Du Barry Was a Lady (Film)

• Red Skelton: Louis Blore / King Louis XV
• Lucille Ball: May Daly / Madame Du Barry
• Gene Kelly: Alec Howe / Black Arrow
• Virginia O'Brien: Ginny
• Rags Ragland: Charlie
• Zero Mostel: Rami the Swami
• Donald Meek: Mr. Jones / Duc de Choiseul
• Douglass Dumbrille: Willie / Duc de Rigor
• George Givot: Cheezy / Count de Roquefort

Du Barry Was a Lady is a US-based, produced by MGM movie musical from 1943 with Red Skelton, Lucille Ball and Gene Kelly. The film is based on the eponymous musical, which premiered on December 6, 1939 in New York.

Action

Louis Blore is working in the locker room of a night club. May Daly, star of the clubs, is the object of his desire. Nevertheless, she is in love with the poor dancer Alec Howe, but she only comes for a marriage with a rich man in question. When Louis surprising wins the lottery and May makes a proposal of marriage, she accepts. In order to create his rival out of the way, wants Louis Alec knockout drops administered, but drinking through a mishap of the waiter the drink itself. In a comatose state Louis dreams that he lives in the 18th century, King Louis XV. May Daly is the Countess Du Barry and his lover who does not love him like in reality. As Alec Howe as the Black Arrow threatened to justice for the people to demand the royal couple to Du Barry in love with him. When Louis regains consciousness, he realizes that Alec is the right one for May.

Background

The film cost an estimated $ 1,239,222 and was shot in the Metro-Goldwyn- Mayer Studios in Culver City.

Originally Ann Sothern / should play the role of May Daly Du Barry, but was pregnant at the time and so Lucille Ball got the role.

Balls singing was dubbed by Martha Mears, only in the last song Friendship hear their own singing.