Lucille Ball Collection Debuts on DVD from Warner Home Video June 19

Business Wire, March 5, 2007

BURBANK, Calif. -- On June 19, Warner Home Video will showcase a different side of the "First Lady of Television" with the release of the Lucille Ball Collection. Those who 'love Lucy' may be surprised to learn that Ms. Ball had nearly 20 years of big-screen credits prior to launching the TV show that made her a household name, and WHV will debut on DVD five of the films she made from 1940 through 1974: Critic's Choice, Dance Girl Dance, Du Barry Was a Lady, The Big Street and Mame. In addition, Best Foot Forward will be available separately for the first time nationally. All the films will include special features such as Oscar([R]) nominated vintage short subjects, featurettes and classic cartoons. Packaged as a collectible gift set, the five-disc Lucille Ball Collection will sell for $49.92 SRP, with individual titles and Best Foot Forward available for $19.97 SRP.

Critic's Choice (1963)

Tossing inspired throwaway lines right and left, Bob Hope is New York theatre critic Parker Ballentine, who loves writing pointed reviews that close insufferable plays. But there's a new show in town - by his redheaded wife (Ball). Is it bad?

Dance, Girl, Dance (1940)

Judy (Maureen O'Hara) is a serious dancer, willing to suffer for her art, but while her friend Bubbles (Ball) loves to dance, she's equally interested in paying the rent. To do that, she swaps her ballet shoes for a G-stringOand turns patrons' fantasies into dollars as burlesque sensation Tiger Lily White.

Du Barry Was A Lady (1943)

Ball plays the glamorous nightclub chanteuse May Daly, who's transformed into Madame Du Barry opposite Red Skelton as King Louis XV. This is a fabulous and fun musical comedy from Hollywood's Golden Era.

The Big Street (1942)

Lucy plays haughty nightclub singer Gloria Lyons, a gold digger who doesn't have time for anyone without money, including Little Pinks (Henry Fonda), the busboy who adores her. All that changes when Gloria is paralyzed after a mobster knocks her down the stairs, and she's forced to see what and who really matter.

Mame (1974)

Lucille Ball stars as a high-living grande dame who's outlandishly eccentric and, when suddenly faced with raising an orphaned nephew, fiercely loving. Veterans of the New York stage original join her: Beatrice Arthur, Jane Connell, choreographer Onna White and director Gene Saks.

Best Foot Forward (1943)

Ball portrays herself as the attention-seeking glamour girl who accepts an invitation to the prom from a Winsocki Military Institute cadet as a publicity stunt. Costars June Allyson, Nancy Walker and Tommy Dix recreate their Broadway roles, and Harry James and his band play at the prom to make this a snappy frolic.