Desi Arnaz

Desi Arnaz

Born: March 2, 1917
Died: December 2, 1986
in Santiago, Cuba
Desi Arnaz (1917 – 1986) was a Cuban-born American musician, actor and television producer.

While he gained international renown for leading a Latin music band, the Desi Arnaz Orchestra, he is best known for his role as Ricky Ricardo on I Love Lucy, starring with then-wife Lucille Ball.

Movies for Desi Arnaz...

Lucy and Desi
Title: Lucy and Desi
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: January 21, 2022
Type: Movie
Explore the unlikely partnership and enduring legacy of one of the most prolific power couples in entertainment history. Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz risked everything to be together.
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My Darling Vivian
Title: My Darling Vivian
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: April 27, 2020
Type: Movie
The story of Vivian Liberto, Johnny Cash's first wife and the mother of his four daughters. Includes never-before-seen footage and photographs of Johnny Cash and Rosanne Cash, as well as footage featuring Reese Witherspoon, Joaquin Phoenix, Tim Robbins, Whoopi Goldberg, John C. Reilly and many more.
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I Love Lucy Christmas Special
Title: I Love Lucy Christmas Special
Character: Ricky
Released: December 2, 2016
Type: Movie
Celebrate the holidays with the I LOVE LUCY CHRISTMAS SPECIAL, a new one-hour special featuring two back-to-back colorized classic episodes of the series. In "The Fashion Show," Lucy's lifelong dream of appearing in a motion picture seems to have come true when Ricky arranges for her to play a showgirl in a new musical. Unfortunately, the enormous feathered headdress she is expected to wear as she descends a staircase proves to be too cumbersome. After numerous mishaps on the stairs, the musical's frustrated director decides to make a change.
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Classic TV Bloopers Uncensored
Title: Classic TV Bloopers Uncensored
Character: Himself
Released: January 1, 2011
Type: Movie
A compilation of television's biggest and best stars as they are caught in hilarious moments while filming. See stars and blooper moments from such hits as I Love Lucy, The Dick Van Dyke Show, The Mary Tyler Moore Show, Happy Days, M*A*S*H*, The Andy Griffith Show, Laverne and Shirley and so many more! Its a nonstop marathon of outtakes, goofs, blunders and gag reels that will have you laughing out loud. You'll see such megastars as Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, Dick Van Dyke, William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, Ron Howard, Elizabeth Taylor and many more. A collection to show you that stars aren't quite as perfect as they would have us believe! Sit back, relax and enjoy the show!
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Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awards
Title: Broadway's Lost Treasures III: The Best of The Tony Awards
Character: Manuelito (segment "Too Many Girls")
Released: August 7, 2005
Type: Movie
Broadway royalty and Tony-winners Tommy Tune, Carol Channing, Robert Goulet, and Harvey Fierstein are your hosts for this third compilation of great musical performances from the archives of the Tony Award® broadcasts. Legendary stars from legendary shows strut their stuff in 23 performances that have become part of Broadway history.
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Judy Garland: By Myself
Title: Judy Garland: By Myself
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: February 25, 2004
Type: Movie
As Hollywood biographies go, Judy Garland's story is one of the saddest success stories you'll ever hear. The sanitized studio version of her life presented a smiling kid with the big voice, who, alongside Mickey Rooney, just wanted to put on a show. But drugs, overwork, even psychological abuse at the hands of the studio is now part of the Garland legend. But despite the number of Garland books and documentaries, one account has always been missing -- Garland herself never managed to write a memoir. She did make several attempts at an autobiography, often recording stories on a tape recorder. Judy Garland: By Myself (2004), finally fills in the blanks - using Judy's personal recordings to tell the story in her own words.
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TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
Title: TV in Black: The First Fifty Years
Character: (archive footage)
Released: January 1, 2004
Type: Movie
Discover how television has reflected the African American experience in this retrospective of the medium's first half-century. Actors, writers and historians discuss the image of black America on television from Amos and Andy to the present day. The interviews accompany clips from groundbreaking shows and performances by entertainment pioneers that create a timeline of the portrayal of African Americans throughout TV history.
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Television: The First Fifty Years
Title: Television: The First Fifty Years
Character: Ricky Ricardo (archive footage)
Released: January 1, 1999
Type: Movie
Trace the history of television and its impact on American culture with clips, newsreels, and exclusive interviews from television greats like Walter Cronkite, Carol Burnett, and Jay Leno.
