The Fuller Brush Girl (1950)

62% of users liked it
(60 ratings)

Hot on the heels of such Red Skelton slapstick comedies as The Fuller Brush Man and The Yellow Cab Man came The Fuller Brush Girl, starring Lucille Ball in a fascinating dry run for her wacky "Lucy Ricardo" TV character. Unable to hold a job because of her tendency to get into trouble, Sally Elliot… More Hot on the heels of such Red Skelton slapstick comedies as The Fuller Brush Man and The Yellow Cab Man came The Fuller Brush Girl, starring Lucille Ball in a fascinating dry run for her wacky "Lucy Ricardo" TV character. Unable to hold a job because of her tendency to get into trouble, Sally Elliot (Ball) hires on at the Fuller Brush company as a door-to-door cosmetics salesman. After several misadventures involving obnoxious children and snooty matrons, Sally finds herself in the middle of a murder scheme. With reluctant boyfriend Humphrey (Eddie Albert) in tow, Sally gets mixed up in one hilariously life-threatening situation after another, culminating in a prolonged chase sequence on board a tramp steamer. Highlights include Ball's outrageous striptease scene (to the tune of Rita Hayworth's "Put the Blame on Mame") and a choice cameo by Red Skelton as an all-too-cooperative customer. Most of the sight gags in Fuller Brush Girl were cooked up by former cartoon director Frank Tashlin, who'd also contributed to Fuller Brush Man. ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi

Rating, Runtime: Unrated, 1 hr. 24 min.
Directed By: Lloyd Bacon
Genres: Drama, Classics, Comedy

In Theaters: Sep 15, 1950 Wide
On DVD: Jul 14, 1993

No Critic Reviews Found…

Featured Audience Ratings

AJ V

This movie is incredibly too silly and goofy, and the gags just go on and on even after they aren't funny anymore. There are some good actors in the movie, but that doesn't help.

Cast

            Lucille Ball as Sally Elliot

            Eddie Albert as Humphrey Briggs

            Carl Benton Reid as Christy

            Gale Robbins as Ruby Rawlings

            Jeff Donnell as Jane Bixby

            Jerome Cowan as Harvey Simpson

            John Litel as Mr. Martin

            Fred Graham as Rocky Mitchell

            Lee Patrick as Claire Simpson

            Arthur Space as Inspector Rodgers

            Sid Tomack as Banks the theatre manager

            Billy Vincent as Punchy

            Lorin Raker as Deval

            Lelah Tyler as Mrs. North

            Sarah Edwards as Mrs. East

            Louis Austin as Mrs. West

            Isabel Randolph as Mrs. South

            Isabel Withers as Mrs. Finley

            Gregory Marshall as Alvin/Albert

            Val Avery as Burlesque Patron

            Jay Barney as Fingerprint Man

            Paul Bryar as Couple

            Paul E. Burns as Stage Doorman

            Cliff Clark as Ship's Captain

            Joseph Crehan as Captain of Police Boat

            John Doucette
            
            Sumner Getchell as Magazine Salesman

            Chuck Hamilton
            
            Myron Healey as Employee

            Jack Little
            
            George Lloyd as Sea Captain on Dock

            Bud Osborne as Old Sailor

            Barbara Pepper as Woman Watching TV

            Sid Saylor as Wardrobe Man

            Red Skelton as Himself

            Frank Wilcox as Roberts

            Jean Willes as Mary

            Joel Robinson
            
            Gail Bonney as Baby Sitter

            Cy Malis
            
            Joe Palma as Cop

            James L. Kelly as Comic

            Shirley Whitney as Dancer

            Robert Hyatt as Henry
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