For decades we watched Lucy and Desi in their fake Manhattan apartment on endless reruns of I Love Lucy. They were a real married couple playing a married couple named Lucy and Desi. The husband was a handsome Cuban bandleader. This was Desis background. Lucy got pregnant and had a baby on the show. The real Lucy had a kid at the same time. When Lucy and Desi stopped playing a married couple on TV, they divorced in real life. Its easy to imagine that when Lucy & Desi left the soundstage, they really were like their characters. Were they? Lucy & Desi: A Home Movie gives us a glimpse into their lives when they werent performing.
The prize of this documentary are numerous snippets from the home movies taken by the couple. Its a shock to see them in full color since I Love Lucy was a black and white production. Finally you can thrill to Lucys bright red hair and Desis deep rich tan. Theres plenty of footage of Desi hanging out at the pool so youll see his Cuban chest fully exposed. The couple are very camera savvy in these candid moments. They know they are being filmed and act with proper manners. There isnt anything here that would excite an editor at TMZ unless they love birthday cake. It is nice to see them in their real house with unscripted neighbors. This is more than old home movies strung together. We are told the story of their lives through Lucie Arnaz, Desi Arnaz Jr. and family friends.
The family doesnt turn this into a creampuff portrait of the couple. This isnt like the Dean Martin A&E Biography that didnt talk about Deans drinking in order to gain access to the familys home movies. Lucie and Desi Jr. describe a few faults of their famous parents. They were deeply traumatized by their parents divorce. As kids, they constantly plotted a Parent Trap reunion. But that would never be. They describe Desi as the charmer of the family. The kids starred on Heres Lucy for six seasons so they experienced their mothers way of working. Lucy was rather abrupt and business-like on the set. She ticked off Jack Benny with her cold demeanor. The documentary doesnt devolve into a redheaded Mommy Dearest. The children want us to think well of their parents. This is a celebration of their family and their TV legacy.
The Emmy Award winning special originally aired in 1993. It was produced as a response to Lucy & Desi: Before the Laughter, a rather dreadful TV movie. Lucie & Desi Jr. created a documentary that really does give us insight to their parents marriage, fame and divorce. The final piece of footage has the last time they were together. Lucy and Desi are in a pool with their grandchild. Its beautiful moment that reminds us why these two will always be remembered as a couple even when they were divorced for decades. Lucy & Desi: A Home Movie makes us understand why Desi loved Lucy.
The video is 1.33:1 full frame. The transfer varies with the source material its a mix of Beta, 35mm, 16mm and 8mm. The home movies do look good on the screen. The colors are vibrant. The audio is Dolby Digital 2.0. The levels are fine. The subtitles are in English.
Lucie Arnaz & Desi Arnaz Jr.: The Interview (31:08) is more of the siblings talking about their life growing up with famous parents who made them famous TV siblings.
Outtakes (20:33) has the bloopers from the interviews and set ups.

Lucy & Desi Commercials (12:51) has various commercials they did while promoting Westinghouse products. Theres even Betty Furness selling William Frawley a new refrigerators.
Heres Lucy Promo (2:03) is a montage from her third series that starred her real kids as her TV kids. MPI will be releasing the series on DVD in 2010.

Whats My Line? (9:16) has Lucy and Desi as the mystery celebrities. Desi only makes a noise instead of saying yes and no to hide his accent. The episode is from October 2, 1955.
Ive Got A Secret (23:48) is the entire episode. Lucy has fun behind host Gary Moores back. The panel consists of Bill Cullen, Jayne Meadows and Henry Morgan. The show is from May 9. 1956. Moore smokes on a Winston cigarette during the questioning.
Photo Gallery features dozens of posed pictures of the couple at home.
Lucy & Desi: A Home Movie is a must for fans of I Love Lucy. The rare glimpses of the couple in color are exciting. The bonus feature of them on Whats My Line? also shows how they acted when they werent being fed lines. This is how a documentary about a TV couple should be done. If you have a friend who collects Lucy memorabilia, this DVD is the perfect gift.
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MPI Home Video presents Lucy and Desi A Home Movie. Starring Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball. Directed by Lucie Arnaz. Running Time: 108 minutes. Released on DVD: February 10, 2009. Available at Amazon.
