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In honor of Desi Arnaz's 100th birthday, which was yesterday (March 2), this week on «Film Friday» I bring you the film that marked his screen debut. It was also the picture that introduced him to (arguably) the greatest love of his life, Lucille Ball.   Directed by George Abbott, Too Many Girls (1940) is the story of Connie Casey (Lucille Ball), a high-spirited, headline-chasing heiress who keeps her manufacturing-tycoon father (Harry Shannon) busy worrying about her. Deported from Europe for her antics, Connie enrolls in her father's alma mater, Pottawatomie College, in New Mexico, to be near her latest sweetheart, British playwright Beverly Waverly (Douglas Walton). In desperation, Mr. Casey secretly hires four Ivy League football players — Clint Kelly (Richard Carlson), Jojo Jordan (Eddie Bracken), Manuelito Lynch (Desi Arnaz) and Al Terwilliger (Hal LeRoy) — to act as her bodyguards. (from left to right) Hal LeRoy, Lucille Ball, Eddie Bracken and Richard Carlson in Too Ma...

Esther Williams looking fabulous as always. Loretta Young is struggling to carry all of her presents. Christmas with Desi Arnaz and Lucille Ball. Ann Blyth looking lovely and festive. Colleen Moore singing Christmas carols. Jean Harlow putting up her Christmas garland. Little Shirley Temple dressed in a little Santa costume. Carole Lombard sitting next to her gorgeous Christmas tree. Your tree looks great too, Janet Gaynor. Christmas at the Stewarts. That's James Stewart's wife Gloria, with their twin baby daughters, Judy and Kelly, and sons, Ronald and Michael. Merry Christmas to you too, Janet Leigh. And Merry Christmas to all of you. 

To celebrate Robert Walker's 98th birthday, which was yesterday, this week on «Film Friday» I thought I would tell you a little bit about the picture that introduced me to him. This also marked his first significant screen assignment. Directed by Tay Garnett, Bataan (1943) centers on a combat unit in an isolated jungle outpost in the Bataan Peninsula, which is being overrun by invading Japanese troops. The unit of thirteen disenfranchised men includes: Sergeant Bill Dane (Robert Taylor) of the 31st Infantry; Corporal Jake Feingold (Thomas Mitchell) of the Chemical Corps; Lieutenant Steve Bentley (George Murphy) of the U.S. Army Air Corps; Captain Henry Lassiter (Lee Bowman) of the 26th Cavalry; Corporal Barney Todd (Lloyd Nolan) of the Provisional Signal Battalion; Musician 2nd Class Leonard Purckett (Robert Walker) of the U.S. Navy; Private Felix Ramirez (Desi Arnaz) of the California National Guard; Private Matthew Hardy (Phillip Terry) of the Medical Corps; and Corporal Juan Ka...

Debbie Reynolds looks pin-up perfect tooting the horn to 1953.   Olivia de Havilland falls her way into 1937. A few too many drinks, maybe...?   Clark Gable, Van Heflin, Gary Cooper and James Stewart share a laugh on New Year's Eve 1957 over drinks at the Crown Room inside Romanoff's restaurant in Beverly Hills.   Dorothy Lamour welcomes 1938 in style.   «Happy New Ye» from Clara Bow and Larry Gray (1925).   Buster Keaton prepares to write down his New Year resolutions for 1929.   Bob Hope celebrates 1942 surrounded by a dozen Louisiana Belles who appeared alongside him in Louisiana Purchase (1941).   Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz welcome the New Year with a little kiss (1950s).   Joan Crawford and her then-husband Douglas Fairbanks Jr. on their way to a fancy-dress party toasting 1931.   Mae West wishes you a Happy New Year in full extravagant glory (1936).   Shirley Temple looks all kinds of adorable as she wel...