Lucy in London (1966)

Interesting facts

Lucy in London is a 1966 prime-time TV special produced and directed by Steve Binder, co-produced and choreographed by David Winters and sponsored by the Monsanto Company. The program starred Lucille Ball, Anthony Newley and the Dave Clark Five and was filmed entirely on location in London. It Is also notable in that producer Phil Spector was among the musicians to contribute to the special.

Production history

Lucy in London came about as part of Lucille Ball's 1966-1967 contract renewal with CBS. At the time, she was producing and starring in The Lucy Show for the network. The agreement gave her the option to star in three specials that would be produced independent of her weekly program.

The concept for Lucy in London was set up in an episode of The Lucy Show called "Lucy Flies to London". Much of that episode, which involved Lucy’s unfamiliarity with air travel, was based on an unsold pilot written and shot in 1960.

However Lucy In London was not explicit in its connection to The Lucy Show. This would accommodate viewers who may not have seen The Lucy Show prior to the standalone special. There is a brief reference Lucy makes in the beginning to her male tourist how she "works at a bank back home" in reference to Lucy Carmichael's job on the show.

Laurence Olivier was signed to appear in Lucy in London, but withdrew from the production prior to shooting.

Ball went through 15 different wigs during the production. Cleo Smith, Ball's cousin and the executive in charge of this production, later recalled that problems arose in photographing the star on the London locations, where the use of heavy stage make-up and filtered lighting that was employed for her studio-based program could not be repeated.

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