair.

He also reminded her she'd have to go to Pittsburgh for filming.

by Anonymousreply 173July 8, 2019 9:49 PM

Lucy was Norman Lear's first choice for Anne Romano in One Day At A Time, but Gary Morton did not think she could look cross-eyed enough or be a deliberately bad actress. Though Lucy was a prime physical comedienne she just couldn't handle the idiotic 3-step stage run deemed necessary to answer the door.

by Anonymousreply 174July 8, 2019 10:46 PM

Lucy could've been either Sandy or Rizzo but once she saw the competition ONJ and Stockard Channing, SHE decided she was much too young.

by Anonymousreply 175July 8, 2019 11:03 PM

R174 However, she did deliver an effective slap in the auditions.

by Anonymousreply 176July 8, 2019 11:18 PM

Bump

by Anonymousreply 177October 11, 2019 8:14 PM

Hold me, David, I'm SCAAAAAAARED! WAAAAAAAAH!

by Anonymousreply 178October 11, 2019 8:17 PM

Bump

by Anonymousreply 179April 29, 2021 6:00 PM

Sharon Tate had invited Lucy to stop by and have drinks with a few friends at 10050 Cielo Drive on August 8, 1969 and decided what the fuck, her dear, dear friends Steve McQueen, Rex Reed, Jacqueline Susann, and Robert Vaughn were all going. But at the last minute husband Gary nixed the idea and promised her a night with the good booze and the toy chest of really big dildos and so they stayed in.

by Anonymousreply 180April 29, 2021 6:11 PM

Bump

by Anonymousreply 181May 17, 2022 2:46 AM

They wanted Lucy to star in the movie version of Mame. Sadly, Gary did not talk her out of it and the rest is history.

by Anonymousreply 182May 17, 2022 2:55 AM

Neo in "The Matrix". Didn't help that she was dead.

by Anonymousreply 183May 17, 2022 2:57 AM

I did hear that Lucy, encouraged by Desi Jr., wanted to appear in "Oh! Calcutta!" but Gary, having seen those purple dessert-plate-sized nipples pointing down like embarrassed collie noses and how her attempts to color her carpet with her henna had left her crotch looking like the team had barfed from bad pizza on her crotch, talked her out of it.

by Anonymousreply 184May 17, 2022 2:58 AM

Lucy was slated to play the role Christina on Grey’s Anatomy but Gary Morton had her turn it down unless they agreed to make the character Asian so Lucy could showcase her “slanty eye” routine every week. This set production back 25 years. Ironically, by the time the show finally made it to production, Christina ended up being Asian after all. 🤷🏻‍♂️

by Anonymousreply 185May 17, 2022 2:59 AM

She was considered for the part of Yoda, but nobody wanted to put their hand up her ass. She also looked too old.

by Anonymousreply 186May 17, 2022 3:02 AM

Bump

by Anonymousreply 187November 5, 2022 3:11 AM

Could someone explain the origin of the "on Gary Morton's advice, she turned it down" meme? Did she actually ever turn down anything on his advice?

by Anonymousreply 188November 5, 2022 3:32 AM

I believe it’s an urban legend relating to the casting of Mrs. Robinson in The Graduate

by Anonymousreply 189November 5, 2022 4:03 AM

R189 Ok, thanks

by Anonymousreply 190November 5, 2022 4:08 AM

She was offered the role of the horse in Equus.

by Anonymousreply 191November 5, 2022 4:08 AM

What I can't forgive is Gary talking Milton Berle out of taking the "Margo" guest role on "Charlie's Angels."

by Anonymousreply 192November 5, 2022 2:04 PM
Loading
Need more help? Click Here.

Yes indeed, we too use "cookies." Take a look at our privacy/terms or if you just want to see the damn site without all this bureaucratic nonsense, click ACCEPT. Otherwise, you'll just have to find some other site for your pointless bitchery needs.

×

Become a contributor - post when you want with no ads!