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The Funny World of Lucy, Volume 1
Title: The Funny World of Lucy, Volume 1
Released: January 1, 1997
Type: Movie
In THE FUNNY WORLD OF LUCY, you'll hear in Lucy's own words how she went from a school girl in Jamestown, N. Y., to a Hollywood starlet. You'll see Lucy in some of her earliest films and hear what it was like to work with the Marx Brothers in ROOM SERVICE. You're invited for one of TV's most historic moments, "the birth of Little Ricky". Learn how Lucy's career almost came to an end when she was branded as a "communist". It's all here -including Lucy & Desi in the movies LONG, LONG TRAILER and FOREVER DARLING. You'll also see rare television guest appearances on TOAST OF THE TOWN, I'VE GOT A SECRET, and more. You'll watch as DESILU Productions buys the very studio Lucy started out in. It's all here; enjoy the incredible, fun filled adventures of our favorite redhead. Join Lucy, Desi, Fred & Ethel in this unique one of a kind collection.
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Title: E! True Hollywood Story
Released: August 21, 1996
Type: TV
E! True Hollywood Story is an American documentary series on E! that deals with famous Hollywood celebrities, movies, TV shows and also well-known public figures. Among the topics covered on the program include salacious re-tellings of Hollywood secrets, show-biz scandals, celebrity murders and mysteries, porn-star biographies, and "where-are-they-now?" investigations of former child stars. It frequently features in-depth interviews, actual courtroom footage, and dramatic reenactments. When aired on the E! network, episodes will be updated to reflect the current life or status of the subject.
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Lucy and Desi: A Home Movie
Title: Lucy and Desi: A Home Movie
Character: Self
Released: February 14, 1993
Type: Movie
Emmy Award-Winning Special Desi and Lucy's daughter, Lucie Arnaz, hosts this emotional and honest glimpse at the extraordinary lives of her world-famous parents, highlighted by never-before-seen color family movies along with insightful interviews from family members, business associates and celebrity friends such as Bob Hope. Winner of the Emmy Award for Outstanding Informational Special, LUCY & DESI: A HOME MOVIE is a sensitive and absorbing documentary that details the circumstances which brought the immortal twosome together and ultimately drove them apart.
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Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Title: Hollywood Out-takes and Rare Footage
Character: Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Released: February 25, 1983
Type: Movie
Out-takes (mostly from Warner Bros.), promotional shorts, movie premieres, public service pleas, wardrobe tests, documentary material, and archival footage make up this star-studded voyeuristic look at the Golden age of Hollywood during the 30s, 40, and 50.
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The Escape Artist
Title: The Escape Artist
Character: Mayor Leon Quiñones
Released: May 28, 1982
Type: Movie
The young and self-confident Danny bluffs at the local police-station that he will escape from prison within an hour. What follows is a flashback showing his childhood with his uncle and aunt, who are 'vaudeville'-artists themselves.
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CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years
Title: CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years
Character: Self
Released: November 28, 1976
Type: Movie
CBS honors Lucille Ball with this celebration of her three CBS series: I Love Lucy, The Lucy Show and Here's Lucy.
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Title: Alice
Released: August 31, 1976
Type: TV
Alice is an American sitcom television series that ran from August 31, 1976 to March 19, 1985 on CBS. The series is based on the 1974 film Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore. The show stars Linda Lavin in the title role, a widow who moves with her young son to start her life over again, and finds a job working at a roadside diner on the outskirts of Phoenix, Arizona. Most of the episodes revolve around events at Mel's Diner.
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Salsa
Title: Salsa
Character: Self (archive footage)
Released: August 18, 1976
Type: Movie
Documentary about Salsa music with interviews with major Latin stars
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Joys
Title: Joys
Character: Self
Released: March 5, 1976
Type: Movie
Over fifty of the greatest living comedians are called to a party at Bob Hope's house, where each of them is systematically killed (and their bodies thrown in Hope's pool!). Hope and the rapidly shrinking cast try to discover who is the mysterious killer known only as "Joys."
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Title: Donny & Marie
Character: Self
Released: January 23, 1976
Type: TV
Donny & Marie is an American variety show which aired on ABC from January 1976 to January 1979. The show stars brother and sister pop duo Donny Osmond and Marie Osmond. Donny had first become popular singing in a music group with his brothers, The Osmonds, and Marie was one of the youngest singers to reach #1 on the Billboard Country Music charts. The siblings were offered a weekly show by ABC-TV President Fred Silverman after he saw the duo co-host a week on The Mike Douglas Show which followed their series of popular remakes of oldies, such as "I'm Leaving It Up To You", "Morning Side Of The Mountain", "Deep Purple" and "Make The World Go Away". Donny and Marie were the youngest entertainers in TV history to host their own variety show. A year later, The Keane Brothers would break this record.
