Often very talented people don't fit into the narrow categories they are offered in the early part of their careers. They need to define themselves as performers and find their niche or remake the world to create a new niche for themselves. That seems the case with the very talented but ineffective cast of Cole Porter's DuBarry was a Lady.
Lucille Ball may suffer the most in this film for not fitting the mold of a beautiful chanteuse looking for marriage with deep pockets rather than love. In her early scenes, Ms. Ball falls flat and in delivering her dialogue and even in her nightclub song (where she is clearly dubbed). She comes to live much more in the "second act" of the film which is entirely a dream sequence in 18th Century France. Here there is a lot more comedy in which she can shine, and there are flashes of the comic genius that will redefine television and create the sit-com a decade later.
Gene Kelly and Red Skelton also suffer to a lesser extent being cast in this musical which really don't fit their talents. Skelton, too, will prove better in the medium of television. While Kelly has a fantastic tap number, he's not the singer to introduce Porter's song "Do I Love You."
The delightful find of the film is the comic song "Salome" sung by Virginia O'Brien, who fares well as the under-appreciated comic side-kick. The other big number from the score is the familiar "Friendship" where Ms. Ball is clearly no dubbed, but perhaps should have been.
DuBarry was a Lady
Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter
Film released by MGM in 1943
Cast: Lucille Ball, Red Skelton, Gene Kelly, Zero Mostel, Virginia O'Brien, Tommy Dorsey and his orchestra
Lucille Ball may suffer the most in this film for not fitting the mold of a beautiful chanteuse looking for marriage with deep pockets rather than love. In her early scenes, Ms. Ball falls flat and in delivering her dialogue and even in her nightclub song (where she is clearly dubbed). She comes to live much more in the "second act" of the film which is entirely a dream sequence in 18th Century France. Here there is a lot more comedy in which she can shine, and there are flashes of the comic genius that will redefine television and create the sit-com a decade later.
Gene Kelly and Red Skelton also suffer to a lesser extent being cast in this musical which really don't fit their talents. Skelton, too, will prove better in the medium of television. While Kelly has a fantastic tap number, he's not the singer to introduce Porter's song "Do I Love You."
The delightful find of the film is the comic song "Salome" sung by Virginia O'Brien, who fares well as the under-appreciated comic side-kick. The other big number from the score is the familiar "Friendship" where Ms. Ball is clearly no dubbed, but perhaps should have been.
DuBarry was a Lady
Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter
Film released by MGM in 1943
Cast: Lucille Ball, Red Skelton, Gene Kelly, Zero Mostel, Virginia O'Brien, Tommy Dorsey and his orchestra
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