Maury Thompson Movies
Working his way from script clerk to director, Maury Thompson's hard work and devotion to Desilu Productions eventually paid off in the form of an Emmy nomination for his work on The Lucy Show. After returning from World War II service and joining Desilu in 1951, Thompson rose from script clerk to camera coordinator for I Love Lucy, a unique position due to Lucy's three-camera, live-audience studio production. Aside from his work on Lucy, Thompson also served as camera coordinator for other Desilu productions, including Our Miss Brooks and The Ann Sothern Show. His loyalty to Desilu eventually led to a position as director on Lucille Ball's second sitcom, The Lucy Show, where he garnered his Emmy nomination. Thompson would go on to work with Desi Arnaz until his eventual retirement, after which he opened an antiques store and devoted much of his time to hospital volunteer work. Maury Thompson died of cancer in his Irvine, CA, home on Aug. 7, 2000, at the age of 83. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide- 1967
In the conclusion of a two-part story, a reluctant Mooney (Gale Gordon) has joined Lucy (Lucille Ball) and her songwriter friend Mel Tinker (Mel Torme) in their efforts to save the small town of Bancroft from being demolished to make room for a new freeway. In hopes of bringing Bancroft's plight to the attention of a major network TV reporter (Dan Rowan), Lucy stages a phony shootout at Mooney's bank. Three guesses as to what happens next! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mel Tormé, John Bubbles, (more)
- 1967
After another of her many fights with boss Mooney (Gale Gordon), Lucy (Lucille Ball) quits her job and signs up with the "Unique Employment Agency" (ironically the same firm that would employ Lucille Ball and Gale Gordon on the later sitcom Here's Lucy). For her first assignment, Lucy is sent to the home of Mr. and Mrs. Winslow to babysit for the couple's three children. Imagine our heroine's surprise when those "children" turn out to be a trio of trained simians--or, more specifically, the famous Marquis Chimps. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mary Wickes, Jonathan Hole, (more)
- 1967
In the first episode of a two-part story, Lucy (Lucille Ball) turns activist to save the small town of Bancroft, which is slated to be demolished to make room for a new freeway. With sign in hand and slogans in her mouth, Lucy leads the citizens in a protest, blissfully unaware (at first) that her own boss Mr. Mooney (Gale Gordon) is funding the freeway project. Another of the protesters is Lucy's songwriter friend Mel Tinker (Mel Torme), who pens the stirring ballad "My Home Town" and joins Lucy and legendary song-and-dance man John Bubbles in a performance of the title tune "Main Street USA." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mel Tormé, John Bubbles, (more)
- 1967
Vivian Vance makes her first Lucy Show appearance since leaving the series at the end of Season Three, reprising her familiar role as Lucy's best friend Vivian Bagley--now known as Vivan Bunson, thanks to "that little band of gold." But it's not entirely a sentimental reunion: Viv has arrived from Danfield on a mission to rescue young Herbie Walton (Les Brown Jr.), who has seemingly dropped out of medical school to become an unshaven hippie on the Sunset Strip. Yes, this is the classic episode in which Lucy and Viv disguise themselves as hippies (though they look more like beatniks), then engage in a wild dancer number with a pair of male hippies (who look more like motorcycle bums). Far out, right on! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Vivian Vance, Les Brown, Jr., (more)
- 1967
Through a series of misunderstandings, Lucy (Lucille Ball) is assumed to be a notorious jewel thief called "The Red Flash" and is arrested by a zealous police lieutenant (Claude Akins). Assuming that she has been jailed merely for throwing a candy wrapper on the street, Lucy is not only surprised by the severity of her punishment, but also astonished when Mooney (Gale Gordon) and Mary Jane (Mary Jane Croft) show up with an elaborate scheme to spring her out of jail. Ere the day draws to a close, Mooney and Mary Jane have joined Lucy behind bars--as "accessories"! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mary Jane Croft, Claude Akins, (more)
- 1967