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Title: Saturday Night Live
Character: Self - Host & Musical Guest
Released: October 11, 1975
Type: TV
A late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels. The show's comedy sketches, which parody contemporary culture and politics, are performed by a large and varying cast of repertory and newer cast members. Each episode is hosted by a celebrity guest, who usually delivers an opening monologue and performs in sketches with the cast, and features performances by a musical guest.
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Title: Land's End
Character: Guest Waiting to Cash Check
Released: April 21, 1968
Type: TV
The owner of a small Mexican hotel and the local sheriff assist travelers and natives in trouble.
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Title: The Mothers-in-Law
Character: Raphael Delgado
Released: September 10, 1967
Type: TV
The Mothers-in-Law is an American sitcom starring Eve Arden and Kaye Ballard as two matriarchs who were friends and next-door neighbors whose children's elopement rendered them in-laws. The show aired on NBC from September 1967 to April 1969. Produced by Desi Arnaz, the series was created by Bob Carroll, Jr., and Madelyn Davis.
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Title: Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Character: Self
Released: September 9, 1967
Type: TV
An American sketch comedy television program hosted by comedians Dan Rowan and Dick Martin.
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Title: Ironside
Character: Dr. Juan Domingo
Released: March 28, 1967
Type: TV
When an assassin's bullet confines him to a wheelchair for life ending his career as Chief of Detectives, Robert T. Ironside becomes a consultant to the police department. Detective Sergeant Ed Brown and policewoman Eve Whitfield join with him to crack varied and fascinating cases. Ex-con Mark Sanger is employed by the chief as home help but eventually becomes a fully fledged member of the team also. Officer Whitfield leaves after 4 years service, and is replaced by Officer Fran Belding.
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Title: The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Character: Self
Released: October 1, 1962
Type: TV
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson is a talk show hosted by Johnny Carson under The Tonight Show franchise from 1962 to 1992. It originally aired during late-night. For its first ten years, Carson's Tonight Show was based in New York City with occasional trips to Burbank, California; in May 1972, the show moved permanently to Burbank, California. In 2002, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson was ranked #12 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time.
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Title: The Virginian
Character: El Jefe
Released: September 19, 1962
Type: TV
The Shiloh Ranch in Wyoming Territory of the 1890s is owned in sequence by Judge Henry Garth, the Grainger brothers, and Colonel Alan MacKenzie. It is the setting for a variety of stories, many more based on character and relationships than the usual western.
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Title: The Mike Douglas Show
Character: Self
Released: December 11, 1961
Type: TV
The Mike Douglas Show is an American daytime television talk show hosted by Mike Douglas that originally aired only in the Cleveland area during much of its first two years on the air. It then went into syndication in 1963 and remained on television until 1982. It was distributed by Westinghouse Broadcasting and for much of its run, originated from studios of two of the company's TV stations in Cleveland and Philadelphia.
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Title: NBC Sunday Showcase
Character: Ricky Ricardo
Released: September 20, 1959
Type: TV
NBC Sunday Showcase was a series of hour-long specials telecast in color on NBC during the 1959-60 season. The flexible anthology format varied weekly from comedies and science fiction to musicals and historical dramas. The recent introduction of videotape made repeats possible, and two 1959 dramas had repeats in 1960. On the heels of his Broadway hits The Pajama Game and Damn Yankees, Richard Adler composed the opening Sunday Showcase theme music, titled "Sunday Drive".
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Title: Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse
Released: October 6, 1958
Type: TV
Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse is an American television anthology series produced by Desilu Productions. The show ran on CBS television between 1958 and 1960. Two of its 48 episodes served as pilots for the 1950s television series The Twilight Zone and The Untouchables.
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Title: The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour
Character: Ricky Ricardo
Released: November 6, 1957
Type: TV
The Lucy–Desi Comedy Hour is a collection of thirteen one-hour specials airing occasionally from 1957 to 1960, and originally served as part of Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse. Its original network title was The Ford Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show for the first season, and The Westinghouse Desilu Playhouse Presents The Lucille Ball-Desi Arnaz Show for the following seasons. It was the successor to the classic comedy, I Love Lucy, and featured the same major cast members. The production schedule avoided the grind of a regular weekly series. Desilu produced the show, which was mostly filmed at their Los Angeles studios with occasional on-location shoots at Lake Arrowhead, Las Vegas and Sun Valley, Idaho. CBS reran the show under the "Lucy-Desi" title during the summers of 1962-1967, after which it went into syndication.
