Du Barry Was a Lady (1943)
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51% of users liked it
(937 ratings)
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… More 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, Rovi
- Directed By
- Roy Del Ruth
- Genres
- Drama, Musical & Performing Arts, Classics, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Comedy
Unrated,
- In Theaters
- Aug 13, 1943 Wide
- Studio
- MGM Home Entertainment
Critic Reviews
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Dennis Schwartz, Ozus' World Movie Reviews
Hollywood ruined another wonderful Porter effort by cutting out most of his songs from the stage production.
See more critic ratings and reviews on Rotten Tomatoes
Fresh (60% or more critics rated the movie positively)
Rotten (59% or fewer critics rated the movie positively)
Featured Audience Ratings
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Cast
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Red Skelton
as Louis Blore/King Louis
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Lucille Ball
as May Daly/Madame Du Barry
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Gene Kelly
as Alec Howe/Black Arrow
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Virginia O'Brien
as Ginny
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Zero Mostel
as Rami the Swami/Cagliostro
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Rags Ragland
as Charlie/Dauphin
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Donald Meek
as Duc De Choiseul, Mr. Jones
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Douglas Dumbrille
as Willie/Duc de Rigor
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George Givot
as Cheezy/De Roquefort
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Louise Beavers
as Niagara
- Kay Aldridge
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Ernie Alexander
as Delivery Man
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Richard Alexander
as Man
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Sig Arno
as Nick
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Hugh Beaumont
as Footman
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Marie Blake
as Woman
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Clara Blandick
as Old Lady
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Hazel Brooks
as Girl
- Georgia Carroll
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Chester Clute
as Doctor
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Charles Coleman
as Doorman
- Edward Cooper
- Inez Cooper
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Maurice Costello
as Passerby
- William Costello
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Cecil Cunningham
as Couple
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Tommy Dorsey
as Himself
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William Forrest
as Guard Captain
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Christian J. Frank
as Lackey
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Ava Gardner
as Girl
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Harry Hayden
as Couple
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Dick Haymes
as Dorsey Singer
- Dell Henderson
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Charles Judels
as Innkeeper
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Mitchell Lewis
as Renel
- Marilyn Maxwell
- Art Miles
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Paul Newlan
as Man
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Emory Parnell
as Gatekeeper
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Jo Stafford
as Singer
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Andrew Tombes
as Escort
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Lana Turner
as Guest Star
- Michael Visaroff
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Pierre Watkin
as Rich Patron
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Eve Whitney
as Showgirl
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Don Wilson
as Announcer
- Natalie Draper
- Kay Williams
- Douglass Dumbrille
