Du Barry Was a Lady

Du Barry Was a Lady

Year: 1943

Runtime: 101 mins

Language: English

Director: Roy Del Ruth

ComedyMusicFantasySong and danceDazzling vocal performances and musicals

Hat‑check attendant Louis Blore is smitten with nightclub star May Daly, who prefers a poor dancer but wants a wealthy marriage. When Louis wins the Irish Sweepstakes, he proposes; May accepts even though she doesn’t love him. After a head injury, Louis dreams he is King Louis XV, pursuing the infamous Madame Du Barry.

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – Du Barry Was a Lady (1943)

Explore the full timeline and setting of Du Barry Was a Lady (1943). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

1940s

The present-day action is set in the early 1940s, centered on a lively nightclub and its entertainers. A central dream sequence shifts the characters to 18th-century Versailles, where Louis XV and Du Barry inhabit a stylized, regal world. The juxtaposition of modern urban life with royal fantasy emphasizes the satire on wealth, power, and romantic motives. The plot culminates with a tax on winnings, grounding the farce in contemporary concerns about money.

Location

Nightclub, Subway, Versailles (Dream), Tavern

The story largely unfolds in a flashy nightclub world where May Daly performs and social climbing begins. A surreal dream sequence transports Louis to Versailles, turning modern performers into royalty and outlaws for a satirical spectacle. A subway ride anchors the present-day action in an urban setting, linking May's romantic choices to money and status. A tavern gathering ties the contemporary characters to their royal fantasy roles, underscoring the film's playful critique of wealth and power.

🎶 Nightlife 🚇 Subway 🏰 Versailles 🍷 Tavern

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:35

Main Characters – Du Barry Was a Lady (1943)

Meet the key characters of Du Barry Was a Lady (1943), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

May Daly (Lucille Ball)

A nightclub singer from a modest background who pursues security through marriage to wealth. She loves Alec but treats him as a means to status, and she is drawn to Louis once wealth enters the picture. Her choices drive the central conflict between love and social climbing, and she evolves as she questions money’s true value.

🎤 Singer 💰 Wealth ❤️ Love

Alec Howe / Black Arrow (Gene Kelly)

The master of ceremonies at the nightclub who also embraces the Robin Hood–like persona of the Black Arrow in the dream. He competes for May’s affection with Willie, using charm and performance to navigate love and status. The dream sequence casts him as a rebellious hero, while in the present he remains a relatable center of romance.

🎭 Entertainer ⚔️ Hero 💘 Love

Louis Blore / King Louis XV (Red Skelton)

A hopeful eligible bachelor who wins a large prize and is quickly seduced by wealth and social prestige. In the dream, he becomes King Louis XV, experiencing royal pomp before facing moral tests. His arc explores how money and status can alter a person’s priorities and relationships.

💎 Wealth 👑 Power 🎭 Comedy

Madame Du Barry (Lucille Ball)

A fantasy figure who embodies royal allure and seduction in the Versailles dream. She manipulates power dynamics and pursues the Black Arrow, complicating Louis’s and May’s ambitions. Her role reveals how charm can influence politics and passion within a satirical monarchic setting.

👑 Royalty 💃 Seduction 🎭 Drama

Ginny (Virginia O'Brien)

A club singer who engages with Louis and others in the wake of May’s romantic entanglements. She provides a counterpoint to the main love triangle, representing flirtation and opportunism in the nightclub world. Ginny’s presence adds to the film’s playful rom-com energy.

🎤 Singer 💛 Crush 😂 Comedy

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:35

Major Themes – Du Barry Was a Lady (1943)

Explore the central themes of Du Barry Was a Lady (1943), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

💰 Wealth

Money drives the main relationships and choices, with May Daly pursuing a wealthy husband to secure her future. Louis is drawn to wealth from a prize, which temporarily reshapes his desires and behavior. The dream sequence uses opulence to critique how wealth can distort values and romance. The ending tax demand reminds characters that wealth carries burdens as well as benefits.

🌙 Dream

A prominent dream/fantasy sequence reimagines the present as Versailles, swapping contemporary performers for royalty, which exposes how status and power can be performed. The surreal world lets the characters test desires without real-world consequences. The dream contrasts with waking life to highlight themes of greed, love, and social ambition. The shift back to reality re-centers the characters on genuine connection rather than wealth.

⚔️ Power

Power is portrayed as seductive and perilous, capable of corrupting relationships and moral judgment. The Black Arrow incites a peasant mob and questions the legitimacy of the King, illustrating how charisma and rebellion can threaten authority. Du Barry’s involvement complicates loyalties and underscores how desire can manipulate power structures. The climactic scenes reveal the fragility of monarchic power in the face of collective force and personal ambition.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 18:35

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Du Barry Was a Lady Summary

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Du Barry Was a Lady Summary

Du Barry Was a Lady Timeline

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Du Barry Was a Lady Timeline

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Du Barry Was a Lady (1943) Plot Summary & Movie Recap

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