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Lady of Burlesque (1943)

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Average Rating: 5.5/10
Reviews Counted: 5
Fresh: 3 | Rotten: 2

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Average Rating: N/A
Critic Reviews: 3
Fresh: 2 | Rotten: 1

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Average Rating: 3.3/5
User Ratings: 930

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Movie Info

Barbara Stanwyck shines in her second portrayal of a showgirl in less than two years (the first was in Howard Hawks' Ball of Fire in 1941). In Lady of Burlesque -- which, at times, has a Hawksian edge to the dialogue -- she portrays Dixie Daisy, a striptease artist at a Broadway theater in New York at the end of the 1930s. In the course of fending off the unwanted advances of brash comic Biff Brannigan (Michael O'Shea), with whom she is teamed in several numbers, and staying clear of the

Unrated, 1 hr. 31 min.

Horror, Musical & Performing Arts, Mystery & Suspense, Classics, Comedy

Directed By: William A. Wellman

Written By: James Gunn

In Theaters: May 1, 1943 Wide

On DVD: May 1, 2001

Cast

Barbara Stanwyck
Dixie Daisy
Michael O'Shea
Bitt Brannigan
J. Edward Bromberg
S.B. Foss
Iris Adrian
Gee Gee Graham
Gloria Dickson
Dolly Baxter
Marion Martin
Alice Angel
Pinky Lee
Mandy
Victoria Faust
Lolita La Verne
Stephanie Bachelor
Princess Nirvena
Charles Dingle
Inspector Harrigan
Frank Fenton
Russell Rogers
Frank Conroy
Stacchi
George Chandler
Jake
Eddie Gordon
Officer Pat Kelly
Gerald Mohr
Louie Grindero
Lew Kelly
The Hermit
Claire Carleton
Sandra
Janis Carter
Janine
Bert Hanlon
Sammy
Sid Marion
Joey
Lou Lubin
Moey
Lee Trent
Comic
W. Beal Wong
Wong
Florence Auer
Policewoman
David Kashner
Cossack
Eddie Borden
Man in audience
Joe Devlin
Kit Guard
Hank
Victor Laplace
Noel Neill
Fred Walburn
Messenger Boy
Isabel Withers
Teletype operator
Barbara Slater
Elinor Troy
Dallas Worth
Louise LaPlanche

Critic Reviews for Lady of Burlesque

All Critics (5) | Top Critics (3) | Fresh (3) | Rotten (2) | DVD (4)

Gallant trouping by Barbara Stanwyck, colorful background provided by Stromberg, and speedy direction by William Wellman, carry picture through for good entertainment for general audiences.

March 26, 2009 Full Review Source: Variety

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Variety

Top Critic

Nothing more than a mystery melodrama with a backstage setting. Not a good mystery exercise either.

August 8, 2006 Full Review Source: New York Times

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Thomas M. Pryor

New York Times

Top Critic

It isn't without some zip, though you have to wonder why the producers bothered when the censors demanded that the dancers be shown only from the neck up.

January 1, 2000 Full Review Source: Chicago Reader

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Dave Kehr

Chicago Reader

Top Critic

Although a stream of hard-boiled wisecracks keeps things amusing, the plot gets tied up in the usual dreary whodunit business of providing motives for all and sundry.

February 9, 2006 Full Review Source: Time Out

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Geoff Andrew

Time Out

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Audience Reviews for Lady of Burlesque

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Saucy little mystery with a great collection of 40's blond wisecracking dames and of course the great Stanwyck. Even the usually vapid O'Shea is more animated and entertaining than his norm, this is probably his best screen performance.

September 25, 2011