• Rating:
• Genre: Musical
• Movie Type: Musical Comedy
• Themes: Unrequited Love
• Director: Roy Del Ruth
• Main Cast: Richard "Red" Skelton, Lucille Ball, Gene Kelly, Virginia O'Brien, Zero Mostel, Rags Ragland
• Release Year: 1943
• Country: US
• Run Time: 112 minutes

Plot

The racy, ribald Cole Porter musical Du Barry Was a Lady is here given a thorough dry-cleaning by prudish MGM. Richard "Red" Skelton takes over the role of Louis Blore (played on Broadway by Bert Lahr), while Lucille Ball steps into the shoes of the original play's Ethel Merman. The story proposes that Blore is a men's room attendant in a New York nightclub who has a yen for gorgeous showgirl May Daly (Lucille Ball). After drinking a potent mixture, Louis dreams that he is King Louis XV of France, and May is the magnificent Madame Du Barry. Also showing up in Louis' dream is Alex Howe (Gene Kelly), who in "real life" is the guy who ends up with May at fade out-time. It's hard to determine what's more fun to watch in Du Barry Was a Lady: the three stars, the antics of supporting player Zero Mostel, or the incredible sequence in which Tommy Dorsey & His Band -- including drummer Buddy Rich -- perform in 18th century garb and powdered wigs. Five of the original Cole Porter songs are retained for this Technicolor-ful film: "Katie Went to Haiti," "Do I Love You, Do I?," "Well, Did You Evah?," "Taliostro's Dance,", and, best of all, "Friendship." ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Review

For the first 20 or so years of its existence, "musical film" was pretty much synonymous with "lighthearted fluff." Du Barry Was a Lady fits that description exactly. Based somewhat loosely on a hit Cole Porter play, Du Barry is so light, a good breeze would blow it away, but it's a lot of fun. The plot is simply an excuse for the stars to do a number of routines, and as long as there are stars such as Lucille Ball, Red Skelton, and Gene Kelly, that's just fine. All three have a wonderful rapport, whether as a trio or in various duos, playing off of each other with skill and vigor. This is one of Ball's best film roles, exploiting her comic talent to a much greater extent than usual, and she looks beautiful. Skelton matches her in comedic technique, with his trademark befuddlement working to good effect, and Kelly is bursting with energy. The film isn't the type that allows for innovation, but it demonstrates that Kelly didn't need innovation -- he could be just as enthralling using typical musical comedy choreography. Although not an A-level musical, the costumes are witty and amusing, and the entire film has a silliness that's quite infectious. ~ Craig Butler, All Movie Guide

Cast

• Richard "Red" Skelton - Louis Blore/King Louis
• Lucille Ball - May Daly/Madame Du Barry
• Gene Kelly - Alec Howe/Black Arrow
• Virginia O'Brien - Ginny
• Zero Mostel - Rami the Swami/Cagliostro
• Rags Ragland - Charlie/Dauphin

Donald Meek - Mr. Jones; Douglas Dumbrille - Willie/Duc de Rigor; George Givot - Cheezy/De Roquefort; Louise Beavers - Niagara; Kay Aldridge; Ernie Alexander - Delivery Man; Richard Alexander - Man; Sig Arno - Nick; Hugh Beaumont - Footman; Marie Blake - Woman; Clara Blandick - Old Lady; Hazel Brooks - Girl; Georgia Carroll; Chester Clute - Doctor; Charles Coleman - Doorman; Edward Cooper; Inez Cooper; Maurice Costello - Passerby; William Costello; Cecil Cunningham - Couple; Tommy Dorsey - Himself; William Forrest - Guard Captain; Christian J. Frank - Lackey; Ava Gardner - Bit; Ava Gardner - Girl; Harry Hayden - Couple; Dick Haymes - Dorsey Singer; Dell Henderson; Charles Judels - Innkeeper; Mitchell Lewis - Renel; Marilyn Maxwell; Donald Meek - Duc De Choiseul; Art Miles; Paul Newlan - Man; Emory Parnell - Gatekeeper; Jo Stafford - Singer; Andrew Tombes - Escort; Lana Turner - Guest Star; Michael Visaroff; Pierre Watkin - Rich Patron; Eve Whitney - Showgirl; Don Wilson - Announcer; Natalie Draper; Kay Williams

Credit

Irving Brecher - Screenwriter; Buddy G. DeSylva - Play Author; Roy Del Ruth - Director; Herbert Fields - Play Author; Arthur Freed - Producer; Karl W. Freund - Cinematographer; Cedric Gibbons - Art Director; Henry W. Grace - Set Designer; Nancy Hamilton - Screenwriter; Irene - Costume Designer; Wilkie Mahoney - Screenwriter; Albert Mannheimer - Screenwriter; Mary C. McCall, Jr. - Screenwriter; Jack McGowan - Screenwriter; Warren Newcombe - Special Effects; Cole Porter - Composer (Music Score); Blanche Sewell - Editor; Howard Shoup - Costume Designer; Gile Steele - Costume Designer; George Stoll - Musical Direction/Supervision; Charles Walters - Choreography; Edwin B. Willis - Set Designer; Jack Dawn - Makeup; Charles Sherman - Screenwriter; Douglas Shearer - Sound/Sound Designer

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The Secret Life of Walter Mitty; Madame Du Barry