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Title: Tony Awards
Character: Self - Performer
Released: April 1, 1956
Type: TV
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway productions and performances, and an award is given for regional theatre.
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Forever, Darling
Title: Forever, Darling
Character: Lorenzo Xavier "Larry" Vega
Released: February 9, 1956
Type: Movie
Susan and Lorenzo have been married for over five years and they are starting to drift apart. So into her life comes an angel, which only Susan can see, to tell her that there will be trouble ahead if they do not work out their problems. Lorenzo is developing insecticide #383 at Finlay Vega Chemical Co. and plans to test it on a camping trip that he takes with Susan, but the trip becomes an obstacle course for him.
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Lucy's Really Lost Moments
Title: Lucy's Really Lost Moments
Character: Ricky Ricardo
Released: January 1, 1956
Type: Movie
The legendary Lucille Ball as you've never seen her before! Laugh along with Lucy and Desi in these extremely rare television appearances, beautifully restored! Includes a rare appearance of the I Love Lucy cast on the Bob Hope Show and the lost Lucy pilot. A must-have collection of gems from the first lady of comedy! - The I Love Lucy cast on the Bob Hope Show - Westinghouse special with Lucy and Desi - Segment with Lucy on the game show I've Got a Secret with panelist Johnny Carson - A rare lost Lucy pilot directed by Desi.
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Title: December Bride
Character: Self
Released: October 4, 1954
Type: TV
December Bride is an American sitcom that aired on the CBS television network from 1954 to 1959, adapted from the original CBS radio network series that aired from June 1952 through September 1953.
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A Star Is Born World Premiere
Title: A Star Is Born World Premiere
Character: Self
Released: September 28, 1954
Type: Movie
Live television broadcast of the world premiere. Described by various participants as the biggest world premiere in memory, even bigger than the Academy Awards.
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The Long, Long Trailer
Title: The Long, Long Trailer
Character: Nicky Collini
Released: February 19, 1954
Type: Movie
A newly wed couple, Tacy and Nicky, travel in a trailer for their honeymoon. The journey is a humorous one that could end up destroying their marriage.
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I Love Lucy: The Movie
Title: I Love Lucy: The Movie
Character: Ricky Ricardo
Released: January 1, 1953
Type: Movie
The film plays out, with three first-season episodes edited together into a single story: "The Benefit", "Breaking the Lease", and "The Ballet", with new footage included between episodes to help transition the episodes into one coherent storyline. As the series routinely took the format of filming scenes in chronological order, this adds to the "show within a show within a show" format of the film, as viewers watch the cast perform the episodes live. The film itself ends with a "curtain call", as the cast comes out and Arnaz thanks the audience for their support.
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Title: I Love Lucy
Character: Ricky Ricardo
Released: October 15, 1951
Type: TV
Cuban Bandleader Ricky Ricardo would be happy if his wife Lucy would just be a housewife. Instead she tries constantly to perform at the Tropicana where he works, and make life comically frantic in the apartment building they share with landlords Fred and Ethel Mertz, who also happen to be their best friends.
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Title: The Red Skelton Show
Character: Self
Released: September 30, 1951
Type: TV
The Red Skelton Show is an American variety show that was a television staple for two decades, from 1951 to 1971. It was second to Gunsmoke and third to The Ed Sullivan Show in the ratings during that time. Skelton, who had previously been a radio star, had appeared in several motion pictures as well. Although his television series is largely associated with CBS, where it appeared for more than fifteen years, it actually began and ended on NBC. During its run, the program received three Emmy Awards, for Skelton as best comedian and the program as best comedy show during its initial season, and an award for comedy writing in 1961.
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Title: The Bob Hope Show
Character: Self
Released: April 9, 1950
Type: TV
The Bob Hope Show hosted by Bob Hope, debuted on April 9, 1950. During the 1952-1953 season, NBC rotated with other variety shows in a Sunday night block known as "The Colgate Comedy Hour" (Sept. 1950 to Dec. 1955). Also known as, "The Chevy Show with Bob Hope." When the first special debuted in October of 1950 it was the most expensive television program made up to that point - costing an astronomical $1,500 a minute to produce. Bob Hope had his own television show and radio show at the same time. For the next three seasons, The Bob Hope Show was broadcast once a month on Tuesday nights, giving Milton Berle a week off. Bob ended his radio show in April, 1956. Bob Hope also had another show by a similar name, "The Bob Hope Show (All Star Revue)". In addition, he performed in "Specials" for many years. It is the longest running variety program in television's history with a record of 45 years of televised entertainment.
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Title: What's My Line?
