Reviews (5)

Final Curtain Call On The Classic "I Love Lucy", Series
The two episodes included on this tape, "Lucy Raises Tulips", and "The Ricardo's Dedicate a Statue", were the final pair of episodes in the long running series of "I Love Lucy" which had delighted audiences since the early 1950's with Lucille Ball's unique form of wacky comedy and hilarious pratfalls. By this time both Lucille Ball and husband Desi Arnaz were tiring of the weekly grind of turning out a highly successful comedy series and during the next three seasons reduced the series to occasional specials with a longer running time. Like any long running series the freshness of the original idea does begin to pale abit as the years progress and that is what we see in this final collection of episodes which are a mismatched pair with the first, "Lucy Raises Tulips", still retaining the old Lucy magic while the second, and last episode of the regular series "The Ricardo's Dedicate a Statue" sadly lacking the old energy funny situations and clever dialogue.

"Lucy Raises Tulips", tells a very amusing story that brings back the memories of "I Love Lucy's" earlier days as Lucy finds herself in hot competition with uppity neighbour Betty in the local best garden competition. Annoyed that Ricky and Fred sneak off to a ball game instead of mowing the lawns before the judges arrive Lucy decides to do the job herself using a borrowed mower that quote "seems to have a mind of it's own"! Of course Lucy being Lucy disaster strikes and she finds herself on a run away mower that ends up, after going on an unscheduled trip through the town, plowing through Betty's garden demolishing her prize Tulip bed. This scene is hilarious and indeed is one of the more memorable Lucy stunts filmed. Frantic over the accident Lucy replaces Betty's tulips with wax ones only to have her own tulips destroyed by Ricky when he returns and feeling guilty tries to finish the lawn mowing in the dark. Ricky replaces Lucy's tulips also with wax ones however just when the judges arrive the next day the blooms begin to melt in the hot sun disqualifying her from the competition.

The second episode of the tape "The Ricardo's Dedicate a Statue", is however a disappointment after the previous story. The episode has a very padded out feel to it and the story of Lucy's highjinks at the town's Yankee Doddle Day celebrations seems tired and unoriginal. An annoyingly drawn out scene of the Ricardo's getting their dog Fred to show the manners he learnt at obedience school seems merely designed to fill out the running time and even Lucy's destroying the statue that is about to be unveiled with her taking it's place on the pedestal dusted over with white powder to look like the soldier seems very unfunny and is a sad way for the classic series to end. A point of interest in this final episode is the only appearance by young Desi Arnaz Jnr as a child in the crowd in the last scene. It marked his only appearance on his parent's series.

This volumne of "I Love Lucy", is essential viewing for all fans of the series like myself however the "Lucy Raises Tulips", episode is the one which carries the tape. It still displays the genius of Lucille Ball and shows that even at this late stage in the series she could still create a classic scene as is witnessed during the classic lawn mower sequence. The cast of "I Love Lucy", Lucille, Desi Arnaz, Vivian Vance and William Frawley were a wonderful team of talented professionals that the whole world had an enduring affection for. They could make any wacky situation seem believable and their own commitment to their work succeeded in making "I Love Lucy" an enduring classic. While not the two best episodes of the series "Tulips" and "Dedicate a Statue" are essential viewing for all Lucy fans and should of course be part of any "I Love Lucy", collection. Enjoy!

Lucy: Raises Tulips and Dedicate a Statue
These two episodes are sooooooo funny! These shows ended the 179"I Love Lucy" episodes. "Lucy Raises Tulips" is one of the funniest Lucys. When a garden magazine publisher comes around, Lucy and Betty want to have the best gardens. One day, Lucy rents a tractor and it drives around wit her on it and it went right thorough Betty's tulips! Watch the show to see more. "The Ricardos Dedicate a Statue" is the last episode in the series. It starts when Ricky is going to dedicate a statue. Lucy breaks the statue and tries to find ways to put it together. But after failed attempts, one idea is left. Watch the show to find out.

These shows are hilarious five stars for that. Get these shows immediately!

The last pair of episode of the classic sitcom "I Love Lucy"
Volume 26 in the "I Love Lucy" collection presents the final pair of episodes from the classic television sitcom. "Lucy Raises Tulips" (Episode #179 April 29, 1957) finds Lucy and Betty Munson competing in a gardening contest. Both ladies have planted tulips, but then Lucy accidentally mows down Betty's flower bed and Ricky has a similar accident with Lucy's, and both of them end up with wax flowers. None of the cast or crew knew "The Ricardos Dedicate a Statue" (#180 May 6, 1957) would be the final episode of "I Love Lucy," otherwise they surely would have come up with something a lot better than this one. Lucy is put in charge of the "Yankee Doodle Day" festivities for Westport, the highlight of which will be the unveiling of a Minuteman statute. But when Little Ricky's dog runs away, Lucy ends up destroying the statue and having to take its place. The one notable aspect of this episode is that it marks the only appearance of Desi Arnaz, Jr; he stands in front of Vivian Vance in the final scene. The "I Love Lucy" format did continue for a seventh season, consisting of 5 specials known as "The Ford Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show," all of which are available on videotape. So, neither of these episodes is particularly memorable, but they do represent the end of one of the classic situation comedies of all time.

Lucille Ball at her funniest (except for Vitameatavegamin)
Lucy did great lousing it up as usua

Not the comedy I have come to expect.
The first episode on the tape is good, but the second one is the worst of the series. On top of that it was the LAST episode and did not give a proper goodbye. Its just another episode and you can't even tell its the last one. Its not funny, and leaves things in the air. ... Read more