Du Barry Was a Lady (1943): Cast & Plot
Du Barry Was a Lady is a 1943 music comedy directed by Roy Del Ruth, starring Lucille Ball as May Daly / Madame Du Barry, Richard Alexander and Red Skelton. It runs 1 hour 41 minutes.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 41m (101 min)
- Director
- Roy Del Ruth
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Du Barry Was a Lady About?
The premise of Du Barry Was a Lady without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
Hat‑check attendant Louis Blore is smitten with nightclub star May Daly, who prefers a poor dancer but wants a wealthy marriage. When Louis wins the Irish Sweepstakes, he proposes; May accepts even though she doesn’t love him. After a head injury, Louis dreams he is King Louis XV, pursuing the infamous Madame Du Barry.
Du Barry Was a Lady Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- singer
- dream sequence
- reference to jezebel
- reference to versailles
- reference to lana turner
- reference to esquire magazine
- reference to frankenstein
- reference to alberto vargas
- reference to hedy lamarr
- reference to kay kaiser
- reference to fred waring
- reference to horace heidt
+38 more Show fewer
- reference to salome
- reference to samson and delilah
- reference to samson
- reference to delilah
- reference to harry james
- reference to gypsy rose lee
- dual role
- deception
- reprisal
- retribution
- quandry
- desperation
- song in title
- greed
- treachery
- hysterics
- slapstick comedy
- despair
- determination
- havoc
- kelly and ball
- skelton and ball
- love
- physical comedy
- dressing room
- spiked drink
- drink
- singing
- dancer
- singing trio
- irish grand national sweepstakes
- subway
- piano
- redheaded woman
- song
- chef salad spilled on a man
- madame dubarry character
- toothpaste
Du Barry Was a Lady Cast & Characters
Lucille Ball leads the cast as May Daly / Madame Du Barry, with Richard Alexander as Marching Rebel Behind King Louis and Red Skelton as Louis Blore / King Louis XV. Directed by Roy Del Ruth; 92 actors are credited in all.
- Director Roy Del Ruth
-
Lucille Ball as May Daly / Madame Du Barry - Richard Alexander as Marching Rebel Behind King Louis
- Red Skelton as Louis Blore / King Louis XV
-
Gene Kelly as Alec Howe / Black Arrow
Also Starring in Du Barry Was a Lady
· 88 more- Ava Gardner Perfume Girl (uncredited)
- Douglass Dumbrille Willie / Duc de Rigor
- Charles Coleman Charlie
- Rags Ragland Charlie / Dauphin
- Virginia O'Brien Ginny
- Donald Meek Mr. Jones / Duc de Choiseul
- Jack Gordon Villager
- Zero Mostel Rami - the Swami / Taliostra
- Cyril Ring Man Watching Radio Interview
- Pierre Watkin Ambrose
- Emory Parnell Gatekeeper
- John George Villager (uncredited)
- Brooks Benedict Club Patron (uncredited)
- Chester Clute Dr. Pullit
- Harry Hayden Husband Checking Wife's Coat
- Dell Henderson Flunky
Show all 92 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Claire McDowell Subway Passenger
- William Forrest Guard Captain
- Louise Beavers Niagara
- Barbara Bedford Ambrose's Wife (uncredited)
- Mitchell Lewis Rebel Opening Door
- Charles Judels Innkeeper
- Lana Turner Lana Turner (uncredited)
- Clara Blandick Old Lady on Subway (uncredited)
- Don Wilson Radio Interviewer (uncredited)
- James Carlisle Club Patron
- Andrew Tombes Mr. McGowan
- Hans Moebus Club Patron
- Ernie Alexander Delivery Man with Flowers
- Ben Hall Waiter
- Paul Power Reporter
- Hugh Beaumont Footman (uncredited)
- David Newell Man Getting Champagne
- Michael Visaroff Flunky
- Cecil Cunningham Wife Checking Her Coat
- Paul Newlan Marching Rebel on King Louis' Left
- Sol Murgi Villager
- Maurice Costello Passerby
- Sig Arno Nick (uncredited)
- Marilyn Maxwell Miss February (uncredited)