Character: Self - Panelist
Released: February 2, 1950
Type: TV
Four panelists must determine guests' occupations - and, in the case of famous guests, while blindfolded, their identity - by asking only "yes" or "no" questions.
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Title: What's My Line?
Character: Self - Mystery Guest
Released: February 2, 1950
Type: TV
Four panelists must determine guests' occupations - and, in the case of famous guests, while blindfolded, their identity - by asking only "yes" or "no" questions.
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Title: The Ed Wynn Show
Character: Self
Released: October 6, 1949
Type: TV
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Holiday in Havana
Title: Holiday in Havana
Character: Carlos Estrada
Released: October 1, 1949
Type: Movie
While working as a hotel busboy, aspiring bandleader Carlos Estrada tries to persuade singer Lolita Valdez to join him in a rhumba contest in Havana.
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Title: The Emmy Awards
Character: Self
Released: January 25, 1949
Type: TV
An annual awards ceremony honoring the best in U.S. prime time television programming as chosen by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences.
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Title: The Ed Sullivan Show
Character: Self
Released: June 20, 1948
Type: TV
The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June 20, 1948 to Sunday June 6, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan. It was replaced in September 1971 by the CBS Sunday Night Movie, which ran only one season and was eventually replaced by other shows. In 2002, The Ed Sullivan Show was ranked #15 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time.
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Desi Arnaz and His Orchestra
Title: Desi Arnaz and His Orchestra
Character: Himself
Released: October 12, 1946
Type: Movie
After a career on the stage and in movies, Desi Arnaz is introduced in this short as an orchestra leader.
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Cuban Pete
Title: Cuban Pete
Character: Desi Arnaz
Released: June 26, 1946
Type: Movie
Unable to complete the deal by telephone, advertising executive Roberts sends his assistant Ann to Cuba to lure a Cuban band, led by Desi Arnaz, on to an American radio program. Attracted to Ann, Arnaz and his band come to New York but complications arise when the squeaky-voiced, addle-brained sponsor of the program decides she wants to be the vocalist on the program.
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Bataan
Title: Bataan
Character: Felix Ramirez
Released: June 3, 1943
Type: Movie
During Japan's invasion of the Philippines in 1942, Capt. Henry Lassiter, Sgt. Bill Dane and a diverse group of American soldiers are ordered to destroy and hold a strategic bridge in order to delay the Japanese forces and allow Gen. MacArthur time to secure Bataan. When the Japanese soldiers begin to rebuild the bridge and advance, the group struggles with not only hunger, sickness and gunfire, but also the knowledge that there is likely no relief on the way.
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The Navy Comes Through
Title: The Navy Comes Through
Character: Pat Tarriba
Released: October 30, 1942
Type: Movie
A U.S. Navy crew aboard a merchant marine ship battle Nazis.
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Four Jacks and a Jill
Title: Four Jacks and a Jill
Character: Steve Sarto / King Stephan VIII of Aregal
Released: January 23, 1942
Type: Movie
Karanina "Nina" Novak, is befriended by Nifty, the leader of a four-piece orchestra, and in return, secures an engagement for them at the Little Aregal Cafe, with herself as the vocalist, by pretending she once knew the King or Aregal back in the old country. Steve shows up pretending to be the King of Aregal, and complicates the growing romance between Nina and Nifty. When Steve runs off with Opa, the real King of Aregal (also Steve) appears and complicates things again.
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Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No. 2
Title: Hedda Hopper's Hollywood No. 2
Released: December 5, 1941
Type: Movie
Hedda Hopper plays hostess at a party for her (grown) son William (DeWolfe Jr.). Hopper, attends the dedication of the Motion Picture Relief Fund's country home and goes to the Mocambo. There is also a sequence dedicated to the Milwaukee, Wisconsin world premiere of the first short in this series attended by more that a few film stars.
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Father Takes a Wife
Title: Father Takes a Wife
Character: Carlos Bardez
Released: October 3, 1941
Type: Movie
A famous actress has to win over her ready-made family when she weds a shipping magnate.
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Too Many Girls
Title: Too Many Girls
Character: Manuelito Lynch
Released: October 8, 1940
Type: Movie
Mr. Casey's daughter, Connie, wants to go to Pottawatomie College and without her knowledge, he sends four football players as her bodyguards. The college is in financial trouble and her bodyguards use their salary to help the college. The football players join the college team, and the team becomes one of the best. One of the football players, Clint, falls in love with Connie, but when she discovers he is her bodyguard, she decides to go back East. The bodyguards follow her, leaving the team in the lurch.