The 1955-56 season opens with the Ricardos and the Mertzes near the end of their stay in Hollywood: Lucy goes on a frantic search for souvenirs to bring home, and at the famous Grauman's Chinese Theatre she hatches an insane plot to make off with the loosened cement slab containing John Wayne's footprints (the Duke himself makes a guest appearance in this funny two-parter). But the bulk of season five's 26 episodes take place overseas after Ricky's band is signed for an extended European tour, and Lucy and the Mertzes tag along, bringing their patented brand of mirthful mayhem to numerous foreign settings. One hilarious episode, set in Paris and starring Charles Boyer as himself, finds Lucy fancying that the debonair actor is interested in her after a chance meeting at a café. Another memorable show has the Ricardos and Mertzes snowbound at a mountaintop cabin in the Swiss Alps, “entertained” by a Bavarian band. But the standout here—and indeed one of the best-remembered episodes from the entire series—is “Lucy's Italian Movie,” in which the erstwhile Miss Lucille McGillicuddy is hired by a famous Italian director to star in his latest film. One of the scenes requires her to stomp grapes while standing in a wine vat, but she's unprepared for what happens next. This classic sequence alones almost justifies the purchase of this boxed set, which illustrates yet again how skilled writers and directors kept the series fresh by shifting locale and varying the types of situations in which the stars found themselves. DVD extras on this nice-looking remastered set include “behind-the-scenes” featurettes, flubs, lost scenes, and five complete episodes of Lucy's radio show “My Favorite Husband.” Recommended. (E. Hulse)
I Love Lucy: The Complete Fifth Season
Paramount, 4 discs, 680 min., not rated, DVD: $54.99 Volume 20, Issue 6
I Love Lucy: The Complete Fifth Season
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