Don Rickles guests in this episode as Eddie Rickles (what a stretch!), a former boxer who wants to buy a flower shop. When Mooney (Gale Gordon) denies Eddie the necessary $3000 loan, Lucy (Lucille Ball) takes matters into her own hands by arranging a comeback for the punchy pugilist in a bout with the much-younger Sonny Shaw (Bruce Mars). Her efforts to bolster Eddie's confidence succeed all too well--especially when, after getting her hands on the three grand by other means, Lucy must convince Eddie that he's all washed up! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Don Rickles, Cliff Norton, (more)
- 1967
Tennessee Ernie Ford, who'd made three major guest appearances on the old [#I Love Lucy, is back for more on The Lucy Show. With Mr. Mooney's job in jeopardy unless he can land a big bank account, Lucy (Lucille Ball) tries to persuade millionaire country singer Homer Higgins (Ford) and his singing family (The Bank Porch Majority) to invest their savings in the bank. To expedite this plan, Lucy passes herself and her boss off as the countrified couple Irma and Josh Mooney--and then arranges for the bank to host an after-hours hoedown! Roy Roberts makes his first series appearance in the role of Mooney's boss Mr. Cheever, while Tennessee Ernie Ford sings "The Ladies' Auxiliary Barn Dance." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tennessee Ernie Ford, Roy Roberts, (more)
- 1967
Former movie villain turned Hollywood producer Sheldon Leonard arranges to film a scene for his latest TV pilot at Mr. Mooney's bank. Unaware of this, Lucy (Lucille Ball) jumps to the wrong conclusion when she hears Leonard, "in character" as a gangster, planning a major bank heist. Thus it is that Lucy and Mary Jane (Mary Jane Croft) disguise themselves as scrubwomen to foil the sinister schemes of the "crooked" Mr. Leonard. This final episode of The Lucy Show's fifth season closes with a marvelously Pirandellian moment, as Sheldon Leonard contemplates creating a new series built around the antics of a zany redhead! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sheldon Leonard, Mary Jane Croft, (more)
- 1967
On the eve of her vacation to Lake Arrowhead, Lucy (Lucille Ball) is introduced to Audrey Fields (Ruta Lee), her temporarily replacement at the bank. Accurately sizing up the bleach-blonde Audrey as a conniving predator who hopes to permanently replace Lucy by playing up to Mooney (Gale Gordon), Lucy decides to stick around town long enough to show up Audrey for the phony that she is. This mission, of course, requires a few clever disguises--and that is why Lucy shows up at various junctures impersonating an interior decorator, a carper shampooer, and a wealthy (and elderly) depositor! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ruta Lee, Mary Jane Croft, (more)
- 1966
In a moment of weakness, Mr. Mooney (Gale Gordon) permits Lucy (Lucille Ball) to try on a $6000 ring that he has purchased as an anniversary present for his wife. Of course, Lucy's finger immediately swells up, making it impossible to remove the valuable ring. This makes our heroine so upset that she downs several tranquilizers to calm down--leaving Mooney with the problem of not only retrieving the ring but escorting the semi-comatose Lucy back to her apartment without arousing undue attention! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
This time out, Mr. Mooney (Gale Gordon) is vacationing at a dude ranch. On a mission from the bank, Lucy (Lucille Ball) shows up at the ranch searching for Mooney. She gets lost and wanders into a drought-ridden Indian reservation, where she is mistaken for a long-awaited rain goddess. And she'd better produce rain in a hurry: if it turns out that she's a phony, the tribe's surly chief (Douglas Fowley) has a pair of hot stakes reserved for both her and Mr. Mooney. Watch for a pre-M*A*S*H Jamie Farr as one of the Indian braves. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Willard Waterman, Douglas Fowley, (more)
- 1966
This episode was designed as a lead-in for the CBS special Lucy in London, which aired on October 24, 1966. Having entered the winning jingle for the Arf Arf Dog Food company, Lucy (Lucille Ball) wins first prize: An all-expense-paid trip to London. This being her first overseas flight, Lucy is understandably nervous, which results in a truly bumpy ride for her unwilling travelling companion--Mr. Mooney (Gale Gordon). Pat Priest of The Munsters fame is seen as a harried stewardess. The opening "conveyor belt" gag was written by longtime I Love Lucy scriveners Madelyn Davis and Bob Carroll Jr., who also penned the script for the Lucy in London special. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mary Jane Croft, Ben Wrigley, (more)
