Lady of Burlesque
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Movie Reviews of Lady of Burlesque
Movie Review: Babs does burlesque
Summary: 4 Stars
Barbara Stanwyck, one of my favorite classic stars (love that elegant nose!) is in top form here in this little murder mystery based on Gypsy Rose Lee's novel "The G-String Murders". This being the 1940's, we certainly don't see her take it all off, but she dances a couple of hot numbers and carries her performance off with considerable verve, aided ably by a top-notch supporting cast.Movie Review: Stanwyck Bumps, Grinds and Gives a Lot of Attitude
Summary: 3 Stars
If no one has already, I'm sure some film studies student somewhere will eventually write a dissertation on sassy, wise-cracking broads as a sign of emerging class consciousness in the American cinema of the 30's and 40's. Or something like that. The abundance of B-movies from the era, with tough guys and hard-bitten dames suggested that a good segment of American society identified with (or at least were intrigued by) tough cookies from the wrong side of the tracks--and that as a group, this segment of society was beginning to assert itself.Where did they all go? By the 50's, there were still quite a few rough and tumble guys, but sassy, spirited broads were becoming increasingly rare. Oh sure, you had a few gold diggers around trying to marry millionaires, and that sort of thing. But worldly wise gals, of the kind one finds in abundance in this 1943 gem, were giving way to housewives and career gals. The emergence of a solid--if somewhat staid--middle class in post-War America seemed to spell doom for wise-cracking dames with a bit of a history.
So LADY OF BURLESQUE is a peek at another era, both in cinema and society at large. Ironically, one of the movie's themes is actually a previous social and cultural change--the fall of opera houses of the early 20th century and their re-emergence as burlesque theaters. To elaborate much more on the topic risks spoiling the murder mystery that is not quite at the center of the film--the milieu itself is its real subject--but suffice to say that in this kind of investigation, it behooves you to look at suspects who are looking back at the past.
The movie has a lot of spirit, a lively cast--and Barbara Stanwyck singing (OK), dancing (pretty good) and giving lots of attitude (no one better). Other reviewers below have quoted examples of the snappy banter that abounds in this movie. They're right. Long after you've guessed the identity of the murderer, you'll continue to stick around for the witty dialog--and of course those girls, girls, girls.
Movie Review: Entertaining film but public domain quality print
Summary: 3 Stars
"Lady of Burlesque" has been in the public domain for years with some lousy prints. This DVD is probably the best available. Even so, the soundtrack is still often hard to hear and there are some jumps in continuity. A pity too, because this is a very entertaining film.
Gutsy William Wellman directed the laconic Barbara Stanwyck in a role which returns her to her roots on Broadway. She sings, dances, throws off the wisecracks and easily dominates the screen with her witty performance. She is beautifully paired with the underrated Michael O'Shea as a Burlesque comic and surrounded by as tough a group of broads as ever assembled - foul mouthed Iris Adrian, dumb Marion Martin and bitter Gloria Dickson are standouts. The film is very clever because while the censorship would not allow anything too raunchy, Wellman brilliantly creates the tawdry backstage atmosphere of a burlesque theatre.
The film is based on famous stripper Gypsy Rose Lee's novel "The G String Murders". The murder mystery is trite and secondary to the byplay.
Movie Review: Surprising, light-hearted comedy
Summary: 3 Stars
Nothing deep here, but that's good. A light-hearted comedy in the guise of a mystery. Don't expect to be mystified, the "mystery" only serves as a vehicle for the comedy and a rather believable romance. Barbara Stanwyck, though 36 years old, looks much younger. Her part was rather vivacious, risque, and revealing for a 1943 movie. The lady could act!
The image on the DVD is generally very good, but there are several places where a few "frames" are missing, causing disquieting "jumps", but still, a good investment of time, if only to enjoy watching Miss Stanwyck smile and wiggle.
Movie Review: Good movie, bad disc
Summary: 3 Stars
This is a review more of the DVD itself than the movie (which is fast-paced and enjoyable). I had trouble getting the disc to play on two different machines. When I finally did get it going, there's not much there besides the movie itself. No production notes, no subtitles, and the 90 minute film is divided up in only four chapters. I know I shouldn't expect much for such a low-priced DVD, but hassle-free playing would have been nice.
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