Mon 23 Dec 2019
Mystery Movie Review: LADY OF BURLESQUE (1943).
Posted by Steve under Mystery movies , Reviews[9] Comments
LADY OF BURLESQUE. MGM, 1943. Barbara Stanwyck, Michael O’Shea Michael O’Shea, J. Edward Bromberg, Iris Adrian, Gloria Dickson, Victoria Faust, Stephanie Bachelor, Charles Dingle, Pinky Lee, Janis Carter, Gerald Mohr. Screenplay: James Gunn, based on the novel The G-String Murders, by Gypsy Rose Lee. Director: William A. Wellman.
I’ve read somewhere that the murder mystery portion of this movie stays fairly close to the book, but it’s been so long since I’ve read the book, so I can’t confirm that one way or another. Maybe someone reading this can say more for sure.
One thing’s for sure: no one came to see this movie in 1943 wanting to see a murder mystery movie. No, what they obviously came to see was whatever they could glimpse of what was forbidden grounds for most of them, the world of burlesque, girls, strippers and goofy comics, but mostly strippers. (The trailer above doesn’t even mention the murders.)
Well, they saw girls, all right, but strippers? In 1943? In the movies? Not from MGM and the Hays Code in full force, they didn’t. Bare legs and midriffs, and a hint of cleavage, but no more. The jokes are borderline risque, but still far north of the border, and of course as corny as you can get. I still laughed at some of them.
Barbara Stanwyck may seem like a strange choice to play the lead dancer, but she turns to have been a pretty good hoofer, cartwheels and all. (If they used a stunt double for her, they certainly did a good job of it.) She also holds her own with the wisecracks, and of course deep inside, she has a heart of gold.
Lots of backstage action, far more than what the audiences in their seats saw on stage, including a couple of murders that bring in the police, not quite as dumb as usual, to investigate. The mystery was only frosting on the cake, as far as I was concerned, and the cake was delicious.
December 23rd, 2019 at 10:37 am
One of the few pictures I more than like Barbara Stanwyck in, the others being Union pacific and The Lady Eve. Otherwise her attempts at playing the great middle class lady, leave me empty, such as The Gay Sisters, Sorry, Wrong Number, B. F. Daughter, East Side, West Side and worst of all, To Please A Lady. Here, not Gable. On the other hand, Michal O’Shea is a pleasant addition of almost anything.
December 23rd, 2019 at 11:40 am
It’s a wonderful movie and even for me, (not being very much of a Stanwyck fan), always dazzles me. It’s one of my top two favorite roles of hers, (the other being, ‘Ball of Fire’). I dig everything about it. Michael O’ Shea is a hoot!
December 23rd, 2019 at 12:29 pm
You and Barry are quite correct about Michael O’Shea’s performance in this movie. I should have said more about him myself. He plays the outwardly brash baggy-pantsed comedian who’s smitten with Barbara Stanwyck’s character, but as he continues to press his case, he also manages to show a certain wistfulness and insecurity that clowns often try to hide, deep inside.
December 23rd, 2019 at 12:34 pm
I remember this film fondly from seeing it on TV ages ago. Coincidentally, I was looking around on the web last night to find out if there was a decent DVD available (Lots of shoddy P.D. copies available, alas). Does anyone know?
December 23rd, 2019 at 12:43 pm
Jim
After watching a fairly shoddy PD copy myself, I went looking on Amazon to find a better one. This one from Film Detective claims to be restored:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B019JFAN1C/ref=ox_sc_act_title_5?smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER&psc=1
Two reviewers have said good things about it.
December 23rd, 2019 at 1:10 pm
Thanks! I saw that one and it sounded like the best alternative. I may take a shot.
December 23rd, 2019 at 6:34 pm
I was impressed more than anything else, at how smoothly and confidently all these 1943 studio players were able to pass off a credible (and at the same time patently ‘in’-credible, tongue-in-cheek) look at the then-vanishing world of the vaudeville circuit. All of the usual ‘stage door personalities’ are there: jeering, sneering, wisecracking to each other as they dash around prepping for the next skit or song number. As the picture brings us into their bustling ‘little family’ it just feels as if they’ve been going about their craft forever. Their rapid-fire movements and motions during costume-changes; their weary laundry lady; their meal delivery from the nearby chop suey house; the stuck-up ‘star of the show’ whom everyone despises. The pic is ’43 but it just exudes the lurid, loud, brashness of the 1920s comedy-hall stage. Fascinating glimpse of theatrical history (even if it’s just a game portrayal of it thanks to a fortuitous studio whodunit which happens to use it as a backdrop). What elevates the fun off-the-scale, is the unexpected and eye-popping sight of a major star like Babs Stanwyck dance and sing pseudo-bawdy numbers with total gusto, and Michael O’Shea carrying out a pitch-perfect rendering of a vintage stage-comic, including hypothetical comedy routines. Much more than I would have asked for from any murder-mystery. Sure, I realize the version I enjoyed was probably fuzzy and grainy …but I liked how that too, enhanced the atmosphere. The thick, murky shadows of the ‘spooky old theater’ were truly thick and murky and certainly served to prop up the threadbare plot. Ah well. What a treat that flick is.
December 23rd, 2019 at 6:42 pm
This is one of those movies where I turn the critical faculties off and just enjoy the film.
Stanwyck played another stripper in BALL OF FIRE (actually a night club performer, but for the part she studied with a famous stripper), another of her bright comedy roles, my favorite roles she played in these and films like THE LADY EVE and the wonderful Christmas movie REMEMBER THE NIGHT.
December 24th, 2019 at 12:05 am
I relish that Michigan J. Frog era of sheet-music-salesman and songwriting teams. ‘Pennies From Heaven’ and ‘The Singing Detective’ and ‘the Sunshine Boys’. Before all the rules and corporations and legalities came in. As we saw a couple weeks ago right here on this forum, they are still making movies with this backdrop. That George Lucas film review.