Du Barry Was a Lady (film)
| Du Barry Was a Lady | |
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theatrical release poster
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| Directed by | Roy Del Ruth |
| Produced by | Arthur Freed |
| Written by |
Nancy Hamilton (adaptation) Wilkie C. Mahoney (additional dialogue) |
| Screenplay by | Irving Brecher |
| Based on |
Du Barry Was A Lady (1939 musical play) by Herbert Fields Buddy G. DeSylva Cole Porter (music) |
| Starring |
Red Skelton Lucille Ball Gene Kelly Tommy Dorsey & His Orchestra Virginia O'Brien |
| Music by | Cole Porter |
| Cinematography |
Karl Freund Howard Kress (uncredited) |
| Edited by | Blanche Sewell |
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Production
company |
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| Distributed by | MGM/Loew's Inc |
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Release date
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Running time
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96 minutes |
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Budget | $1,296,000 |
| Box office | $3,496,000 |
Du Barry Was a Lady is a 1943 American musical comedy film, starring Red Skelton, Lucille Ball, Gene Kelly and Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra. It is based on the 1939 stage musical of the same name. Shot in Technicolor, the film was directed by Roy Del Ruth and produced and distributed by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.
Source: The New York Times
The entertainer May Daly's nightclub act includes her portrayal of Madame Du Barry of days of yore. Equally smitten with her are coatroom attendant Louis Blore and master of ceremonies Alec Howe, but unfortunately for both, May persists in holding out for a wealthy husband, her current interest being a rich but snooty gent, Willie.
A telegram arrives notifying Louis that in the Irish Sweepstakes he is the winner of a prize of $150,000. Louis immediately and publicly declares his love for May, who is teased by Alec that she now has no reason to stay with Willie and avoid Louis, who is a sweeter fellow. Then after accidentally swallowing a drugged drink, Louis falls into a deep sleep and dreams that he is King Louis XV, holding court with Madame Du Barry (May) and holding off her colorful suitor, The Black Arrow (Alec).
After swordplay and the sentencing of the Black Arrow to the guillotine, Louis awakens from his dream. He realizes that May is in love with Alec and generously offers them a wedding gift of $10,000. May declines, saying she has changed her mind about money's importance. Everybody ends up happy until a tax collector comes to demand that Louis pay him $80,000.
Musical numbers featured Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra (featuring Buddy Rich and Ziggy Elman), Dick Haymes, Jo Stafford, The Pied Pipers, Six Hits and a Miss, and the Music Maids. Lucille Ball's singing voice was dubbed by Martha Mears in most of the picture, but her real voice is heard in "Friendship".
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Wikipedia