DuBarry Was A Lady (1943)

The coatroom attendant (Red Skelton) at a posh Manhattan nightclub is in love with the show's star (Lucille Ball) but so is the club's master of ceremonies (Gene Kelly). She, however, has her sights on a wealthy snob (Douglass Dumbrille). Based on the hit Broadway musical and directed by Roy Del Ruth. Unfortunately, MGM tossed out most of the original Cole Porter show score (too racy) and the songs used with one exception are inferior. The plot has also been altered to be more family oriented. The comedy is broad (Skelton and Zero Mostel are straight out of vaudeville) and one of the musical acts, the Oxford Boys, is excruciating. Still, the production values are nice and the lengthy dream sequence in the second half where Skelton dreams he's King Louis XV and Ball is Madame DuBarry is modestly entertaining. At this stage in his career, Kelly hadn't yet acquired his stature as one of the great dancer/choreographers in film and he's rather negligible. The film does have the showstopping Frienship (written by Porter) and another highlight is Virginia O'Brien's rendition of Salome (not written by Porter). With Marilyn Maxwell, Jo Stafford, Dick Haymes, Rags Ragland, Louise Beavers, Donald Meek and a cameo by Lana Turner.