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Lady of Burlesque

Play trailer Poster for Lady of Burlesque 1943 1h 31m Mystery & Thriller Romance Music Comedy Play Trailer Watchlist
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75% Tomatometer 8 Reviews 50% Popcornmeter 1,000+ Ratings
Burlesque dancer Dixie Daisy is the prime suspect when rival dancers are found strangled with their own stage costumes. Aided by infatuated stand-up comic Biff Brannigan, Dixie must find the killer before she becomes his next victim.
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Lady of Burlesque

Critics Reviews

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Variety 03/26/2009
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. Go to Full Review Thomas M. Pryor New York Times 08/08/2006
2/5
Nothing more than a mystery melodrama with a backstage setting. Not a good mystery exercise either. Go to Full Review Geoff Andrew Time Out 02/09/2006
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. Go to Full Review Brian Eggert Deep Focus Review May 31
3.5/4
[The film] has a touch of novelty and sex thanks to Gypsy Rose Lee’s story and Stanwyck’s evident comfort in the milieu. Lady of Burlesque may not break any molds but operates inside them with a blithe energy. Go to Full Review Sean Axmaker Stream on Demand 08/19/2023
"[Director William] Wellman struggles against the censors and mostly wins, creating a genuinely tawdry world of showbiz sleaziness and dropping saucy suggestions throughout the backstage drama. Go to Full Review Jason Shawhan Nashville Scene 09/10/2021
It's got singing and dancing and murder and drama (and way too casual an attitude about partner violence toward women), and Stanwyck is always iconic (in Edith Head outfits). Go to Full Review Read all reviews

Audience Reviews

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harwee h 12/28/2023 Passsable entertaining mystery film, with the significant portion of the film spent on stage performances which are pretty tame even for 1940s burlesque. Barbara Stanwyck is the attraction of course, she's always fun to watch. See more Steve D 05/29/2023 All it really has is Stanwyck and that is enough. See more 03/29/2022 One of the most delightful movies ever made, a tour de force for Stanwyck, slinking around the stage like a retired Ziegfeld Girl from Brooklyn to the manner born, and for her utterly charming co-star "comic", Michael O'Shea. Probably the best thing Micky ever did on film deploying his considerable abilities. See more 08/03/2020 If you're studying the film career of Barbara Stanwyck don't overlook this William Wellman directed comedy, murder-mustery. Stanwyck was coming off The Lady Eve, Meet John Doe and Ball of Fire and choose this silly script because the grindhouse setting was dear to her heart given that's how she got her start in showbiz. If you can't stomach the whole film, but are a Stanwyck fan, at least watch her singing and dance routine near the top of the film. She's not good at the singing or dancing, but has that "it" factor that makes the scene a pleasure. Also note how director Wellman was forced to film her from the waist up during the number's bump and grind points. See more Frances H 08/03/2020 Stanwyck struts her stuff in this rather tame muder mystery in a burlesque house. The tame part is that the costumes by Edith Head, while gorgeous, are nothing you wouldn't see in any movie made in the 30s and there is definitely no stripping.Even so, Ball of fire is a better movie. See more ashley h @ashleyhobgood87 10/18/2018 Lady of Burlesque is an okay film. It is about the murder of a burlesque dancer and the other performers trying to find her killer. Barbara Stanwyck and Michael O'Shea gave decent performances. The screenplay is a little in places. William A. Wellman did an alright job directing this movie. I liked this motion picture because of the humor and mystery. See more Read all reviews
Lady of Burlesque

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Cast & Crew

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William A. Wellman

Director

Barbara Stanwyck

Deborah Hoople

Michael O'Shea

Biff Brannigan

J. Edward Bromberg

S.B. Foss

Iris Adrian

Gee Gee Graham

Marion Martin

Alice Angel

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Lady of Burlesque

Lady of Burlesque (1943) Lady of Burlesque (1943) View more photos

Movie Info

Synopsis Burlesque dancer Dixie Daisy is the prime suspect when rival dancers are found strangled with their own stage costumes. Aided by infatuated stand-up comic Biff Brannigan, Dixie must find the killer before she becomes his next victim.
Director
William A. Wellman
Producer
Hunt Stromberg
Screenwriter
James Gunn
Production Co
Hunt Stromberg Productions
Genre
Mystery & Thriller, Romance, Music, Comedy
Original Language
English
Release Date (Theaters)
May 1, 1943, Original
Release Date (Streaming)
Aug 11, 2016
Runtime
1h 31m
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