- Art Miles Marching Rebel on King Louis' Right
- Eve Whitney Miss August
- George Givot Cheezy / Count de Roquefort
- Christian J. Frank Lackey
- Edward Cooper Flunky
- Dick Haymes Singer (uncredited)
- Richard Ainley Marching Rebel Behind King Louis
- Delos Jewkes Singer
- Kay Aldridge Mrs. McGowan
- Tommy Dorsey Tommy Dorsey
- Dorothy Tuttle Dancer (uncredited)
- Dolly Haas Miss April
- Buddy Rich Member Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra (uncredited)
- Willy Castello Flunky
- Jack Byron
- Allan Watson Singer
- Inez Cooper Miss December
- Mitchell Rhein Villager
- June Glory Audience Member
- Georgia Carroll Miss January
- Hazel Brooks Miss June (uncredited)
- Harry Stanton Singer
- Eleanor Bayley Eleanor Bayley
- Kay Williams Miss May
- Aileen Haley Miss July
- Faith Kruger Singer
- Mary Jane French Miss November
- Six Hits and a Miss Singers
- Natalie Draper Miss March (uncredited)
- Earl Covert Singer
- Pauline Byrne Member Six Hits and a Miss
- Jo Stafford Member The Pied Pipers (uncredited)
- Grace Albertson Perfume Girl
- Jack Carrington Waiter
- Vera Lee Dancer
- Buddy Morrow Member Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra
- Virginia Rees Singer
- Ziggy Elman Trumpet Player
- Gene Ramey Flunky
- Thomas Clarke Flunky
- Emmett Casey Flunky
- Theo Coffman Miss October
- John Huddleston Member The Piep Pipers
- Chuck Lowry Member, The Pied Pipers
- Joyce Murray Dancer
- Ruth Ownbey Miss September
- Sheila Rae Dancer
- Clark Yocum Member The Pied Pipers
More from Roy Del Ruth
More films directed by Roy Del Ruth, best-rated first: It Happened on Fifth Avenue, On Moonlight Bay, Why Must I Die and The Alligator People.
Du Barry Was a Lady Plot Summary
What happens in Du Barry Was a Lady from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 4-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Nightclub singer May Daly, Lucille Ball, is at the center of a comic, dream-tinged flirtation with wealth and romance. She attracts a crowd of admirers at the club, including the steady, practical Louis Blore, Red Skelton, and the club’s own magnetic master of ceremonies Alec Howe, Gene Kelly. Among her fan club is the mysterious and glamorous Perfume Girl, Ava Gardner, a figure who glimmers in the background of May’s ambitions. May loves Alec, but she clings to a plan shaped by her poor upbringing: marry someone rich and secure a life of elegance she’s never known.
Full summary
The whole story of Du Barry Was a Lady, scene by scene
Du Barry Was a Lady Trailers & Videos
The trailer of Du Barry Was a Lady.
How Well Do You Know Du Barry Was a Lady?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Which actress plays nightclub singer May Daly?
Seen Du Barry Was a Lady?
Movies Like Du Barry Was a Lady
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Du Barry, Woman of Passion, Madame du Barry and Madame DuBarry.
Du Barry Was a Lady FAQ: Cast, Runtime & Release Date
Runtime, release date, director, cast and post-credit scenes of Du Barry Was a Lady, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Du Barry Was a Lady?
Du Barry Was a Lady runs 1 hour 41 minutes (101 minutes).
When was Du Barry Was a Lady released?
Du Barry Was a Lady was released on May 30, 1943.
Who directed Du Barry Was a Lady?
Du Barry Was a Lady was directed by Roy Del Ruth.
More films by Roy Del Ruth Who is in the cast of Du Barry Was a Lady?
Du Barry Was a Lady stars Lucille Ball as May Daly / Madame Du Barry, Richard Alexander as Marching Rebel Behind King Louis and Red Skelton as Louis Blore / King Louis XV, among 92 credited actors.
Does Du Barry Was a Lady have a post-credit scene?
No. Du Barry Was a Lady has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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