The Jean Arthur Show

Being a long-time Jean Arthur fan since I first saw her already-old films in the 80s, I was surprised to learn she had a sitcom.

It lasted only 11 episodes, but compared to some others that haven't aged at all well, this wasn't bad - and Miss Arthur is excellent. Dated plots, but given freshness with the nicely done acting and the inimitable Jean Arthur. Unfortunately, there are precious few episodes on YouTube.

Curious flaw: some of the takes of Miss Arthur seated or standing are badly done, as if the director couldn't quite get her to face the camera without appearing staged.

Lucille Ball v called Jean Arthur to invite Jean to come to Los Angeles and discuss starring in a Desilu pilot. Ms. Arthur after completing Shane was alway from filmed entertainment for 15 years. Her first project was a guest stint on "Gunsmoke", and you would never guess that Ms. Arthur had been away. Jean Arthur looked fantastic an gave a great performance.

I was a student studying the great Directors and developed Jean Arthur worked with the best: Billy Wilder, George Stevens, Howard Hawks, and Frank Capra. and her co stars Cary Grant, Marlene Dietrich, John Wayne, Rita Hayworth, James Stewart and Ronald Colman were some of the great stars Jean Arthur worked with.

Ms. Arthur's films are considered classics: Mr. Deeds, Shane, Mr. Smith Goes To Washington, A Foreign Affair, and her greatest performance was in Stevens The More The Merrier co starring Joel McCrea., Jean Arthur was nominated for an Oscar but lost to Jennifer Jones The Song Of Bernadette.

Ms. Arthur was a great star but also n introvert and never "promoted herself:" Read Joh Oller' s fine book on thus great star!

Lucille Ball who was a bit player during Ms. Arthurs great stardom became CEO of Desilu and tried to get Ms. Arthur to star in a Desilu pilot. of "Mrs Aris Goes Tp Pars"but the deal feel thru. Instead Dick Quine a great director of those great Kim Novak movies at Columbia Bell Book and Candle, Strangers When We Meet, among others. created a TV pilot called Mother Word a is Law Also starring a very fine actor Ron Harper. Ms .Arthur was given a great wardrobe by Nolan Miller and a great production by Universal. I liked the show but it was on too late at 10PM where most of Ms. Arthur's elderly fans went to bed . CBS gave up on this show too quickly. The TV show was renamed The Jean Arthur Show. I could have listened to Jean Arthur's voice forever. (Actresses of the Golden Era had distinctive voices: Kate Hepburn, Susan Hayward, Bette Davis)

Jean Arthur was a finalist in the hunt for s Scarlett O Hara and while no one could ever top Vivien Leigh, Jean Arthur would have been a very Interesting selection.

Ms. Arthur turned down Capra's It's A Wonderful Life, and walked out of Born Yesterday on Broadway which garnered the great Judy Holiday the Oscar! Ms. Arthur declined Steve McQueen's mom in Junior Bonner and the small role of the missionary in Ross Hunter's disastrous remake of Lost Horizon. I am a big Hunter fan and he should have stuck with those e great lush love stories such as Imitation of Life (Lana Turner John Gavin) and Back Street (Susan Haywad and John Gavin)

I recommend The Jean Arthur Show

Jean Arthur filmed Shane and then was away from filmed work for 15 years. It took Lucille Ball, CBS Biggest Star and CEO of Desilu to entice Ms. Arthur to return to work. Lucy and her programing chief flew to Carmel discuss with Ms. Arthur to do a pilot of "Mrs. Aris Goes To Paris" . Lucy invited Jean Arthur to fly down to Hollywood and observe the filming of The Lucy Show. Ms. Arthur was impressed. Lucy was. A supporting player in a Jean Arthur film in the 1940'sand now the tables were turned with Ms. Ball being the greatest star of her era on TV and CEO of Desilu.

Jean Arthur was signed by Universal to star in "Mothers Word Is Law" produced by Richard Quine who directed those great Kim Novak movies at Columbia: Bell BookAnd Candle, Strangers When We Meet and The Notorious Landlady! Quine signed Ron Harper to star with Ms. Arthur as a 'Mother -Son' legal practice. Ms. Atthur was stylish in Nolan Miller creations and Universal was optimistic of the show's future re titled "The Jean Arthur Show"

CBS slotted the show at 10PM possibly too late for Ms. Arthur's aged fans. Ms Arthur claimed she was born in 1908 and all marveled how youthful she looked for a woman in her late 50's in reality Jean Arthur was born in 1900 and more remarkably she looked in her orly 50's rather than 66! The Network gave up on Ms. Arthur too soon. I feel if Jean Arthur had done the Desilu pilot that Ms. Ball would have had the power with CBS Bill Paley to keep the show running despite weak ratings. Too bad Universal couldn't find a Director assignment for Frank Capra doing one episode. More to the point a cameo was on for the great Capra on the Jean Arthur show would have been great. Arthur and Caprrs made several films when both were at Columbia that are now legendary.

Ms. Arthur was a recluse in Carmel and frankly her show failed because she lost her audience. Jean Arthur never appeared on the Annual Oscar show and or a Playhouse have done a Playhouse 90 but didn't do shows like that.

Jean Arthur returned to Carmel and passed on playing Steve McQueen's Mother in "Junior Bonner" and also a supporting role in Ross Hunter's disastrous remake of" Lost Horizon".

Jean Arthur like Susan Hayward, Bette Davis, Katharine Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe had unique voices. A quality missing today.

Read John Oller's great book," The Actress Nobody Knew' to learn more of this magical actress who worked with the best of Hollywoo: George Stevens, Howard Hawks, Billy Wilder and most notably Frank Capra, and her co stars were the top talent in Hollywood: Gary Cooper, Marlene Dietrich, .John Wayne, Rita Hayworth, Cary Grant, and my favorite Joel McCrea who was splendid in " The More The Merrier".

Jean Arthur had been around since silent films but became a huge star with a gallery of smash hits: Mr. Smith Goes To Washington (James Stewart was great a Mr. Smith but Ms. Arthur got top billing!), Only Angels Have Wings, Talk Of The Town, Mr. Deeds Goes To Town, The Moore The Merrier and her last film the great classic Shane. Ms. Arthur worked with the best of Hollywood: Cary Grant, Rita Hayworth, Gary Cooper, James Stewart, Ronald Colman and John Wayne. Her Directors were the best: Billy Wilder, George Stevens, Frank Capra,

Lucille Ball, CEOof Desilu had a proposed tv series at Desilu based on the Mrs. Aris Goes To Paris and hoped Jean Arthur would star. Jean admired Ms. Ball greatly but took up Richard Quine's offer Mothers Word Is Law to have a title change to The Jean Arthur Show

Jean Arthur had been away from Hollywood for 15 years Richard Quine and Universal gave Jean a great co star in Ron Harper who plays her son.Universal splurged on s great wardrobe or this great sta with the magical voice. I saw several episodes and liked the one where she s defending a Rooster.

Jean was born in 1900. Her official bio was she was born in 1908. This put pressure on Jean to look 8 years younger than she was.

The people of Platsbugh NY have errected a huge monument tothis great star.

The TV show flopped .and Ms. Arthur returned to Carmel.