DUBARRY WAS A LADY

DuBarry Was a Lady
(aka Du Barry Was a Lady)
MGM, 1943, Color, 101 minutes
Premiere release May, 1943
General release August, 1943

There's fun and frolicking in 17th-century France when Red Skelton finds himself sent back in time to the regal court of Madame DuBarry. Lavish musical comedy also stars Gene Kelly, Lucille Ball, Zero Mostel and Virginia O'Brien; score includes Cole Porter's "Friendship."

Produced by: Arthur Freed
Directed by: Roy Del Ruth
Screen Play by: Irving Brecher
Adaptation by: Nancy Hamilton
Additional Dialogue by: Wilkie Mahoney
Based on the Play Produced by B. G. DeSylva and Written by Herbert Fields and B. G. DeSylva with Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter
Words and Music: Cole Porter
Additional Songs: Lew Brown, Ralph Freed, Burton Lane, Roger Edens, E. Y. Harburg
Musical Adaptation: Roger Edens
Musical Direction: Georgie Stoll
Orchestration: George Bassman, Leo Arnaud, Alec Stordahl, Sy Oliver
Musical Presentation: Merrill Pye
Dance Direction: Charles Walters
Art Director: Cedric Gibbons
Set Decorations: Edwin B. Willis
Associate: Henry Grace
Costume Supervision: Irene
Associate: Shoup
Men's Costumes: Gile Steele
Make-Up Created by: Jack Dawn
Recording Director: Douglas Shearer
Director of Photography: Karl Freund
Photographed in Technicolor
Technicolor Color Director: Natalie Kalmus
Associate: Henri Jaffa
Special Effects: Warren Newcombe
Film Editor: Blanche Sewell

Cast: Red Skelton [Louis Blore, King Louis], Lucille Ball [May Daly, Mme. Du Barry], Gene Kelly [Alec Howe, Black Arrow], Virginia O'Brien [Ginny], Rags Ragland [Charlie, Dauphin], Zero Mostel [Rami the Swami, Taliostra], Donald Meek [Mr. Jones, Duc De Choiseul], Douglas Dumbrille [Willie, Duc De Rigor], George Givot [Cheezy, Count De Roquefort], Louise Beavers [Niagara], Tommy Dorsey and His Band [Themselves], Additional Cast: Dick Haymes [Singer with Tommy Dorsey], Charles Coleman [Doorman], Cecil Cunningham, Harry Hayden [Couple], Clara Blandick [Old Lady on Subway], Marie Blake [Woman], Andrew Tombes [Escort], Don Wilson [Announcer's Voice], Richard Alexander, Art Miles, Paul "Tiny" Newlan [Men], Chester Clute [Doctor], Kay Williams, Kay Aldridge, Hazel Brooks [Girls], Lana Turner [Guest Star], Jo Stafford [Singer], Pierre Watkin [Rich Patron], Sig Arno [Nick], Hugh Beaumont [Footman], Georgia Carroll, Inez Cooper, Natalie Draper, Marilyn Maxwell, Eve Whitney [Showgirls], Ernie Alexander [Delivery Man], William Forrest [Guard Captain], Charles Judels [Innkeeper], Michael Visaroff, William Costello, Dell Henderson, Edward Cooper, Thomas Clarke, Emmett Casey [Flunkies], Christian J. Frank [Lackey], Emory Parnell [Gatekeeper], Mitchell Lewis [Renel], Maurice Costello [Passerby], Ava Gardner [Girl]

Musical Program: [0:00] Overture (played by Orchestra); [0:02] Du Barry Was a Lady (sung by Martha Mears dubbing for Lucille Ball, danced by Lucille Ball and Chorus); [0:11] Kay Kyser, Guy Lombardo, Fred Waring (and others) immitation (performed by The Three Oxford Boys); [0:14] I'm Getting Sentimental Over You (played by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra); [0:20] Do I Love You? (sung by Gene Kelly); [0:24] Do I Love You? (sung by Chorus, danced by Gene Kelly and Chorus); [0:34] Salome (sung by Virginia O'Brien); [0:44] I Love an Esquire Girl (sung by Red Skelton surrounded by chorus girls and a cameo by Lana Turner; then sung by The Pied Pipers and modeled by Calendar Girls); [1:02] Ladies of the Bath (sung by Red Skelton and Girls Chorus); [1:03] Katie Went to Haiti (sung by Jo Stafford, Dick Haymes and the Pied Pipers with Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra); [1:16] Madame, I Love Your Crêpes Suzettes (sung by Red Skelton, danced by Red and Lucille Ball); [1:26] Song of Rebellion (sung by Gene Kelly and Chorus); [1:37] Friendship (sung and danced by Red Skelton, Lucille Ball, Gene Kelly, Virginia O'Brien, Tommy Dorsey, Rags Ragland and Zero Mostel with Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra)