Tonight's Movie: Du Barry Was a Lady (1943) - A Warner Archive Blu-ray Review

I've seen the vast majority of MGM musicals, but every so often I catch up with one for the first time.

MGM's DU BARRY WAS A LADY (1943) is one of those films which somehow escaped me until now.

The plot, it must be said, is a nonsensical mishmash. Louis (Red Skelton), who checks hats at a nightclub, loves nightclub performer May (Lucille Ball).

In turn, cigarette girl Ginny (Virginia O'Brien) loves Louis, while May loves Alec (Gene Kelly) -- but won't marry him because he's poor.

Louis wins a lottery and May agrees to marry him for his money -- but then Louis is hit over the head and dreams he's King Louis XV...

As I said, it's pretty silly! Especially as "poor" May (Ball) has a personal wardrobe designed by Irene.  

The best moments in this unusually flimsy MGM musical are, no surprise, the musical numbers, particularly those performed by always-delightfully deadpan Virginia O'Brien and Tommy Dorsey with Buddy Rich, and the Pied Pipers, which included Jo Stafford.

It's fun to pick out familiar faces among the character actors and bit players, including Rags Ragland, Douglass Dumbrille, Donald Meek, Louise Beavers, Clara Blandick ("Auntie Em" from THE WIZARD OF OZ), Inez Cooper, and Marilyn Maxwell. There's even a cameo by Lana Turner.

The film's other strong aspect is its stunning Technicolor, as filmed by Karl Freund. The Warner Archive Collection's Blu-ray is a new 1080p HD master from a 4K scan of the nitrate Technicolor negatives. It's absolutely gorgeous, and the sound is great as well. This disc is the best way possible to view this movie, another impressive Blu-ray from the Warner Archive.

Otherwise, this is a frankly weak film which runs far too long at 101 minutes. Fans of MGM musicals and the cast will want to see it to check it off their viewing lists, but it's not a film I anticipate returning to often in the future.

DU BARRY WAS A LADY was directed by Roy Del Ruth.

Disc extras consist of the trailer; the Barney Bear cartoon BAH, WILDERNESS (1943); and a song selection menu. I love that the song selection menu is a standard feature on Warner Archive musical Blu-rays.

Thanks to the Warner Archive for providing a review copy of this Blu-ray. Warner Archive Blu-rays may be ordered from the Amazon Warner Archive Collection Store, Movie Zyng, or from any online retailers were Blu-rays are sold.

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