When they did the 1974 bomb "Mame",did they get along very well off-screen?

Supposedly, Lucy really liked Bea. These were two brassy dames who really HAD to get along or the fireworks would have been unbearable. Bea was friends with Angela Lansbury, who played Mame on stage, and really wanted the film role, too.

I never once heard Bea say anything derogatory about Lucy, although she did state in an interview years later when asked about MAME that Lucy was in over her head and it didn't turn out as well as Lucy hoped. Bea sort of felt bad for her.

Well if it means anything, in late 1989 there was a Latin American organization, Nosotros, that gave Lucille Ball a lifetime achievement award posthumously, and Bea Arthur accepted it on her behalf, and gave a nice acceptance speech for her.

I saw the Lucy/Bea Mame and didn't think it was that bad. Then again can't remember seeing any other Mame, so really can't compare.