- 1966
As a contestant on Art Linkletter's TV show (which looks a lot like People Are Funny), Lucy is offered a 200-dollar prize if she can refrain from talking for 24 hours. To make certain Lucy keeps her end of the bargain, Linkletter chooses a lady from the audience, one Helen Cosgrove (Doris Singleton), to accompany her home. What Lucy doesn't know is that Helen is a "plant," one of several actors hired by the capricious Linkletter to give our heroine as miserable a time as possible while she tortuously attempts to keep her mouth shut. Former child actor Jack Searl appears briefly as an escaped convict who rushes into the speechless Lucy's living room, desperately searching for a "one-armed man" (guess which TV show was popular when this episode was filmed back in 1965!). ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Art Linkletter, Doris Singleton, (more)
- 1966
John Wayne, who'd made two unforgettable guest appearances on I Love Lucy, is back in the saddle for this hilarious Lucy Show installment. Much against his better judgment, Mr. Mooney (Gale Gordon) assigns the starstruck Lucy (Lucille Ball) to deliver some important financial papers to Wayne's movie set. Despite strict orders that she is not to pester "The Duke", Lucy not only manages to splatter ketchup all over the nonplussed Mr. Wayne, but also makes a shambles of an important action scene in Wayne's latest movie. Milton Berle also shows up in a cameo appearance. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- John Wayne, Mary Jane Croft, (more)
- 1966
Popular professional hypnotist Pat Collins appears in this episode, in which Lucy (Lucille Ball) seeks out a cure for Mr. Mooney's insomnia. In the course of Collins' nightclub act, a hypnotized Lucy and Mooney (Gale Gordon) impersonate Laurel and Hardy, and Lucy does impressions of Jackie Gleason and Carol Channing. Eventually, Collins comes up with a post-hypnotic suggestion that will enable Mooney to catch a little shut-eye--and which, of course, Lucy will inadvertently trigger at all the wrong moments! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1966
Mary Jane (Mary Jane Croft) warns Lucy (Lucille Ball) that she'll have a nervous breakdown if she doesn't stop working so hard. Meanwhile, comedian Bob Bailey (Hal March) and his trained monkey (Janos Prohaska) show up in Mr. Mooney's office prior to performing at the bank's benefit show. You guessed it: Lucy takes one look at the monkey and assumes that Mooney has "gone ape"--and when the monkey seemingly changes back to Mooney, and vice versa, over and over, it's time for a visit to a psychiatrist! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mary Jane Croft, Hal March, (more)
- 1966
Popular professional hypnotist Pat Collins appears in this episode, in which Lucy (Lucille Ball) seeks out a cure for Mr. Mooney's insomnia. In the course of Collins' nightclub act, a hypnotized Lucy and Mooney (Gale Gordon) impersonate Laurel and Hardy, and Lucy does impressions of Jackie Gleason and Carol Channing. Eventually, Collins comes up with a post-hypnotic suggestion that will enable Mooney to catch a little shut-eye--and which, of course, Lucy will inadvertently trigger at all the wrong moments! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Patricia Collins, Mary Jane Croft, (more)
- 1966
In desperate need of money for new furniture, Lucy (Lucille Ball) and Mary Jane (Mary Jane Croft) attempt to take advantage of an advertising campaign created by Col. Andrew Bailey (Ed Begley), aka "The Bean King." Succeeding at getting double her money back on a can of Colonel Bailey's Bean, Lucy and Mary Jane go through the same rigmarole time and time again, until the two ladies have managed to collect $1500. What our heroines don't know is that Lucy's boss Mr. Mooney (Gale Gordon) is Colonel Bailey's biggest investor! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Ed Begley, Sr., Mary Jane Croft, (more)
- 1966
