What’s real and what’s not in Being the Ricardos.
Here, we ‘splain whatBeing the Ricardosgets right and where the filmmakers took some dramatic license.
But not all at the same time.
Javier Bardem and Nicole Kidman in ‘Being the Ricardos’.Glen Wilson/Amazon
Too Many Girlsand the not-so-meet-cute
Ball and Arnaz did meet on the set ofToo Many Girlsat RKO.
His number in the show largely introduced and popularized the conga in America.
Arnaz saw it as purely physical, while she, understandably, did not feel the same.
Glen Wilson/Amazon Studios
There was indeed a January 1955Confidentialmagazine story with the headline, “Does Desi Really Love Lucy?”
But in this case, their salacious reporting was all too true.
That’s 100 percent true.
J.K. Simmons in ‘Being the Ricardos’.Glen Wilson/Amazon
He not only ensured the success and future ofI Love Lucybut also changed television forever.
It’s played for humor throughout much of the film, but the truth is fairly sobering.
She tries to convince Ball to let her wear a flattering dress onscreen to no avail.
Glen Wilson/Amazon
The film depicts the two women’s close friendship but also the friction between them over this issue.
Her vocal complaints fed tension with Frawley more than anything.
But she and Ball were close friends who continued to work together long afterI Love Lucyended.
Nicole Kidman and Javier Bardem in ‘Being the Ricardos’.Glen Wilson/Amazon Studios
But she wasn’t in the middle of making love to Arnaz.
He was playing cards in Del Mar and raced back to their ranch.
The matter seemed resolved until Winchell brought it to the table again.
One great line that he delivered was left out of Sorkin’s script.
“And now, I want you to meet my favorite wife, my favorite redhead.
But this moment is actually true!
A. L.” Andhespelled the whole thing out.
