Mr. Basco, Citizen
This is a great day for Luigi—no longer
an immigrant, but a working partner in these United States!
“Dear Mama Mia: Tomorrow is gonna
be one of the most important days of my life—I’m going to take the test for my
first citizenship papers. Already I look more American. Is hard to explain
exactly how I feel, Mama.”
Cy Howard is the creator of Luigi,
the Little Immigrant, and is also the producer and director of the Life With Luigi show.
Life With Luigi is the story of
the everyday experiences of Luigi Basco, an Italian immigrant who has come to—and
loves—America, land of equal opportunity for all who are willing, as he is, to
work for it. Luigi is a new kind of comedy-program character. You laugh with
him, not at him, as you listen to his struggles to learn the new language, the
customs so different from those of his native country.
Cy Howard, responsible for MyFriend Irma, is “father” of Luigi, too. J. Carrol Naish, long known to
movie-goers for his character roles, plays “the little immigrant” with warm
understanding.
1 1. Class for prospective citizens is presided over by lovely Miss
Spaulding, who gives last-minute encouragement to nervous Luigi.
2 2. Pasquale, Luigi’s countryman and neighbor, agrees to witness the
event—with, as always, daughter Rose uppermost in his mind.
3 3. Angry that Luigi doesn’t want to marry Rosa, Pasquale writes to
citizenship court judge offering a bribe, singing Luigi’s name!
4 4. Blissfully unaware of the fateful letter, Luigi goes calling on
the judge, takes a pineapple—not as a bribe, but a respectful gift.
5 5. Incensed by the forged letter, the judge indignantly turns down
Luigi’s application for citizenship. Luigi is dazed, heartbroken.
6 6. Triumphant, Pasquale once more offers Rosa’s hand, for through
marriage to her Luigi can become a citizen—sort of a citizen-in-law!
7 7. Miss Spaulding hurries to the rescue, explains Pasquale’s skull doggery
to the judge, who hastily calls Luigi back to the courtroom.
8 8. Luigi’s life-long ambition if fulfilled—he gets his first
citizenship papers. And no one ever worked harder, deserved them more.
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