In a moment of weakness, Mr. Mooney (Gale Gordon) permits Lucy (Lucille Ball) to try on a $6000 ring that he has purchased as an anniversary present for his wife. Of course, Lucy's finger immediately swells up, making it impossible to remove the valuable ring. This makes our heroine so upset that she downs several tranquilizers to calm down--leaving Mooney with the problem of not only retrieving the ring but escorting the semi-comatose Lucy back to her apartment without arousing undue attention! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Mary Jane Croft, Don Beddoe, (more)
- 1966
Angling for a raise, Lucy (Lucille Ball) hopes to collect on a favor owed her by ventriloquist Paul Winchell) by arranging for him to perform at the annual bank banquet. This premise enables Lucy to go through an elaborate "Am I Surprised!" charade when she confronts Winchell's dummies Jerry Mahoney and Knucklehead Smif, who seem to have voices (and minds) of their own. Later on, Lucy inadvertently misplaces Winchell's newest "creation", a blond dummy named Tessie--and as a result Winchell performs his act with an unusually tall and inordinately lively female dummy! ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Paul Winchell
- 1966
Confusion reigns supreme when a draft notice intended for a "Lou C. Carmichael" shows up in the mailbox of Lucy Carmichael (Lucille Ball). Despite the frenzied efforts of Mr. Mooney (Gale Gordon) to correct this bureaucratic snafu, Lucy is forced to undergo basic training at a Marine boot camp until the higher-ups receive official word that she is "Lucy" and not "Lou C." Jim Nabors shows up briefly in his familiar "Gomer Pyle" guise. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Jim Nabors, Harry Hickox, (more)
- 1966
In the concluding episode of a two-part story, Lucy's roommate Carol Bradford (Carol Burnett) is hired along with The Vagabonds to perform a musical act at an upcoming Palm Springs golf tournament. When she is invited to accompany Carol to the gig, Lucy (Lucille Ball) feigns illness so she can skip work. Upon her arrival at Palm Springs, Lucy is fixed up with a date with handsome movie actor Collin Grant (Dan Rowan)--who happens to be the golfing partner of Lucy's boss Mr. Mooney (Gale Gordon). Carol, Lucy and The Vagabonds (including an uncredited Joe Pesci!) perform "Lazy River" and "The Hukilau Song." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carol Burnett, Dan Rowan, (more)
- 1966
Carol Burnett makes her first Lucy Show appearance as Carol Bradford, a meek, frumpy librarian who has become the new roommate of Lucy Carmichael (Lucille Ball). Hoping to get the timid Carol out of her shell, Lucy and Mary Jane (Mary Jane Croft) throw a party for the girl, replete with such guests as The Vagabonds, a musical group (and yes, that's an unbilled Joe Pesci as one of the performers!) Unwittingly, Carol drinks a wee bit too much at the party, and as a result sheds her inhibitions (and some of her clothes!) with a boisterous performance of "Hard-Hearted Hannah." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Carol Burnett, Mary Jane Croft, (more)
- 1966
Season Five of The Lucy Show begins, typically enough, with a guest star--in this instance the ageless George Burns. While doing business with banker Mooney (Gale Gordon), Burns confides that he is working up a new nightclub act: All he needs is a "kooky" female partner. Enter Mooney's secretary Lucy (Lucille Ball), who proceeds to amaze Burns with a convoluted explanation of her unique filing system. Duly impressed, Burns invites Lucy to join him on stage--and what follows is not only a fond recreation of the old "Burns and Allen" days (with Lucy, of course, as Gracie), but also a song-and-dance duet to the tune of the old Sophie Tucker standard "Some of These Days." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- George Burns, Jack Benny, (more)
- 1966
Called up for two weeks' service as a Naval reserve Lieutenant Commander, Mr. Mooney (Gale Gordon) is reluctantly committed to be first officer on the submarine manned by Commander Moore (Robert Carson)--and it's all because of Lucy's well-meaning interference. But wait--there's more! Obliged to deliver an important message to Mooney, Lucy (Lucille Ball) is forced to disguise herself as a male sailor. A literally explosive climax caps this waterlogged misadventure, in which future Lucy Show semi-regular Roy Roberts (Mr. Cheever) appears as an admiral. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Roy Roberts, Robert Carson, (more)
